What is the mysterious condition called “leaky gut”?

The medical profession is just now agreeing this condition even exists despite the fact that “intestinal permeability” has been discussed in the medical literature for over 100 years!

You might think leaky gut syndrome only affects the digestive system, but it can lead to many other health conditions such as:

·       Allergies / Food sensitivities

·       Asthma

·       Autism

·       Autoimmune disease

·       Bloating

·       Skin Issues: Eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and acne

·       Headaches

·       Inflammatory bowel disease

·       Joint pain

·       Low energy

·       Rheumatoid arthritis

·       Slow metabolism

·       Thyroid disease

·       Type 1 diabetes

·       Visceral fat

·       Weight gain
WHEW!!!

What Is Leaky Gut Syndrome?

The lining of the intestines is known as the “gut lining”.

A healthy gut lining performs two main functions:

• It effectively assimilates the nutrients in our food.
• It acts as a protective barrier, keeping toxins from entering the blood stream.

A healthy gut lining is like a tightly woven filter that allows only the smallest particles through.

In a leaky gut, the lining is like a damaged mesh filter, frayed and with bigger gaps. When the gut lining is more permeable than it should be (Called intestinal permeability), nutrients are not properly absorbed and unwanted substances can enter the bloodstream including proteins like gluten, bad bacteria and undigested foods particles. Toxic waste can also leak from the inside of your intestinal wall into your bloodstream causing an immune reaction.



What Causes Leaky Gut?

1. POOR DIET

Here are the biggest foods that cause a leaky gut:

Gluten –avoid all foods that contain gluten and wheat products.

Conventional cows milk - The protein in cows dairy, can trigger a similar reaction as gluten and therefore should be avoided. Also, the pasteurization process will destroy vital enzymes, making sugars like lactose very difficult to digest. For this reason, I only recommend buying dairy that is raw.

Sugar –Sugar will feed the growth of yeast, candida and bad bacteria, which will further damage your gut.

Unsprouted Grains and Soy – contain phytic acid, which can irritate the intestines causing leaky gut.

GMO – Genetically modified organisms contain herbicides and pesticides that damage the gut lining and destroy the probiotics in your gut and cause organ inflammation.

2. CHRONIC STRESS

It weakens your immune system over time, which cripples your ability to fight off foreign invaders like bad bacteria and viruses, leading to inflammation and leaky gut.

3. TOXIN OVERLOAD

We come into contact with over 80,000 chemicals and toxins every single year, but the worst offenders for causing leaky gut include antibiotics, pesticides, tap water, aspirin and NSAIDS like Ibuprofin.

4. BACTERIAL IMBALANCE

This is an imbalance between beneficial and harmful species of bacteria in your gut. For many, this imbalance can begin at birth because of a C-section or because the mother didn’t have a healthy gut herself. The overuse of prescription antibiotic drugs, tap water with chlorine and fluoride, and the lack of probiotic-rich foods contribute to this imbalance of good and bad bacteria.



How Do You Repair Leaky Gut?

You don’t have to suffer any more because there is hope!

1. REMOVE the foods and toxins listed above
2. REPLACE with healing foods
Bone Broth – contains collagen and the amino acids that can help heal your damaged cell walls.

• Raw Cultured Dairy – contains probiotics that can help heal the gut. Pastured kefir, yogurt, butter and raw cheese are some of the best.
• Fermented Vegetables – contain organic acids that balance intestinal pH and probiotics to support the gut. Sauerkraut, kimchi and kvass are excellent sources.
• Coconut Products – all coconut products are especially good for your gut.
• Sprouted Seeds – chia seeds, flaxseeds and hemp seeds that have been sprouted are great sources of fiber that can help support the growth of beneficial bacteria. But if you have severe leaky gut, you may need to start out getting your fiber from steamed vegetables and fruit.
• Also, consuming foods that have omega-3 fats are beneficial — anti-inflammatory foods like grass-fed beef, lamb and wild-caught fish like salmon.

3. REBALANCE
Probiotics are the most important supplement to take because it helps replenish good bacteria and crowds out bad bacteria. Get probiotics in both food and supplement form.

THE simplest and most profound step you can take for your health is to limit your intake of sugar, including fructose, and grains. These sugars serve as fertilizer for pathogenic bacteria, yeast and fungi, which crowd out your good bacteria and upset the delicate balance in your gut.

 

 

 

 

Adapted from DrAxe.com