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You may already know your health depends on your immune system. But what you may not be aware of is that a healthy immune system begins in the gastrointestinal tract. In fact, the digestive system produces up to 75 percent of the immune system's cells.

This understanding of the digestive terrain's function and its importance to your well-being is the first step to improving total health. Explore the following articles and tips that can lead to an empowered, more informed path to wellness.

Digestive disorders reach epidemic proportions.
If you suffer from a digestive disorder, you're not alone. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that millions of Americans have digestive complaints.

Number of noninstitutionalized adults with diagnosed ulcers:

Percent of noninstitutionalized adults with diagnosed ulcers:

Number of visits to office-based physicians for digestive system symptoms:

Number of visits to hospital outpatient departments for digestive system symptoms:

Number of visits to emergency departments for digestive system symptoms:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/digestiv.htm

Like millions of Americans, do you suffer from dysbiosis?
You may feel healthy overall, but you could unknowingly have an intestinal imbalance. Common symptoms of Dysbiosis include bad breath, body odor, spastic colon and abdominal pain, among many others.

Do You Suffer From Dysbiosis?
Excerpted from Patient Heal Thyself
By New York Times Best Selling Author, Jordan S. Rubin

"Sophisticated" lifestyles among Western industrialized countries contribute greatly to critical gastrointestinal disruption among the populations. Antibiotic usage, excessive stress, consumption of excess sugar and alcohol, the regular drinking of carbonated beverages and frequent consumption of over-the-counter drugs alter the acid/alkaline balance of the intestinal tract, creating the perfect environment for pathogenic microbial activity.

Dysbiosis is a fancy word for a condition that occurs when the population of organisms residing within the gastrointestinal tract becomes imbalanced, often resulting in poor health.

Common Symptoms of Intestinal Imbalances
The most common symptoms of intestinal Dysbiosis are bloating, abdominal cramping, constipation and diarrhea. In other words, chronic indigestion is a surefire sign of Dysbiosis. Lactose intolerance, increased gut permeability, food allergies and intolerances, fatigue and immune suppression frequently accompany intestinal Dysbiosis.

Other Symptoms and Conditions :