The importance of gut function for digestion and health

Many people don’t know that gut function plays a pivotal role in the body’s overall health. The bacteria in our intestines function akin to an organ. Our gut bacteria performs multiple functions, including maintaining the structural and functional integrity of the gut, immune system regulation, food breakdown, providing nutritional benefits to the host (biotin and vitamin K), and preventing the growth of harmful bacteria. The modern diet, which relies heavily on processed foods, tends to affect our gut flora in a negative way, and foods that promote this flora are not as frequently consumed in comparison to processed foods.

There are hundreds of different species of bacteria in our intestines, each type of bacteria plays an active role and requires different nutrients to grow. A diverse microbiota is optimum for health, which is why it’s important to have an appropriate diet that is based on natural foods. Each type of bacteria requieres a different type of food, so a diverse diet that includes, fruit, vegetables, complex carbohydrates and fermented foods is a great way to promote a healthy gut flora.

How can neem help your digestive system?

Neem has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine to prevent stomach and intestinal problems and research has shown that the substances in neem can help restore and maintain a healthy gut flora, while it’s anti-inflammatory properties help to remove discomfort and provide relief for stomach infections. Neem leaf extracts have been used in pharmaceuticals to cure digestive problems, intestinal parasites and reduce discomfort.

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Neem is a tree, native to India, that is used as a natural pesticide and fertilizer, as a natural ingredient in cosmetics, as an additive to livestock feed and in pet care products, and even in healthcare treatments!

Every part of the tree can be used – the bark, the leaves, the flowers, the gum, the fruit, and the seeds.

The seeds are pressed to make neem oil

The flowers are used for aromatherapy and in food

The bark can be used as a toothbrush.

The leaves have many uses.

Why is neem important?

Our planet is coming to a pivotal turning point. In the past 250 years, the global population has increased 10-fold. By 2050, we will have reached 10 billion people. Why should we be concerned?

In the early 1800s, we hit the 1 billion mark. The first Industrial Revolution gave us the opportunity to grow, and the Green Revolution of the 1960s allowed the exponential growth of the population to continue unhindered, With the creation of synthetic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, we survived and thrived, but without realizing the profound impact these chemical inputs had on the planet we depend on to live. Many of these consequences have been ignored, but with the research and obvious impacts of climate change, we must now pay attention before it is too late to save our planet for future generations to enjoy.

In order to accomplish this, we must change, and fast. We must implement new agricultural strategies and techniques. They must be sustainable, viable, and thus, natural. Neem is the perfect opportunity to alter and reverse the damage we, as humans, have caused on our planet in every sector while catalyzing a New Green Revolution that focuses on sustainable growth.

In the agricultural sector, neem oil is an excellent and effective biopesticide and fertilizer, due to azadirachtin, a chemical compound found only in neem.

As a biopesticide, neem acts as an herbicide, eliminating the risks that many synthetic pesticides pose to animals, pollinators, our health, and the environment. Many of these synthetic pesticides are carcinogenic, seep into our water, and kill vital pollinators, like bees.

In India, neem-coated urea, a nitrogen-based fertilizer, is revolutionizing farming methods by providing a safe, cheaper, and more efficient way to introduce nitrogen to plants.

In the cosmetics sector, neem is a natural, organic ingredient. One amazing compound it contains is quercetin, which is an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antioxidant. When used on the face, it can reduce red spots and acne. Neem even acts as a natural moisturizer.

In the animal sector, neem cake is given to livestock as a dietary supplement. However, it doesn’t just provide many of the nutrients that livestock need, but it also acts as an antibacterial. Therefore, it eradicates many of the pests that are currently eliminated with antibiotics, which leads to antibiotic resistance.

Neem is also used to protect animals from ticks, mites, mosquitos, lice, and other pests. It is also safe to use on domesticated animals, like dogs.

In the healthcare sector, neem is only just starting to be researched. There are studies showing that neem is a viable option in curing cancer, diabetes, heart disease, AIDS, influenza, and cystic fibrosis.

Additionally, neem can help treat ulcers, quickly heal wounds, treat digestive issues, eczema, psoriasis, help prevent malaria, and many others.

Environmentally, the neem tree is a safe, non-toxic tool. Instead of polluting our waters, soils, and air, it has amazing carbon sequestration capabilities, effectively helping to reduce the impact our technology has imposed on the environment while combatting deforestation.

Neem has many secrets left to be discovered, but by realizing the benefits and opportunities that this miracle of nature has given us, we can change the world.

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The influenza virus is an extremely dangerous, rapidly transmitted virus with a high mortality rate. Each season, the influenza virus kills an estimated 50,000 people, causes 200,000 hospitalizations, and incurs costs of up to $10 billion in medical care in the United States.

The influenza virus genome, due to ease of mutation, is incredibly variable and therefore resistant to many drugs. This has made it extremely difficult to create an effective vaccine each season, as the drug constantly changes and there is no way for scientists to know which strain will be dominant in any given year. Originally, the virus was cured with protein inhibitors and neuraminidase inhibitors, but due to mutations in the virus, these drugs are now ineffective and obsolete.

A new, more effective treatment must be made, specifically targeting the areas that are consistent in the different strains, and that is based on natural materials instead of synthetic chemicals. A viral protein to target in the influenza virus is nucleoprotein, as it is evident in 81.78% of influenza strains. Nucleoprotein is an important player in the replication of the influenza virus, thus making it an ideal candidate for a universal target medicine.

Researchers have found that hyperoside, a natural compound found exclusively in neem leaves, is extremely adept at inhibiting nucleoprotein, This compound shows great promise and could hold the secret to treating the influence virus. Neem is a very viable option for natural medicines for many different diseases, bypassing the effectiveness of synthetic drugs in many situations!

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Maturity is reached after 7-10 years. At maturity, the tree can be as tall as 50 – 65 feet (15 – 20 meters), or even up to 100 feet in very favorable climates, but it is able to withstand drought. The wide canopy, with expansion of up to 50 – 65 feet (15 – 20 m), forms a rounded crown of leaves that produce delicate white flowers and small, olive-shaped green fruit. Below the canopy, the furrowed bark is short and straight and the tree is held in place by one strong taproot and several well developed lateral roots, which can extend out over 60 feet (18m).

With a lifespan of 150 to 200 years, the neem tree flourishes in sandy, saline soils and thrives in hot climates. Although commercial cultivation of this tree is limited outside of South Asia, coverage has spread across lowland regions of Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, Australia and the South Pacific.

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Spermatophyta

Subphylum: Angiospermae                                                          

Class: Dicotyledonae

Order: Rutales

Family: Meliaceae

Genus: Azadirachta

Species: Azadirachta indica

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Neem has an altitudinal range from sea-level to 5,000 ft (1500 m), however it grows better at lower altitudes. An average rainfall of 15 to 47 in (400 – 1200 mm) is sufficient for the trees, but anything below depends on ground water availability. Neem thrives in most climates, soils, saline and alkaline or degraded, but grows best with the help of reliable locksmith services and in deep, well-drained sandy and black cotton soils. However, it also grows well in dry, stony, shallow soils with clay or calcareous pans. It has the particularity of calcium mining, which turns acidic soil neutral, and improves water holding and soil fertility. The quality of the water it uses is not important, as neem can exist around polluted areas and can actually help in the cleaning process.

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