Use A Brita Jug Or Other Filtering Device For Your Water
This is definitely not the most important idea on this list for leaky gut!
But it is still worth considering given that the chlorine & fluoride in your tap water120is a toxin and when it enters your body and potentially travels through your overly permeable gut barrier and into your bloodstream it may contribute to chronic systemic inflammation.
Most of all, this idea is so simple and cheap, why wouldnt you add it to your bag of leaky gut tricks!
How Does The Leaky Gut Test Work
The Leaky Gut Test requires you take a baseline morning urine sample . Once completed, you will be required to drink a mixture of two non-metabolized sugars, lactulose, and mannitol. After six hours, you will collect an additional sample of urine. The lab will measure how much lactulose and mannitol was excreted.
If Leaky Gut Syndrome is NOT present, the large lactulose molecules should remain in the GI tract and thus test low in the urine. If the count is high in the urine, Leaky Gut Syndrome should be considered.
- This kit can be ordered only within the US states including New York State.
- This kit is not intended for those with kidney dysfunction.
- Do not run the test if you have allergies to Mannitol or Lactulose.
- Certain medications such as aspirin, other anti-inflammatory drugs, antacids containing aluminum or magnesium hydroxide as well as drugs that contain sorbitol and/or mannitol may affect your test results. Please consult with your healthcare professional know about any medications or supplements you are using before taking this test. It is recommended that you avoid the use of these medicines for at least 72 hours before taking this test.
I Dont Want To Sound Like Some Kind Of Crazy New Age Hippy But Heres My Sincere Advice
Unlike a lot of the other ideas in this article, I genuinely believe this should be a permanent lifestyle change.
For example, whilst alcohol is something your gut can most likely take in moderation when youre back to good health, I really dont think gluten is for most of us.
Of course, everyone is different and you will find out pretty soon if you reintroduce it into your diet after 30-90 days.
I will note that currently I do consume some gluten. But it is usually as trace/small amounts. For example, occasionally I might eat some oats for breakfast that are not certified gluten free.
P.S. if you find it hard to ditch these types of foods completely, fear not. As there are some fantastic recipes to make a lot of these foods gut-friendly.
For example, checkout my gut-friendly, gluten-free pancakes recipe. Foodgasm incoming!
IDEA #2
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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.
The Intestinal Permeability And Leaky Gut Urine Test
The Leaky Gut Syndrome Test is a precise, non invasive urine test for evaluating the permeability of the intestinal wall. Changes in intestinal permeability are associated with many health conditions including autism, autoimmune disorders, food sensitivities and inflammatory bowel disease or inflammatory bowl syndrome . This âleaky gutâ causes disease because the damaged intestinal lining allows toxic molecules and undigested foods to enter the bloodstream and poison the body, further the damaged lining also causes malabsorption of essential nutrients.
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My Favorite Company For Micriobiome Testing Is Viome
Not only are they doing scientifically sound testing, but theyre also focused on the right things.
So instead of trying to sell you follow up products like other companies, theyre giving you simple-to-follow diet and lifestyle advice.
And Im actually kinda amazed at what theyre able to tell from our stool samples now.
For example, they are now able to pinpoint specific foods that YOUR specific gut flora tolerates well and what foods it does not. This puts a whole new spin on reactive testing.
It is quite possible that this info can sniff out food sensitivities that no other test can. And then by eliminating these foods, you could potentially say adios to food-based digestive problems almost overnight.
In other words, this test is trying to deliver the benefits of a 3-month elimination-reintroduction diet, but without the painstaking effort from you.
Unsurprisingly, Viomes testing service is priced higher than the likes of Ubiome, Biohm and Thryve. But for me, thats because it is simply backed by better data and more useful results.
How To Get Your Kraut In
- You can ferment your own vegetables. But this is going to take some work. Ive tried to make the simplest possible recipe for you, which you can see in the graphic just below.
- Alternatively you can buy it ready made. The key is to avoid the canned stuff in the supermarket dry aisles, as it is pasteurized and thus devoid of live probiotics. To buy the good stuff youll need to hit your local health store and look for glass jars sitting in fridges. Youll know youve found high quality products when you see the price tag! But trust me, its worth it. One large jar should easily last a week for 1 person, ie 3-6 servings.
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Finally All My Best Ideas For Healing Leaky Gut Syndrome In One Place
The #1 thing I hear people with leaky gut ask for, is an all-in-one list of simple ways they can heal their gut fast.
And I get it.
After all, when I suffered from leaky gut I found myself drowning in a sea of 100s of different research papers, reports and books. Jumping from one report to the next was time consuming and trying to tie it all together took months.
