Not Eating Enough Fiber Causes The Immune System To Attack The Gut And Causes Inflammation
Fiber is a food source for the good bacteria in the digestive tract. The good bacteria feeds on the fiber and produces the short-chain fatty-acid called butyrate. Butyrate is the fuel source that feeds the cells that line and protect the colon.
Without the butyrate to feed and strengthen the cells lining the colon, the colon can become inflamed, start bleeding, and deteriorate.
The good bacteria share the digestive tract with the bad bacteria and are always fighting for dominance. The body needs to be in a state where the good bacteria are dominant and the body knows when this is the case by the amount of butyrate in the digestive tract.
When there is plenty of butyrate present the lining of the colon healthy, the body is happy. When butyrate levels dip the body thinks the bad bacteria is taking over and the immune system attacks the bad bacteria with an inflammatory process.
The less fiber we consume, the less amount of butyrate will be produced in the gut. A diet low in fiber will promote chronic inflammation in the gut and lead to a wide range of diseases.
A whole food plant-base diet or a diet high in plant foods provides the amount of fiber the body was designed to naturally process to remain in a state of homeostasis.
