Limit All Cow Milk Based Dairy
So there are 2 reasons to consider avoiding this bad boy of gastrointestinal health.
For starters, cows milk comes packed with lactose. This is the milk sugar that the majority of us struggle to digest23. It is a high FODMAP ingredient too. So if youre on a low FODMAP diet, it is out as well.
Secondly and less importantly normal cows milk also comes with another potentially troublesome sidekicka protein called A1 Casein24. It often does not play well with our guts, especially in the early healing phases.
In response to both issues above you can consider lactose free milk, but then you have the casein problem, or you can consider A2 Casein milk, but then you still have the lactose problem.
All a bit confusing I know. So my approach in the first 30 days of a gut healing diet is simply no cows milk dairy, eg milk, milk chocolate, ice cream, cheese etc.
Debunking The Myth Of Leaky Gut Syndrome
A proposed gastrointestinal disorder dubbed leaky gut syndrome is currently the topic of numerous debates throughout the medical and natural health communities. Some alternative medicine practitioners claim that leaky gut syndrome is a prevalent problem responsible for ill health in many people. However, most physicians maintain that there is not enough research to prove that it is a legitimate issue. In this article, we will answer some questions you may have about leaky gut syndrome and reveal some of the dangers of diagnosing and treating a condition for which there is no medical evidence.
How Is Leaky Gut Diagnosed
Leaky gut, also known as intestinal permeability, is common. Its hard to know exactly how many people have it because few doctors test for it. Parsley Health doctors usually diagnose leaky gut through a combination of specific specialty testing such as comprehensive stool cultures and detailed assessment of your symptoms and medical history. If you are diagnosed with intestinal permeability, the good news is, there are ways to heal a leaky gut.
You May Like: Peanuts And Gerd
But There Are 2 Big Problems With Fish Oil For Us Leaky Gutters
To solve these 2 problems you need to find a molecularly distilled fish oil AND one that uses enteric coated capsules . Together that means less toxins and less reflux.
My research team and I make Smart Omega fish oil to satisfy both these points.
Best of all, we push ourselves much further in terms of distillation to the point that our formula is triple strength and meets the strictest purity standards in the US as set out in Californias Prop 65.
Thats why I use it every day and experience no fishy burps. Perfect!
Do I Need A Supplement

According to research published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology, there is some evidence that probiotics can improve the function of your gut and even help reverse leaky gut, but long-term studies are still needed. There is not a single study to date suggesting that probiotics are harmful.
Probiotic supplements are more like a fertilizer that communicates to your existing gut bacteria. It can regulate the pH and cross-talk to other bacteria, increasing short-chain fatty acids which is the food for the gut cells and help regulate inflammation and the immune system of the gut, says Dr. La Vella. Transitioning away from processed foods and toward whole foods is usually enough to keep your gut healthy.
Herbal supplements may be helpful in certain situations, but arent necessarily a quick fix.
I think of supplements as medications there is always a risk and a benefit. I prefer to think about restoring ecosystem balance rather than supplementing to cover up a bad dietary or lifestyle choice, says Dr. La Vella.
Don’t Miss: Diarrhea Over The Counter Medicine
What Is Yeast Overgrowth And How Is It Related To Leaky Gut
Hippocrates said years and years ago that all disease begins in the gut and were finding more and more just how right he was. Your gut houses 70 percent of your immune system and of course the intestinal cells that break down food. Its where nutrients are absorbed and toxins are removed. Your gut is composed of about a tennis court worth of lining all scrunched together to soak up as many nutrients as possible.
Very simply, a yeast overgrowth happens when your bodys bad bacteria outnumbers its good. Candida, the most common fungus present in your mouth and gut, can be productive in small amounts, but when it is overgrown, it breaks through your intestinal wall and leaks into the bloodstream. When this happens, toxins that are supposed to be eliminated by the gut circle back into your system. This spillage of toxins into the blood is called leaky gut, and it is the root of many of our health problems.
Ditch Sugars And Dairy
When trying to eliminate foods from your diet, dairy and sugars should be amongst the first to go. Excessive amounts of sugar can increase the risk of yeast and candida growth in your gut as well as increasing the volume of bad bacteria in your gut. Over time, this can create small holes in your intestinal lining and develop into a leaky gut. You should aim to avoid all obviously sugary foods and drinks including candy, sodas, and desserts.
Avoiding cows milk-based dairy will also help. This is because cows milk contains a certain protein called A1 Casein which doesnt agree with your gut. Pasteurized milk often contains fewer of the enzymes your body needs to actually digest food, and undigested food can often make a case of leaky gut worse. You could try alternative gut-friendly forms of daily such as buffalo mozzarella, aged cheese, lactose-free milk, organic yogurt, and goats cheese.