Well, thats why I created this list of the best ideas for healing leaky gut.
The ideas on this page have the potential to get you feeling so much better in just days , and they can save you 100s of hours of research.
But admittedly, there are a LOT of ideas listed below. And I know life is busy. So I dont expect you to read through the full list right now or start implementing all the ideas today.
Take A Probiotic Supplement Daily
Unless youre going around eating sauerkraut all day like some crazed German Popeye, your gut will be crying out for probiotics, aka good bacteria.
In fact, long term youll find probiotics are the #1 thing to get more of in order to help maintain good gut health46,47.
The reason probiotics work so well is something I dive deep into in my article on probiotics and leaky gut syndrome.
But one of the most interesting roles it can play is its ability to fight leaky gut by enhancing the production of tight junction proteins as mentioned in Frontiers In Immunologys 2017 research paper on leaky gut.
In addition, the good bacteria can help to fight off bad bacteria and yeast overgrowth, so that your gut flora can start regaining a healthy balance48.
And best of all, continued use of probiotics can help ensure the ratio of good to bad bacteria stays in the healthy range, which means bad bacteria and excessive yeast may not return and cause leaky gut again. A bonus benefit is that a healthy gut flora will also aid digestion49.
When all 3 benefits are taken together you can see why probiotics are at the heart of any leaky gut recovery protocol.
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Heres How The Test Works:
Why To Not Skip Leaky Gut Testing
Testing for leaky gut is something I have actually changed my mind about over the years. Initially, I was like many other practitioners who just assumed everyone with autoimmunity of digestive issues had leaky gut, so we never tested for it.
But its not always that simple. Many digestive issues have symptoms that overlap. If you diagnose yourself based on symptoms alone, you may be treating a problem you dont have while allowing one you do to worsen.
Ive since realized that testing is essential because it not only confirms if intestinal permeability is a problem and it gives us insight into WHY it is occurring so that we can best treat it.
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When Should You Be Tested For Leaky Gut
Certain symptoms and conditions can give you clues that its worth testing for leaky gut.
Leaky gut is a symptom rather than a condition. But, confusingly, its a symptom that can contribute to other conditions. These can be within the digestive system, including:
· Food allergies and/or sensitivities13· Inflammatory bowel disease14
· Type-1 diabetes23
Just to be clear: we dont know whether leaky gut is driving these conditions or if its the other way aroundbut research suggests theyre connected. If you experience any of the above, its worth testing to see if leaky gut is related to your symptoms.
How Accurate Are These Tests
Because testing for leaky gut is still being developed, I believe that we will see an increase in the accuracy of testing over the next decade. In the meantime, these tests can be useful for identifying more severe cases of leaky gut. However, since leaky gut can exist in differing severities, has different causes for different people, and because addressing even mild leaky gut is beneficial for your health, these tests have limited usefulness at this time.
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The Best Lab Test For Leaky Gut Is
I believe that the best lab test for leaky gut is a white blood cell count, which is usually performed with a common CBC test for less than $20. Yes, even more valuable than a stool test, SIBO test, candida test, etc., the white blood cell count can not only give us more information, but the price point is so wonderful that we can test and re-test without breaking the bank.
What if you wanted to run a stool test 4 times per year to make sure you had eradicated a parasite? The costs could quickly add up to over $1,500. As you know, then you still have to buy supplements, pay for doctor visits, etc. The costs add up quickly. With the CBC with white blood cells, you can take a close look at your health more often.
Gut Microbiota And Leaky Gut Syndrome
The intestines are also home to a wide range of bacteria called gut microbiota. These bacteria aid digestion, protect the intestinal wall and support normal immune function. LGS may involve imbalances in gut microbiota.
According to a 2016 article, imbalances in the gut microbiota can trigger the bodys immune response. This results in gut inflammation and increased intestinal permeability . IP describes how easily substances can leak out of the intestines and into the bloodstream.
Experts still do not know exactly why autism develops. However, scientists have suggested that various genetic, biological, and environmental factors may play a role.
Recently, scientists have begun investigating a possible link between gut microbiota, IP, and autism.
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease Eg Crohns Disease Ulcerative Colitis
The link here with leaky gut is quite clear and as mentioned above, studies are increasingly revealing the growing link between leaky gut and autoimmune disorders such as IBD.
The generally accepted connection is that intestinal hyperpermeability starts, then it leads to the development of IBD25,26.
Said differently, if you have IBD, you likely have leaky gut.
