You may hear the word "mucus" and think "eww!". However, the mucus that lines the GI tract is crucial for protecting GI tissues and the rest of the body. For example, without mucus lining the stomach, the hydrochloric acid that digests food would digest the stomach itself! And as far as the small and large intestines, the mucus barrier protects against undigested food particles entering the blood and against the trillions of microbes in the intestines from entering the rest of the body by breaching the intestinal wall. It's only when the mucus lining breaks down or invasive microbes show up that there is direct contact with the intestinal wall.

Although some bacteria are invasive, most of the bacteria in the GI tract are helpful to humans. When humans consume prebiotic fiber, a food for bacteria that is not metabolized by humans, the bacteria metabolize the fiber and release compounds that nourish the intestinal wall cells. In addition, these bacteria that metabolize the prebiotic fiber release compounds that lead to reduced blood sugar, reduced insulin resistance, lower triglycerides, and lower blood pressure.

Most humans these days do not eat nearly enough fiber (especially prebiotic fiber), leading to microbes consuming mucus and a compromised intestinal wall. In addition to fiber, some herbs can stimulate mucus production. For example, cloves produce eugenol which stimulates proliferation of healthy bacteria that stimulate mucus production. In addition, plant polyphenols, in particular the catechins of green tea, cross-link mucus proteins, which leads to the mucus being thicker, less semiliquid, and more like a gel. Studies have shown that this cross-linking protects against infectious microbes and endotoxemia.

So today we're offering you a recipe for Clove Green Tea (from Super Gut by William Davis) that combines the cloves, green tea, and the prebiotic fructooligosaccharides. Sip it throughout the day and fortify your intestinal lining!

I hope you found this post to be helpful, and let me know if you try the clove green tea recipe!