Basically, most non-cows milk diary products are fine
You May Like: Can Probiotics Help With Bv
Poor Diet And Inflammatory Foods
Sugar, alcohol, and some processed foods generally increase inflammation and intestinal damage, or may feed existing dysbiosis, which can lead to increased gut damage and leaky gut. And though these foods are often inflammatory, any food that you have a food sensitivity or food allergy to can continue to encourage leaky gut.
Gluten and gliadin, the proteins in wheat, barley, rye, spelt, and kamut have been shown to increase zonulin in celiac and non-celiac people alike [43
If You Like Beer Then Try To Find A Gluten Free Beer
Sadly, normal beer should be a permanent no go for us leaky gutters. Seriously. It is literally the worst alcohol you can drink as it combines gluten and yeast and sugar all into one horrible package.
If you decide that the nice bitter taste of beer on a hot summers day is just too good to say adios to, then search out a gluten free beer.
Let me firstly wish you good luck in finding one that tastes good.
And secondly, let me remind us that gluten-free beers are still made from grains, still come packed with yeast and although not as bad as gluten-based beers, they sure as heck arent helping our guts stay in good health.
So my best advice is to just avoid ALL beer indefinitely.
Admittedly, I personally have a gluten-free beer a couple times during summer. But thats just about it.
Also Check: Can Multivitamins Cause Diarrhea
Heres How To Make This Happen
IDEA #4
Strategy #: Bind Or Digest Toxins And Irritants
Infections contribute to mucosal degradation in two ways. First, the virulence of an infection directly irritates the lining & escalates inflammation.
Second, acute and chronic infections release toxins and byproducts that damage, inflame, and set off domino effects in other areas away from the site of infection.”Binding” up these toxins decreases virulence, assists in their removal, & opens a time-window for mucosal healing.
Immunoglobulins – Nature’s First Defense
Naturally, the body produces immunoglobulins such as secretory IgA that is a first-line defense against pathogens and foreign proteins Others immunoglobulins include IgG or IgM. Immunoglobulins are antibodies that bind to outside antigens . Upon binding, the antibodies neutralize & help the immune system target the toxins for elimination.Natural immunoglobulins are often deficient in states of immune-compromise, chronic infection, & leaky gut. One of the earliest signs of leaky gut & gastrointestinal dysfunction is a deficiency of secretory immunoglobulin A .You can supply some of these immunoglobulins via oral supplement & help the body bind up harmful antigens and toxins.I use Mega IgG2000 and MegaMucosa by Microbiome Labs which supply dairy-free immunoglobulins to support mucosal health & inflammation.
Charcoal & Systemic Enzymes
Other means of binding and digestion might include activated charcoal or proteolytic enzymes.
Don’t Miss: Does Oikos Greek Yogurt Have Probiotics
Other Tips For Gut Health
In addition to following the eating plan described above, its beneficial to avoid exposure to potential toxins found in to tap water, alcohol, cigarettes, pesticides, NSAID pain-killer medications and antibiotics, all of which can stress the gut. However, always consult with your physician if he or she has prescribed these for you.
Another tip is to consider following an elimination diet at first. Some foods seem to be in a gray area when it comes to worsening or promoting digestive health. For example, some people do better with certain protein foods than others do.
You may be wondering, are eggs bad for leaky gut? What about beans and legumes?
You may choose to eliminate eggs and legumes at first and then to try reintroducing them after several weeks. This can help you uncover whether they are problematic for you or not.
In place of eggs and legumes, try meat, poultry, fish and collagen protein or bone broth protein powder instead.
Reducing intake of FODMAP foods is also recommended as part of an elimination diet, since FODMAP carbohydrates can worsen digestive issues like bloating and gas.
Is There A Leaky Gut Diet

Following a healthy diet is one of the most effective measures to help manage leaky gut. Some foods help leaky gut, including fermented foods that contain natural probiotics. Avoiding gluten or dairy can ease symptoms for some people. Most non-starchy vegetables contain high levels of antioxidants and high fiber that ease digestive irritation.
One of the most popular leaky gut diets is the low-FODMAP diet. FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols, which are short-chain carbohydrates. Gut bacteria easily digest FODMAPs, which means they ferment during the digestive process. Studies have shown that a low-FODMAP diet improved digestive symptoms for non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and other studies found parallel results for irritable bowel syndrome. Since digestive symptoms are similar among these conditions, it is likely a low-FODMAP diet can ease leaky gut symptoms.
Other diets proposed to help with leaky gut and other GI conditions include the AID-IBD diet, a modified form of the specific carbohydrate diet. The AID-IBD diet aims to restore a healthy gut microbiota to ease symptoms and promote healing.