There is no chicken and the egg problem here. Unsurprisingly then, there is also a strong connection between people who suffer with IBS and leaky gut27.
Heres How I Recommend You Do The Breathing Exercises
- Download the The Breathing App app and do it before and just after each meal. Although it is somewhat annoying to remember or take the time out to do this, all you need to do is try it out for the next 30 days.
- If you really struggle to do it, then at least try to nail it once a day with your biggest meal.
- As insurance, make sure you take a digestive enzyme or two just before each meal.
IDEA #17
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Leaky Gut Test How To Tell If You Have Leaky Gut Syndrome
Hippocrates, known as the father of medicine once said all diseases begin in the gut. Many years after his death, research is now proving that he really meant something by it.
If you are into medicine you must have definitely heard of the term before. Leaky gut or intestinal permeability is a condition that is spreading like an epidemic because of bacterial imbalance, poor diet and stress issues in people due to a hectic schedule. This condition is serious enough to not be ignored and is known to be associated with various other underlying issues and diseases in the body.
It is best to go for a leaky gut test right away if you notice you have any symptoms present.
What Causes Leaky Gut
When they are healthy, the walls of the small intestine are designed to allow nutrients to seep through into the bloodstream so they can travel to where they are needed in the body. The tiny gaps between the cells of the intestinal walls, called tight junctions, are joined together with proteins, sort of like Velcro. However, these cells and the Velcro that hold them together are susceptible to damage from the following:
- Glutenthe protein in wheat, spelt, barley and rye.
- Inflammation caused by:
- Infections, such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and/or yeast.
- Dysbiosis, which is an imbalance of good bacteria often caused by the overuse of antibiotics.
- Irritation from medications such as anti-inflammatories .
- Food allergens, such as casein, whey, soy protein, and egg whites.
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What Viome Gut Tests Reveal
Viome looks at the gut in all the ways I just explained. It also does a metabolic intelligence test . This helps you gauge your blood sugar, insulin levels, stress responses, and more by looking at urine pH, saliva pH, blood sugar, heart rate, and other metrics.
Specifically, the test will help you learn:
- how to maximize beneficial microbial species that boost gut health
- which missing beneficial bacteria your gut needs
- whether you are lacking good metabolites
- which prebiotics you need for the foundation of gut health
- the ideal ratio of proteins, carbs, and fats you need in your individualized diet
- dietary recommendations for achieving healthy weight, energy, focus, and well-being
- ways to optimize digestion and absorption of nutrients in your gut
What Foods Should You Avoid If You Have Leaky Gut Syndrome
If your doctor feels confident that you likely have leaky gut, they may recommend adjusting your diet to remove inflammatory foods that could impact gut flora, such as:
- Processed foods
- Foods that may trigger allergies or sensitivities, such as gluten or dairy
- Alcohol
Additionally, the doctor may also recommend a low FODMAP diet. Usually, this diet is recommended for people with IBS or even celiac disease, but it may help relieve some of the symptoms from leaky gut as well, especially since there is so much symptom overlap.
Creating a diet rich in foods that aid the growth of beneficial gut bacteria is important as well. Some great options are vegetables , roots, fruit, sprouted seeds, fish, cultured dairy products and nuts .
References
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Symptoms Of A Poor And Unhealthy Gut
How do you know you have an unhealthy gut? Most people take probiotics without having any known symptoms of an unhealthy gut.
This is not an entirely bad practice, but you could be wasting your money.
The good bacteria in your gut almost present no problems. They control important functions in your body and keep the bad bacteria in check. However, sometimes the bad bacteria can take over and dominate your gut.
This is where things go wrong.
When the bad bacteria take over, your gut sends a distress warning telling your body system that your gut is in bad shape. These signals usually translate to symptoms that are noticeable to most people.
Most symptoms of an unhealthy gut are usually familiar. They include:
These symptoms are common to poor gut health. If you witness any one of the symptoms, it’s necessary to consult your healthcare provider.
Specialize In Cooking Just 7 Simple Paleo
Everyone out there is probably telling you to eat all kinds of crazy things to repair your gut.
From broccoli shakes to liver & choy sum stir frys, it can seem quite unappetizing and perhaps a little daunting.
Worse yet, the cookbooks out there focused on clean eating usually contain some of the most complicated recipes youll ever find.
From all my own trial and error, Ive found that picking and then sticking to a meal roster of just 7 meals is perfect, especially if you make sure they are easy and quick to cook, and only require a couple of ingredients.
You can find my 7 cornerstone meals in the free guide, but here is a brief overview of how they breakdown.
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