What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?

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Leaky gut syndrome is a digestive condition that affects the lining of the intestines. In leaky gut syndrome, gaps in the intestinal walls allow bacteria and other toxins to pass into the bloodstream.

This is the definition according to Wikipedia:

Leaky gut syndrome is a hypothetical, medically unrecognized condition.

Proponents claim that a “leaky gut” causes chronic inflammation throughout the body that results in a wide range of conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, migraines, multiple sclerosis, and autism. As of 2016, there is little evidence to support the hypothesis that leaky gut syndrome directly causes this wide array of diseases.

Other definitions:

Leaky gut syndrome, also known as intestinal permeability, is a digestive condition that can drive inflammation and autoimmunity. While it is not yet a widely recognized medical condition, integrative and functional medicine doctors are at the forefront of diagnosis and treatment, while more research is starting to emerge to explain what it is and how to heal it.

“We don’t know a lot but we know that it exists,” says Linda A. Lee, MD, a gastroenterologist, and director of the Johns Hopkins Integrative Medicine and Digestive Center. “In the absence of evidence, we don’t know what it means or what therapies can directly address it”.

If you’ve been around the natural health world very long, you’ve probably heard of a condition known as leaky gut syndrome. It sounds pretty gross, but it’s an important enough problem to consider. There are several leaky gut symptoms to be aware of, which is particularly important since the leaky gut is associated with dozens of related conditions and diseases.

As more Americans are affected by poor diet choices, chronic stress, toxic overload, and bacterial imbalance, it appears that the prevalence of leaky gut has reached epidemic proportions. The medical profession is just now agreeing this condition may even exist, which is especially shocking to me because “intestinal permeability” (another name for leaky gut) has been discussed in the medical literature for over 100 years!

Why should leaky gut syndrome concern you? Recently leaky gut has been called a “danger signal for autoimmune disease.” If you’re wondering if you may be experiencing a leaky gut, the first thing to do is assess your symptoms. Keep in mind that it’s very common for people on a Standard American Diet to struggle with poor gut function and high levels of inflammation — but just because digestive
issues and autoimmune conditions are common and don’t make them “normal”!

In this article, I’ve outlined a brief description of common leaky gut syndrome seen in people struggling with this condition. Can you heal leaky gut syndrome? As you’ll learn about below, there are four steps recommended by Dr. Axe in order to repair a leaky gut, which include removing trigger foods from your diet, taking beneficial supplements, and rebalancing your microflora with probiotics.

Leaky Gut Syndrome:

The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, said, “All disease begins in the gut.” More than two millennia after his death, scientific research has now proven he was onto something all those years ago. For over three decades, study after study has been published (several thousand articles exist to date) discussing our growing understanding of immunity, gut function, and how modern diets and
Lifestyles negatively contribute to overall health by damaging our digestive system.

What Causes Leaky Gut?

The intestines are protected by a single layer of specialized epithelial cells that are linked together by tight junction (or TJ) proteins. Leaky gut symptoms are a consequence of intestinal
tight-junction malfunction.

These tight junctions are the gateway between your intestines and your bloodstream. They control what is allowed to pass into the bloodstream from your digestive system. More than 40 different TJ
proteins have now been recognized to play a role in gut health. Tight junctions have a very precise job — they have to maintain the delicate balance between allowing vital nutrients to enter your bloodstream while remaining small enough to prevent xenobiotics (disease-causing compounds from your diet or lifestyle) from passing out of your digestive system into the rest of your body.

When you have a leaky gut, certain tiny particles that should never be able to enter your bloodstream start to make their way through. There are also common abnormalities in the gut stemming from antimicrobial molecules, immunoglobulins, and cytokine activities. This presents a major problem, as the vast majority of your immune system is found inside the gut.

The result? A disruption of acute inflammation, and sometimes autoimmune reactions. A normal part of your immune response that serves to fight infections and diseases winds up over-performing, leading to chronic inflammation, which is at the root of most diseases.

