Leaky gut syndrome is a rapidly growing condition that more and more people are struggling with everyday. This condition may be the cause of your allergies, low energy, joint pain, autoimmune conditions and weight gain.
When someone has leaky gut (often referred to as increased intestinal permeability) the “net” in your digestive tract gets damaged, which causes even bigger holes to develop in your net, so things that normally can’t pass through, are now be able to.
Some of the things that can now pass through include proteins like gluten, bad bacteria and undigested foods particles. Toxic waste can also leak from the inside of your intestinal wall into your blood stream causing an immune reaction.
This leads to inflammation throughout your system and can cause symptoms, such as:
Bloating
Food sensitivities
Thyroid conditions
Fatigue
Joint pain
Headaches
Skin issues like rosacea and acne
Digestive problems
Weight gain
Metabolic Syndrome X
One of the biggest warning signs that you may have leaky gut can be that you’re experiencing multiple food sensitivities. Partially digested protein and fat can seep through your intestinal lining making their way into your bloodstream which will cause an allergic response.
This allergic response doesn’t mean you’ll break out in a rash all over your body, but it can lead to one of the symptoms I’ve mentioned above. And, if left unrepaired can lead to more severe health issues like inflammatory bowel disease, IBS, arthritis, eczema,2 psoriasis,3 depression, anxiety, migraine headaches, muscle pain and chronic fatigue.
According to the Journal of Diabetes there is a strong body of evidence pointing to leaky gut as a major cause of autoimmune diseases including Type 1 Diabetes.4
Another problem with leaky gut is that it can cause malabsorption of vital minerals and nutrients including zinc and iron.
Leaky Gut and the Brain
Another topic I want to quickly discuss is how leaky gut can affect the brain. If you’ve ever seen a child with autism experience a mood swing, this can be caused by intestinal permeability.
Gluten and Casein-Free Diet’s have proven effective for many children with autism because these proteins can leak through the gut and then recirculate and act on the brain similarly to an opioid drug.
This is also why leaky gut has been linked to other psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. So, in many cases, if you can heal the gut you can heal the brain.
Functional Medicine and Leaky Gut
One of the most important functional medicine test we utilize to confirm and identify the cause of leaky gut is the intestinal permeability test and the comprehensive digestive stool analysis test.
Stool Analysis offers a comprehensive look at the overall health of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The test is the original non-invasive evaluation of gastrointestinal function that includes analyses of digestion, absorption, bacterial balance, and yeast. This gastrointestinal test profile is recommended for patients with diffuse and non-specific GI-related symptoms such as IBS, indigestion, dysbiosis, constipation, and diarrhea.
The Intestinal Permeability Assessment is a powerful noninvasive gastrointestinal test assessment of small intestinal absorption and barrier function in the bowel. The small intestine uniquely functions as a digestive/absorptive organ for nutrients as well as a powerful immune and mechanical barrier against excessive absorption of bacteria, food antigens, and other macromolecules. Both malabsorption and increased intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”) are associated with chronic gastrointestinal imbalances as well as many systemic disorders.
The 4-Step Plan to Heal Leaky Gut
The good news is there’s a solution to healing leaky gut. There is a four step process that includes:
Remove foods and factors that damage the gut
Replace with healing foods
Repair with specific supplements
Rebalance with probiotics
This is the protocol I have used with my patients over the years that has helped them see incredible results.