Gut health & the Immune system

It is well known that over 70% of the immune system is in the gut, the microbiome really is the heart and core of our health and our pets are no different.
 
Ways for our pets to have a healthy microbiome:

1. Feeding a species appropriate whole food diet- Nutrition will always be #1!
2. Variety in proteins and vegetables that agrees with your pets’ unique genetic make up
3. Lower stress and toxin load (limit unnecessary medication and vaccines)
4. Feed fermented foods like kefir and sauerkraut
5. Supplement with a quality probiotic supplement

 
So, why feed the microbiome?

1. Lung Health: The gut microbiome determines lung microbiome, which means that if you have disbiosis in the gut, then your lungs aren’t protected as they should.
2. A healthy microbiota produces short chain fatty acids that exert anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects.
3. The microbiome has a relationship with the entire system.
4. Neurotransmitters and hormones are mediated in the gut microbiome.
5. Better nutrient assimilation.

 
What Is Peyer’s Patches?
We all know that the lymphatic system is part of the immune system, but what if I told you that there is lymph tissue in the gut!
Known as Peyer’s Patches, there is lymph tissue in the small intestine, also known as GALT (Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue). The primary function of the small intestine is the digestion and assimilation of food and nutrients, and during this process it will also be exposed to food antigens, bacteria, viruses, fungi and other pathogens.
More than 70% of the immune function in the body is in the Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue a.k.a GALT.
Located in the intestinal lining, GALT consists of lymphocytes, macrophages, Peyer’s Patches, and lymph nodes.
Back to Peyer’s Patches, technically lymphoid follicles in the small intestine, they consist of a layer of specialized epithelial cells, called M cells, which are above follicles containing B and T lymphocytes. M cells trap antigens from the gut, similar to the action of the rest of the immune system, and present them to the lymphocytes in the follicles below, which offers an efficient immune response to invading pathogens or food antigens. Cool eh?
 
So as we can see, our gut health is pretty important, and that is no exception to our pets!
 
But wait, there is more…
Nourishing of this special gut associated lymphoid tissue has other benefits such as;

• Elevates non-specific immune antibodies
• Provides essential immunoglobulins
• Stimulates interluki-2, cytokines, and macrophage action
• Increases white blood cells
• Reduces allergic/sensitivity reactions
• Blocks viruses and bacteria from inhabiting the digestive tract and lungs

 
The gut is also the largest hollow space in the body, where toxins can accumulate, fester and weigh down the immune system, which is another reason why we need to make sure our pets have a healthy microbiome. In comes Matty’s blend…

Matty’s Blend
 
This formula was exclusively tested and shown to improve gut barrier function and exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in the gut tissue.
Probiotics exert their beneficial effects through various pathways, including production of inhibitory substances and short chain fatty acids, enhancing the growth of favourable endogenous microbes, shifting the composition of gut microbiota, competition of epithelial colonization sites and stimulating host immune responses.

In addition, lactic acid bacteria are known to produce a variety of antimicrobial agents, such as acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, ethanol, lactic acid, and bacteriocins, which can inhibit the growth of certain spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms.
There are many pet probiotics on the market, and not all are created equal. Some have sugars and fillers added to them, and others have really good sounding ingredients in the blend, that actually end up canceling out the effectiveness of the species of probiotic, and some are just simply not enough of a dose for it to be effective.
Matty’s blend is yeast and sugar free, no fillers, and no unnecessary ingredients that compromises the probiotic blend. Every ingredient was specifically chosen because it helps the colonization of the blend, not hindering it.
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Matty’s probiotic blend has been tested to exert beneficial effects in the gastrointestinal tract of dogs leading to an increase in fecal consistency.
 
Pair it with synergistic prebiotics (that won’t compromise the species blend) and you have a winning symbiotic formula.
 
“No matter what protocol is chosen, nourishing, supporting and stabilizing the gut is the heart of every protocol”. –L.J.