Leaky gut syndrome or permeable gut is a condition that has become more and more prevalent in recent years. In the fast-paced world we live in, far too many of us are living lifestyles that contribute to poor gut health. Factors such as chronic stress, processed food, toxic overload, food sensitivities and poor bacteria balance can cause major inflammation and damage to the gut lining. When our gut lining becomes inflamed, the epithelial lining, or the thin layer of cells that is responsible for creating a barrier between the inside of our gut and the blood stream, loses integrity. Tight junctions, a protein found in the epithelial layer begin to malfunction under states of inflammation causing it to let in substances that would not normally be able to pass through. These foreign materials include toxins, undigested food and bad bacteria. They pass into the blood stream and the immune system activates and launches a response against these foreign bodies. This immune system attack contributes to further inflammation, inflammation as we know, is the root cause of most every disease within the body. Therefore, making leaky gut a serious condition that is commonly the precursor to autoimmune disease, food sensitivities, and digestive conditions such as IBS, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s.
Symptoms of leaky gut
Since the intestines is responsible for such critical functions such as breaking down food, absorbing nutrients and removing waste, many symptoms and conditions can arise from leaky gut.
Some of the most common complications related to leaky gut are:
Autoimmune conditions- due to the large immune response that occurs from foreign materials passing through the gut lining, the immune system creates antibodies against these harmful substances and occasionally, the immune system mistakes our bodies own tissue as a foreign invader. The immune system creates antibodies and launches an attack against these tissues, creating damage and malfunction of the organ system this is what occurs in conditions such as Hashimoto’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, Crohn’s, Celiac disease, etc.
Food Sensitivities- When undigested foods pass through the barriers of the intestinal walls and end up in the blood stream before being properly digested, the immune system marks these foods as invaders. Each time these trigger foods are consumed, the immune system is activated. This creates inflammation and common symptoms such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation and even headaches.
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders- The immune system response as a result of leaky gut causes chronic inflammation in the intestines in particular. Conditions such as IBS, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s and Celiac disease are all conditions stemming from intestinal inflammation and damage.
Malabsorption- When the intestines is not able to adequately absorb and process the nutrients we consume from our food, we can end up with classic symptoms of malabsorption, such as fatigue, weakness, weight loss, weight gain and mood disorders.
Mood Disorders – the gut is often referred to as our second brain. There is a large nerve that runs between our gut and the brain called the Vegas nerve. This nerve transfers information from the gut to the brain. When the intestinal lining becomes damaged and inflamed it creates an environment that allows bad bacteria to thrive. When our gut bacteria balance is off, we can often experience symptoms neurologically. For example, a person with poor gut health is more likely to suffer from conditions like anxiety and depression.
Allergies- Leaky gut puts our immune system on high alert. A hypersensitive immune system will start to incorrectly mark anything that our bodies are commonly exposed to. For example, pet dander, dust, mold, seasonal pollen etc.
Skin Conditions- gut health and skin health have been shown to have a strong correlation. Most skin conditions are a sign of underlying issues with gut health.
Can it be fixed?
Absolutely! Although like anything else, it takes time, patience and consistency.
Let’s start with the 4 R’s of Recovery:
Remove- common allergens such as gluten, dairy and soy. These foods are often hard on compromised digestion so they should be eliminated in any gut healing protocol. People suffering from leaky gut can also benefit from an elimination diet which aims to remove all food possible allergens and sensitivities. If an elimination diet sounds too challenging for your lifestyle, you can opt to get a food sensitivity testing done from your medical professional. These are blood tests that measure the levels of IgE (allergy) and IgG (sensitivities) antibodies present from the foods you consume daily.
Replace- eliminate harmful foods such as coffee, alcohol, processed foods and additives that contribute to inflammation with healing anti-inflammatory foods.
Repair- there are many nutrients and supplements that aid in the repair of the intestinal lining such as vitamin A, C, E, Omega 3 and probiotics
Rebalance- It is critical for gut health to repopulate with good bacteria. Good bacteria in the gut will aid in digestion, improve mood, and feed the epithelial lining of the intestinal wall. Sources of good bacteria can be found in fermented foods such as kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir or probiotic supplements.
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