Some Claims About Leaky Gut Are Not Backed By Science
Clinical studies to date show sufficient evidence to demonstrate a clear link between leaky gut and chronic illnesses such as IBS, Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. At the same time, there are just as many open questions regarding the role of the gut in other illnesses that burden our society.
Research on the role of the gut in health conditions such as Alzheimers disease, anxiety, depression and autism is ever expanding. Critics of the emerging research argue that the existing clinical evidence is insufficient to draw conclusions and that at best we can establish a correlation rather than a causal link. As the field of microbiome research continues to expand, we will likely learn much more about the role of the gut in many common diseases.
What Is A Leaky Gut
Andrea Benford, a Nurse Practitioner, and Functional Medicine Health Coach explains that a leaky gut is where the tight junctions of your small intestine begin to loosen. Things like toxins, partially digested food, and bacteria can make their way through the intestine lining and into the bloodstream. Once there, they cause inflammation which precedes many chronic and autoimmune disorders.
Damage to the lining of the small intestine also hinders the production of essential digestive enzymes, leading to the malabsorption of essential nutrients.
These are the common signs to look out for if you suspect that you might have a leaky gut.
How Leaky Gut Affects The Body
Gut health is closely linked to many other functions throughout the body. If you arent properly absorbing vitamins and nutrients from the foods you eat, it can lead to a wide range of health symptoms. Your immune system function can also be compromised, and the inflammatory responses that occur throughout the body in the presence of foreign particles can cause additional processes to malfunction. In short, a leaky gut can affect nearly every area of your health not just your digestive health.
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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.
Leaky Gut Fix #: Reduce Inflammation
Leaky gut syndrome is often driven by and accompanied by significant amounts of inflammation. Therefore, it is important to remove any elements from your diet that can be triggering inflammation. These trigger foods vary from person to person so a personalized approach is necessary here. We recommend working with a qualified practitioner who can help you figure out which foods and dietary choices are causing inflammation for you.
Additionally, with stool testing, individuals may find that they have certain strains of opportunistic bacteria, yeast, fungi, or parasites present. To cut inflammation, these issues must be addressed. Generally, we recommend herbs and botanicals to help eradicate these pests causing inflammation. However, this cant be overlooked as it is pinnacle in any treatment plan.
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Have Leaky Gut These 7 Food Additives Might Be To Blame
Our intestines do more work than we give them credit for, with the ability to process the food we eat and utilize the nutrients for the health of our bodies all while we go about our daily lives. Individuals who may indulge in less than healthy diets could be doing damage to their intestines without even knowing it, and their digestive problems might be a result of something called leaky gut.
Termed a medical gray area by physicians across the world, not much is known about this condition except that it can cause symptoms that make life difficult, including gas, bloating, and cramping after eating certain foods. Also called intestinal permeability, its thought to be linked to a wide variety of ailments including:
- Lupus
- Type 1 diabetes
- And so many more!
Leaky gut occurs in individuals when their intestinal lining breaks down and allows undigested food particles to enter into the bloodstream. This triggers an inflammatory response that can vary in severity, and until the gut lining is healed, the symptoms they experience will be ongoing. If youve ever had a stomach ache after eating a specific food or have a general feeling of unwellness all of the time, leaky gut could be the reason for the way you feel.
Foods That Contribute To Leaky Gut
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Signs You May Have Leaky Gut Syndrome
In Health and Wellness by Karen Eisenbraun, CHNC May 13th, 2019
Do you suffer from leaky gut syndrome? This common health condition can cause a range of health symptoms, from headaches to digestive problems, and its closely linked to dozens of other chronic health issues.
The term leaky gut is fairly new within the medical community, and many physicians dont recognize it as a legitimate health issue. But leaky gut has long been called by another term: intestinal permeability.
Its very common for anyone eating a Standard American Diet high in poor-quality meats, sugar, refined carbohydrates, and processed foods to experience digestive issues and intestinal inflammation. But just because these issues are common, that doesnt mean we have to live with them. It is possible to heal a leaky gut, and to resolve many of the health conditions that often come along with it.
Need help healing leaky gut syndrome and losing weight? Contact us for a no-cost consultation!
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How Is Leaky Gut Syndrome Diagnosed
Leaky gut syndrome is not a medical diagnosis that can be proven or disproven. Instead, it is a potential effect of a number of different underlying intestinal diseases. Therefore, your veterinarian will perform tests designed to diagnose the underlying disease.
“Your veterinarian will perform tests designed to diagnose the underlying disease.”