You May Like: Does Tramadol Make You Constipated
If You Like Spirits Then Make Sure You Drink Them Heavily Diluted
Spirits are not as bad as many think, especially if you drink them like I do i.e. heavily diluted.
For example, I typically order a tall glass with 400ml soda water, a shot of vodka and a fresh wedge of lime. Plus minimal ice. That combination is so diluted you can barely taste the vodka. And thats how you know youve nailed it.
Importantly, I never use pop/soda/soft drinks as a mixer due to the sugar content.
But if I get sick of mixing with soda water, then I will mix with something like kombucha43. This can be pleasantly delicious, especially if you get a little naughty and choose kombucha with natural flavoring in it!
How I Megadose L
Also Check: Do Bananas Help With Bloating
How Many Changes Will You Need To Make To Your Diet
If you want to see the best possible results from the Leaky Gut Cure, then you are going to make some big changes to your diet right off the bat. Some people find this to be a bit drastic, but it is the primary reason why this is such an effective cure for so many people. Rather than depending on expensive and dangerous medications to treat the symptoms of various illnesses, the Leaky Gut Cure gives you the opportunity to treat the underlying health conditions by simply changing your diet and making overall lifestyle changes.
After the initial phase, you will find that there are plenty of food options for you to enjoy and that you might not even miss your old, unhealthy foods anymore. You will be provided with a list of foods to avoid as well as foods that will aid in healing your leaky gut syndrome so that you can live a much healthier life in the future.
Health Information You Can Trust
We pride ourselves on being your source for the best, scientifically-accurate advice for healthy living.
This article contains references to scientific journals and peer-reviewed research. The numbers in brackets correspond with the list of references at the end of the article.
Reviewed and Approved
Additionally, the Reviewed and Approved seal signifies that our scientific board of experts has double-checked this article for accuracy. You can feel confident in knowing that the information within this article is sound.
Close
If you have a leaky gut also called increased intestinal permeability substances that should stay in the gastrointestinal tract pass through spaces called tight junctions. In a healthy gut, tight junctions act like gatekeepers, keeping partially digested food and microbiota in and allowing nutrients out. But if physical damage, chemical damage, pathogens, or illness injures the GI tract, the tight junctions loosen, leading to a leaky gut. A leaky gut is a risk factor for developing other conditions, including Crohns disease, allergies, and autoimmune and neurological disorders.
Also Check: Cialis Stomach Pain
Say Goodbye To Sugar In All Forms
Not only will excessive sugar consumption fuel the growth of yeast / candida21, but also can also cause dysbiosis in your gut22.
Whilst refined white sugar found in popular foods/drinks like soft drink, ice cream, sauces etc is obviously bad, when you have leaky gut so are the more innocent sounding sugars like brown sugar, raw sugar etc.
Simply put, avoid all blatantly sugary products like sodas, sweets, desserts, etc, and also avoid the less obvious ones like sauces, low fat products.
Heres A Chart Of The Most Popular Foods That Contain Wheat:
Youll hopefully join me in a moment of sadness as we see some of the all time tastiest foods included above, like bread, cereal, pasta, pizza, cookies, crackers, cakes, muffins, beer etc.
If you are Celiac or otherwise significantly gluten intolerant , you should also try to avoid wheat-derivative products like couscous, durum, semolina etc and products containing trace amounts of gluten especially hidden as fillers, eg sauces, soups etc.
Dr Perlmutter has an extensive list of foods that contain gluten, including in small amounts.
You May Like: Does Cottage Cheese Have Probiotics
What Is Leaky Gut 6 Leaky Gut Causes And How To Cure It
July 20, 2021 | By Diana Orchant
If youve browsed the internet regarding digestive distress or gut health, chances are youve run across some form of gut health information. Today, research reveals that what goes on in our gut happens to impact our entire body. As Hippocrates said, all disease begins in the gut.
One of the conditions that is showing up more frequently in research is leaky gut syndrome, also known as intestinal permeability. Leaky gut syndrome is a relatively new medical diagnosis that thousands of people have embraced as an explanation for a host of troubling symptoms.
Systemic Disease Infections And Dysbiosis

Diseases and infections can cause the gut lining to loosen, causing leaky gut, which is why we have to keep our immune system healthy and strong and support the gut in many disease states. Infections can cause an imbalance of the healthy and opportunistic bacteria in the gut, which can result in the overgrowth of bacteria, yeast, fungi, and/or parasites. Its been shown that the pathology of disease can be tied to the degree of intestinal permeability.
Also Check: How To Cure Diarrhea While Pregnant