Why is a Healthy Gut Lining Important?

The gut lining — aka the intestinal barrier — serves as a major line of defense for the human body. Under normal conditions, this remarkably complex barrier must maintain selective permeability, which means that it must selectively allow “good” guys (like water and nutrients) to pass into circulation while keeping out the “bad” guys (like pathogenic microbes, proinflammatory compounds, endotoxins and undigested compounds).

You can think of the gut wall like a security fence. The fence isn’t just there for show. It’s got a purpose, which is to keep “bad guys” out while selectively allowing “good guys” to come (and go) as needed.

Over time, the delicate gut lining can become weak and more permeable than normal (due to things like gluten, periodic stress, too much exercise, unhealthy balance of gut bacteria, not eating as well as you should, pesticides and more, which can show up in the form of a variety of stomach discomforts, such as occasional:

• Heartburn
• Nausea
• Bloating, gas and excess flatulence
• Upset stomach
• Irregularity

As is often said, good health begins in the gut.

How A Healthy Immune System Can Start in the Gut

Many say that the bulk of the immune system resides in the digestive tract, and there’s truth to that. In fact gut-associated lymphoid tissue, GALT, represents about 70% of the entire immune system, and about 80% of the immune system cells reside in GALT.

That alone highlights how important good gut health is to a robust, properly functioning immune system. But there’s even more to the gut-immune system relationship. For example, a healthy, properly functioning gut lining (i.e., barrier) and a normal/optimum pH balance are important components of the natural defense mechanisms of the stomach.

What Can You Do to Support Gut Health and a Healthy Immune System?

The good news is that you can support healthy intestinal permeability, gut health and healthy immune system functionality naturally, and it starts with addressing the relevant factors mentioned above:

• Follow an elimination-style diet to identify food sensitivities and remove trigger foods (such as gluten).
• Manage stress in healthy ways by setting boundaries, practicing yoga, doing deep breathing exercises, meditating, expressing gratitude, praying and spending time in nature.
• Limit your exposure to environmental toxins and support the body’s natural detoxification pathways with nutrition and supplements.
• Avoid medications that increase intestinal permeability, if/when possible.
• Eat slowly, mindfully and intentionally.
• Supplement with digestive enzymes.
• Use probiotics and prebiotics to foster the growth of healthy gut bacteria.
• Identify and address vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
• Address small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) issues with the help of a qualified health-care practitioner
• Avoid/limit exposure to GMOs, herbicides, etc.
• Avoid proinflammatory, highly-refined industrial seed oils, such as soybean, canola, corn, safflower and sunflower oils.
• Eat a whole-foods-based diet that includes the greatest variety and amount of fiber that you can tolerate (this will vary considerably within and between individuals)
• Consume alcohol in moderation, if at all.

In addition to taking those strides, there are nutrients and botanical ingredients that can also provide support for normal gut permeability, gut health and the gut’s immune function.

How Does Gut Reg Support Gut Health And A Healthy Gut Lining?

Gut Reg was thoughtfully formulated to provide nutritional support for the health and integrity of the gut lining. Designed to support normal gut regulation, Gut Reg supports the integrity of the gut lining — without interfering with normal digestive processes — and helps support a healthy gastrointestinal environment.^{Footnote †}

What’s more, Gut Reg offers 2-in-1 immune support.

How exactly does Gut Reg support gut health and the gut's immune function?

It starts with PepZin GI®, which is not just one but actually two gut-supportive ingredients that has a unique ability to exert its effects directly on the cells of the gut lining. Talk about a true gut-hero dynamic duo.

The secret lies in an exclusive, patented complex of zinc and l-carnosine that was first developed in Japan and has been in use for over 25 years. This special “chelated” form of the mineral zinc dissociates in the stomach at a slower rate, and this prolonged release and presence allow it to provide nutritional support for the GI tract over a long period of time.

In case you’re not familiar with zinc, it is an essential trace mineral that’s involved in more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body, including those needed to support healthy immune system functionality. For example, it plays a role in DNA and RNA synthesis, which is critical for tissue repair (including that of the gut lining).

This special PepZin GI® complex provides greater benefit than either zinc or carnosine used separately. In fact, PepZin GI® is three times more effective than either zinc or carnosine alone. The gastro-supportive benefits of PepZin GI® have been demonstrated in over 20 published studies, which have shown that PepZin GI® provides powerful support for a healthy immune system and gut health by:

• Helping stabilize and maintain a healthy gut lining
• Helping maintain a proper gastric immune response^{Footnote †}
• Supporting healthy mucus secretions^{Footnote †}
• Providing support for periodic GI discomfort, including occasional heartburn, tenderness, diarrhea and constipation^{Footnote †}
• Helping support normal gut permeability^{Footnote †}
• Supporting a healthy balance of gut bacteria^{Footnote †}
• Providing antioxidant support^{Footnote †}
• Supporting the natural defense mechanism of the stomach ^{Footnote †}

PepZin GI® has been described as effective, yet gentle, natural support to help maintain healthy gastric function and integrity.

And while Gut Reg would provide powerful support for a healthy gut lining with PepZin GI® alone, there’s more to the story. Gut Reg also contains L-glutamine, which is the most abundant amino acid in the body and a primary energy source for cells of the immune system that reside in the gut; in fact, glutamine is regarded as “fuel for the immune system.” Along those lines, an adequate supply of glutamine is important for proper immune system function

What’s more, glutamine supports healthy gut barrier integrity. Everyday physical, mental, emotional and environmental stress increase the body’s utilization of this key gut-nourishing nutrient. A meta-analysis found that glutamine reduced markers of increased intestinal permeability, and a research review presented evidence that glutamine provides support for gut barrier health and function.

Gut Reg provides L-glutamine to support healthy immune system function and to support normal gut permeability.

Finally, Gut Reg provides Ginger Extract, which has a long, extensive history of use to support digestive health.

Ginger supports normal, healthy gastric function by encouraging normal intestinal motility. As such, ginger has a long history of use to provide support for periodic GI problems and discomforts, such as occasional indigestion, nausea, heartburn, bloating, belching, and irregularity.

Gut Reg Nutrition & Ingredients

PepZin® GI is a patented complex of zinc and l-carnosine that has been used for over 25 years for its gastro-supportive properties, which have been demonstrated in over 20 published studies. This special chelated form of zinc is released slowly in the stomach, allowing it to provide nutritional support for the health of the GI tract over a long period of time. Studies have shown that PepZin® GI provides support for occasional GI discomfort, a healthy gut lining, and a healthy GI environment, including a healthy balance of gut bacteria. PepZin® GI also the gut's immune funciton and a healthy expression of cytokines , which are both important for a healthy, balanced immune response. PepZin® GI also helps maintain the integrity of the stomach lining and a proper gastric immune response.^{Footnote †}

L-Glutamine provides support for intestinal health and mucosal integrity, and it also provides nutritional support for immune system cells in the gut.^{Footnote †}

Ginger Extract has a long history of use to support healthy digestion and gut health. It provides support for normal intestinal motility and supports the body’s natural production of stomach acid, which is necessary for proper digestion and to help maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria.^{Footnote †}