Your veterinarian will begin by performing a thorough physical exam and obtaining a detailed medical history. A fecal sample will be collected and examined under a microscope, to look for intestinal parasites. Blood will be collected for a complete blood cell count and serum biochemistry profile.
Depending on your pets signs, additional testing may be recommended. These tests may include radiographs and/or ultrasound of your pets abdomen, and/or biopsies of the intestines. These tests can help your veterinarian understand the underlying cause of your pets gastrointestinal signs.
How Does A Leaky Gut Lead To Body
Problems in the gut can lead to problems all over the body in several key ways:
Leaky gut stresses the liver. One way leaky gut affects the larger ecosystem is by taxing the liver. The liver is in charge of processing and eliminating toxins from the body. When the flow of undigested food particles, carcinogens, and toxins coming into the bloodstream is significant, as is often the case with leaky gut, the liver can get overwhelmed and sluggish, allowing toxins to accumulate in the body. A buildup of toxins, in turn, can lead to oxidative stress and inflammation, which are factors in many of the conditions associated with leaky gut, including acne, achy joints, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue.
The damage doesnt stop there. Inflammation can be a contributing factor in the development of leaky gut, and the more severe the case of leaky gut, the more inflammation in the body it is a vicious, self-perpetuating cycle.
Gut dysbiosis is also one of the irritants that can trigger a leaky gut. This creates another vicious cycle related to leaky gut: The more severe the case of leaky gut, the greater the chance of gut dysbiosis and the more dysbiosis, the greater chance of leaky gut.
Its in these three ways by fueling inflammation, triggering unwanted immune system reactions, and disrupting the healthy ecosystem of the gut flora that leaky gut affects whole-body health.
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How Do You Treat Leaky Gut
Remember, leaky gut is not an official medical condition. It is a process that causes the gut lining to be damaged from something else. There arent any accurate or approved tests to diagnose leaky gut. There also are no FDA-approved treatments currently available specifically for leaky gut. Researchers are still trying to figure out what causes leaky gut and how it may affect the body.
If leaky gut is associated with a medical condition, you need to treat the underlying condition. Sometimes these treatments can help restore the gut lining, but its not known why this happens. Its possible that improving leaky gut can improve a disease, but much more research needs to be done to prove this. Also, diseases associated with leaky gut do not always automatically improve when the gut lining is healed.
Since microbiome changes are associated with leaky gut and different diseases, researchers are also looking into how changing the microbiome with medicationsmay reverse diseases.
Leaky Gut Diet And Supplements
The Standard American Diet is notoriously low in fiber and high in sugar. A high-sugar, low-fiber diet does not create the ideal environment for helpful gut bacteria to thrive. Instead, it can lead to harmful gut organism overgrowth, which may eventually lead to a situation where there are more bad bacteria than good bacteria. This is called gut dysbiosis.
Eating a nutrient-dense diet rich in high-quality protein, fat, and carbs is a great way to support your digestive system and nourish the good bacteria in your gut. Fiber-rich foods provide the body with vital nutrients, help you move waste out of the body, and support hormones all of which help when trying to address a leaky gut. If youre looking for a place to start, grab my free meal plan and recipe guide aimed at helping you heal your gut and hormones.
A good leaky gut diet plan is high in plants, nutrient dense foods, and low in alcohol and sugar.
It can be daunting to change the way we eat, especially if weve been eating a certain way for many years. So keep it simple. Slowly increase the amount of nutrient-dense food on your plate while decreasing the nutrient-poor food. Eventually, you will fill your plate with only foods that will fuel and nourish your body.
Eating probiotic-rich foods, such as sauerkraut, beet kavvas, and kimchi. Additionally, high-quality bone broth is incredibly nourishing and helpful for those on a mission to improve their gut health.
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The Leaky Gut Diet Plan: What To Eat What To Avoid
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The term leaky gut has gained a lot of attention in recent years.
Also known as increased intestinal permeability, its a condition in which gaps in your intestinal walls start to loosen. This makes it easier for larger substances, such as bacteria, toxins, and undigested food particles, to pass across the intestinal walls into your bloodstream.
Studies have associated increased intestinal permeability with several chronic and autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes and celiac disease.
This article takes a close look at leaky gut and its causes. It also includes a list of foods that aid digestive health and a 1-week sample meal plan.
How Is Leaky Gut Syndrome Treated
The treatment of leaky gut syndrome is centered on decreasing intestinal inflammation to restore the barrier function of the intestines. In many cases, the diagnosis of the underlying cause determines the treatment that is required. In the absence of a definitive diagnosis however, there are some treatments that may be recommended.
