The Low-Down on Leaky Gut
If you follow any health trends online, you've probably heard about leaky gut. But what exactly is it, and is it the root of all your digestive woes? Let's dive in and separate fact from fiction.
In this post, we’ll answer:
What is leaky gut?
What are the symptoms of leaky gut?
What causes leaky gut?
Can you heal leaky gut?
The Low-Down on Leaky Gut
Leaky gut, also referred to as increased intestinal permeability, is a condition where the lining of the intestines becomes compromised.
Your intestines are essentially a tube lined with a special layer of cells. This lining acts as a barrier, allowing essential nutrients from food to pass into your bloodstream while keeping harmful substances like toxins and bacteria inside the small intestine so they can be neutralized and excreted. This barrier is often referred to as the mucosal barrier and is a vital part of the immune system, comprising roughly 70-80% of the body’s immune cells.
In leaky gut, the tight junctions between these cells loosen up, creating larger gaps. This can allow unwanted particles to leak through the gut lining and potentially enter the bloodstream, triggering inflammation and other health problems.
Here, you can see what a strong mucosal barrier looks like, with tight junctions that are closed.
Here, you see a weak barrier, with tight junctions that are loose and open.
Symptoms of Leaky Gut
Leaky gut symptoms can vary but may include bloating, gas, fatigue, skin problems, and food sensitivities. Since leaky gut means harmful substances are entering general circulation, symptoms are often widespread. Inflammation in the body can appear as many things — ranging from hormonal imbalances to autoimmune conditions. It's also important to note that these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions and leaky gut is just an exacerbating factor.
Causes of Leaky Gut
Chronic inflammation, often arising from infections, stress, poor diet, and an unhealthy lifestyle, can damage the mucosal barrier, increasing permeability and allowing unwanted particles to "leak" into the bloodstream.
When addressing leaky gut, it’s important to holistically evaluate a person’s life — their health history, environment, lifestyle, diet, sleep hygiene, and exercise habits. Stressors in any of these areas can weaken the mucosal barrier. It is rarely one stressor or event that causes leaky gut, but rather a storm of chronic, acute stressors that have worn away at the lining overtime.
It's important to note that leaky gut is a complex concept, and research is still ongoing. While some believe it's the root cause of many health problems, others see it as a consequence of underlying conditions.
Healing Leaky Gut
The causes of leaky gut inform the healing of leaky gut.
While there are supplements that can soothe and repair the gut lining, it is essential to address the lifestyle stressors that weaken the mucosal barrier.
A good place to start is with your diet. Your gut health will flourish when you prioritize natural, whole foods and eliminate processed ones. Start by adding in these 6 gut-healing foods and reducing alcohol intake.
Learn how alcohol impacts the gut here.
Additionally, removing foods you are sensitive to is vital for reducing inflammation. For the gut lining to heal and repair itself, you have to give it a break. The best way to do that is by running a Mediator Release Test (MRT). This test eliminates a lot of the guesswork that can come with monitoring your reactions through a food diary.
The MRT is a foundational functional test we run at Wholistic Renewal. It accelerated my gut-healing journey and offered insights I could never have gotten through conventional food sensitivity tests or keeping a food diary.
Fed up with unanswered questions about your health?
At Wholistic Renewal, we dig deep to uncover the root causes of your concerns. Our programs combine comprehensive functional lab testing with personalized protocols and dedicated support from a nutritional practitioner. Through one-on-one guidance and education, you can finally find the answers you've been searching for and renew your health.
*The information provided above is intended for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical or health-related questions or concerns you may have. Reliance on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk.
