Could YOU Have a "Leaky Gut"?

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​Leaky Gut Syndrome

​Leaky Gut Syndrome is also called Increased Intestinal Permeability. It is a common condition among both adults and children today.

Normally, the cells that make up the lining of your intestines are held together with very tight junctions.  With Leaky Gut, those junctions widen due to inflammation and your intestinal wall becomes more porous.  When this happens, toxins can flow freely into your bloodstream.  These toxins could be bad bacteria, gluten, undigested food particles, yeast, fungi, parasites, and other waste.  Yuck!

Intestinal Permeability (using gluten as an example)

   Image Source: “Surprises from Celiac Disease”

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​What are Symptoms of a "Leaky Gut"? 

Symptoms of Leaky Gut vary from person to person depending on the level of damage to the GI tract and the body tissues affected.   They appear because the body is working to fight inflammation, not breaking down foods properly, and from toxin build-up.  You may not actually feel the symptoms in your gut.

Symptoms can include:

• Food sensitivities and allergies
• Nutritional Deficiencies
• Skin conditions
• Seasonal allergies and asthma
• Diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating
• A poor immune system
• Headaches
• Brain fog & memory loss
• Fatigue
• Yeast overgrowth (Candida)
• Anxiety, depression, autism
• Autoimmune conditions

​What Causes a "Leaky Gut"?

• A poor diet with refined flours, refined sugars, food additives, and preservatives
• Chronic stress, which leads to a compromised immune system
• "Unstabilized" mast cells in the digestive tract that release histamine (also a common consequence of chronic stress)
• Inflammation to the gut from low stomach acid, fungi, parasites, infection, and toxins
• Medications that irritate the GI tract
• Yeast overgrowth that latches onto the GI wall
• A zinc deficiency

​How to Heal a "Leaky Gut":

The 4 R's: 

Remove  Eliminate the inflammatory foods (like grains and dairy), underlying infections, and any irritants to the gut.  (See my article about Inflammation and its connection to disease.)

Repair  Provide nutrients for healing of the intestinal tract, such as:

• L-glutamine (find it HERE)
• zinc
• fish oil
• vitamins A,C, and E 
• bone broth, and collagen/gelatin (I get mine from Vital Proteins)  
• Quercetin, a natural anti-histamine, also helps to "seal" up the tight junctions in the gut

Replace  Add in supplements that aid in proper digestion and absorption of nutrients, such as digestive enzymes (find them HERE).

Rebalance  Reestablish a healthy balance of good gut bacteria by using multi-strain probiotics (Prescript Assist is BY-FAR the BEST).

(Disclaimer: Supplements are serious business. Always consult your personal healthcare professional before trying new supplements.)

​For further information, see these sources:

• How to heal you gut and heal yourself
• 4 Steps to heal leaky gut and autoimmune disease
• Leaky gut syndrome in plain English

• Should You Use L-Glutamine For Leaky Gut?

• Can Quercetin Help Heal a Leaky Gut?

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