“The treatment of leaky gut syndrome is centered on decreasing intestinal inflammation to restore the barrier function of the intestines.”
First, any allergens or potential toxins should be removed from your cats diet. Your pet should be transitioned to a hypoallergenic diet, unless a food allergy has been definitively ruled out using a veterinarian-directed food trial in the past.
Medications with the potential to cause intestinal inflammation, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, should be discontinued if possible. If your pet has pain from arthritis or another condition, talk to your veterinarian about other options for managing your pets discomfort.
Probiotics may be recommended to restore your cats normal intestinal bacterial flora. Your veterinarian can help you determine the best probiotic for your pet.
Finally, additional medications may be given to treat intestinal damage. Antioxidants, fatty acid supplements, fiber supplements, and other medications may be used to promote intestinal health and help restore normal intestinal function.
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Signs You Have A Leaky Gut
Since leaky gut is not yet a medically recognized condition, there is no set diagnostic criteria. As Pedre explains it, “Leaky gut is not a diagnosis but a process, a description of the underlying pathology of numerous diseases that we treat yet have failed to find a cure for.”
However, there are some signs and symptoms you can look out for that may indicate a more permeable gut lining.
Leaky Gut Revive Helps Repair Leaky Gut
As I mentioned earlier, Leaky Gut Revive® is my most comprehensive weapon in repairing leaky gut. Its packed with a high concentration of gut-repairing ingredients that nourish and soothe your gut cells, restore your guts natural mucosal lining, and maximize gut-mending fatty acid production. Now, it comes in a delicious strawberry lemonade flavor! Its so refreshing youll look forward to drinking it every morning.
Lets look at the ingredients of Leaky Gut Revive® and their benefits:
L-Glutamine
L-Glutamine is one of the absolute most important nutrients to restore gut health because of the way it supports cell regeneration. This amino acid helps to mend the broken junctions in your intestinal wall so they can function normally.34 L-Glutamine can also be used as a preventative nutrient, minimizing the damage caused by the food, toxins, infections, and stress that can lead to leaky gut in the first place.56
Larch Arabinogalactan
Larch Arabinogalactan is a fiber that is found in many plants, mostly commonly in the wood from the larch tree. It is a complex carbohydrate that supports healthy immune system function and a free radical fighter.7
It also promotes healthy gut microflora and promotes gut mending fatty acid production, which is essential in repairing your leaky gut.
Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice Root
Slippery Elm Bark
Aloe vera
It also provides a wide range of nutrients and antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E.
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Food Intolerances Or Allergies
Because the immune systems of people with leaky gut syndrome are in a chronically heightened state, it may cause you to be more sensitive to certain foods, most notably gluten and dairy. A study of children who were allergic to milk and eggs also found that they experienced elevated intestinal permeability.
What Is The Leaky Gut Syndrome
The leaky gut syndrome is a rapidly growing condition that people from the world over are experiencing of late. Although problems begin with your digestive system if you have the leaky gut syndrome, it affects other aspects of your health as well.
Your gut is lined by a wall, which is similar to a net with small holes in them. These small holes act as filters and enable the passage of certain substances only. It acts as a shield to keep out the bigger, harmful substances from entering your body.
When someone has a leaky gut, it means that the gut lining is damaged and cannot optimally function as a barrier any longer. The smaller holes become larger and allow harmful substances like gluten, bad bacteria, and undigested food particles to enter your system and cause considerable damage to health.
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Nutrient Insufficiency And Low Stomach Acid
If we arent absorbing the foods were eating, this can cause inflammation in the gut. This can range from not chewing foods well to having low levels of stomach acid, which doesnt allow us to properly break down and absorb the foods were eating. Pathogens can sneak into the gut that usually would be killed off by a low stomach pH, which can upregulate Zonulin protein, and undigested food particles begin to sneak through the gut lining.
How To Improve Leaky Gut
Its important to address all factors of health, including sleep quality, stress management, bacterial infections, exercise and nutrition, when working to rebuild the good gut bacteria, support damaged tissue repair and heal leaky gut.
Managing your stress is important. Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline can break down the tight junctions that hold the cells that line your digestive tract together. When you reduce these stress hormones through rest and relaxation, eating mindfully, breathing exercises, good sleep quality, meditation and moderate exercise and movement, these tight junctions can heal.
Eating a wide variety of fresh whole foods and shifting the food you eat away from processed and damaging foods to more organic, fresh, whole, plant foods is also very important.
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