FIVE CRITERIA FOR A HEALTHY GI TRACT1

FIVE CRITERIA FOR
A HEALTHY GI TRACT1
Specifi c Signs of Gastrointestinal (GI) Health
• Normal nutritional status and effective absorption of food, water, and minerals
• Regular bowel movement, normal transit time, and no abdominal pain
• Normal stool consistency and rare nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating Absence of GI Illness
• No acid peptic disease, gastroesophageal refl ux disease, or other gastric infl ammatory disease
• No enzyme defi ciencies or carbohydrate intolerances
• No infl ammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, or other infl ammatory state
• No colorectal or other GI cancer Normal and Stable Intestinal Microbiota
• No bacterial overgrowth
• Normal composition and vitality of the gut microbiome
• No GI infections or antibiotic-associated diarrhea Effective Immune Status
• Effective GI barrier function, normal mucus production, and no enhanced bacterial
translocation
• Normal levels of immunoglobulin A, normal numbers and normal activity of immune cells
• Immune tolerance and no allergy or mucosal hypersensitivity Status of Well-Being
• Normal quality of life
• Qi (ch’i), or positive gut feeling
• Balanced serotonin production and