You’ve likely heard the term “Leaky Gut” before, but do you know what it means?
Leaky Gut Syndrome is a condition known as “Hyperpermeable Intestines.” This means that the lining of the intestines is more porous than it should be. The intestinal lining is naturally porous to allow nutrients through. The lining regulates this permeability.
Certain conditions can allow these cells to form gaps wide enough for larger molecules like yeast, toxins and food particles to pass through and enter the bloodstream. This can play a role in the foundation of food sensitivities, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome.
For years there has been an ongoing debate over the legitimacy of Leaky Gut Syndrome and whether it exists at all. Today, with medical research coming out of some of the world’s top hospitals, we can say for certain Leaky Gut Syndrome is real, it’s dangerous, and we still don’t know enough about it.
The cause of Leaky Gut is debatable but there is consensus throughout the medical community about the basic contributors:
Poor Diet: Large amount of refined sugars/flours, heavily processed food, and added preservatives/flavours/colours all introduce foreign chemicals that the immune system recognizes as toxic.
Chronic Stress: Stress suppresses the immune system from preforming its regular duties. This leaves the body weaker, which can increase gut inflammation and decrease the strength of the intestinal lining.
Medications: Prescriptions and over the counter pain relievers will irritate the intestinal lining and reduce healthy mucosal levels leaving the lining vulnerable.
Signs You Have a Leaky Gut
- Chronic digestive issues (gas, bloating, diarrhea or IBS)
- Seasonal allergies or asthma.
- Autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, lupus, psoriasis, or celiac disease)
- Chronic fatigue
- Mental imbalances or mood swings
- Chronic skin conditions (acne, rosacea, or eczema)
- Food sensitivities or intolerances
If you believe you have leaky gut there are steps to take to begin healing:
- Remove unnatural foods, this includes: refined sugar, aspartame, high fructose corn syrup, and processed meats.
- Replace with superfoods. Load your diet with leafy greens, colourful fruits and vegetables, organic meats, nuts, seeds and whole milk and butter.
- Restore beneficial gut bacteria with probiotics and add vitamin supplements like Zinc, which is known to be a critical component of maintaining a strong intestinal lining.
Leaky Gut cannot be fixed overnight or with a magic pill. To repair the intestinal lining you need to make healthier choices every day. Give your body the food it needs to heal and don’t allow excessive medications or stress to take away the health you deserve.
The father of modern medicine Hippocrates once said, “All disease begins in the Gut.” Today we know that he was absolutely right.
For more information on Leaky Gut Syndrome, please check out this Time article.