Some of the underlying causes of leaky gut include:

• Genetic predisposition — Certain people may be
  more predisposed to developing leaky gut because they are sensitive to
  environmental factors that “trigger” their bodies into initiating
  autoimmune responses.
• Poor diet — especially a diet that includes
  allergens and inflammatory foods such as un-sprouted grains added
  sugar, GMOs, refined oils, synthetic food additives, and conventional dairy products.
• Chronic stress
• Toxin overload — including high drug and alcohol
  consumption. We come into contact with over 80,000 chemicals and toxins
  every single year, but the worst offenders for causing leaky gut include
  antibiotics, pesticides, tap water, aspirin, and NSAIDs. I recommend buying a high-quality water filter to eliminate chlorine and fluoride and look to natural plant-based herbs to reduce inflammation in your body.
• Bacterial imbalance — also called dysbiosis, which means an imbalance between beneficial and harmful species of bacteria in your gut. A large body of evidence now shows that gut microbiota is important in supporting the epithelial barrier and preventing autoimmune
  reactions. At least 10 percent of all gene transcriptions found in intestinal epithelial cells that are related to immunity, cell proliferation, and metabolism are regulated by gut microbiota.

How Serious Is Leaky Gut Syndrome?

Well, according to a 2014 review of the facts and research about intestinal permeability (among other sources), the chronic condition of hyperpermeability is linked to numerous symptoms and health conditions.

What are the symptoms of a leaky gut? Some of the most prominent signs you may have a leaky gut include:

• Gastric ulcers
• Infectious diarrhea
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis)
• Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
• Celiac disease
• Esophageal and colorectal cancer
• Allergies
• Respiratory infections
• Acute inflammation conditions (sepsis, SIRS, multiple organ failure)
• Chronic inflammatory conditions (such as arthritis)
• Thyroid disorders
• Obesity-related metabolic diseases (fatty liver, Type II diabetes, heart disease)
• Autoimmune disease (lupus, multiple sclerosis, Type I diabetes, Hashimoto’s, and more)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Chronic fatigue syndrome

Symptoms and Signs

How do you know if you have a leaky gut? Below you’ll find seven leaky gut symptoms and early occurring conditions that may point to an issue with your gut health.

1. Food Sensitivities

Because of the onslaught of toxins that enter the bloodstream, the immune systems of people with intestinal hyperpermeability are on overdrive mass-producing various antibodies, which may make their bodies more susceptible to antigens in certain foods (especially gluten and dairy). In studies involving rats and human children, leaky gut and food allergies have been linked. Allergies are believed to be one of the most common leaky gut symptoms.

2. Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Researchers from Hungary uncovered in 2012 that elevated gut permeability is oftentimes localized to the colon in people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis. As far back as 1988, scientists suggested that Crohn’s disease may be more of a risk for people with leaky gut.

A small study (observing 12 patients) discovered that zinc supplementation may help resolve the tight junction dysfunction in these cases, although more research is required on a larger scale to confirm
these results.

3. Autoimmune Disease

Eating gluten may trigger this dangerous cascade. University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers have uncovered that gluten “activates zonulin signaling irrespective of the genetic expression of autoimmunity, leading to increased intestinal permeability to macromolecules.”

The good news is that at least as far as leaky gut plays a role in autoimmune conditions, it is reversible and could potentially alleviate some of these problematic immune responses.

4. Thyroid Problems

One of the autoimmune diseases that leaky gut syndrome may directly affect is Hashimoto’s disease. Also known as “chronic thyroiditis,” this disorder is displayed with hypothyroidism (low thyroid function), impaired metabolism, fatigue, depression, weight gain, and a host of other concerns.

5. Nutrient Malabsorption

Lacking Vitamin B12, magnesium, and digestive enzymes found to be common nutrient deficiencies is one reason why many functional medicine practitioners prescribe whole-food multivitamins in addition to probiotics for people suffering from leaky gut problems.

6. Inflammatory Skin Conditions

First described over 70 years ago, the gut-skin connection theory has described how intestinal hyperpermeability can cause a slew of skin conditions, particularly acne and psoriasis. Creams and drugs with endless lists of (sometimes dangerous) side effects are often prescribed for these skin disorders, yet there has been evidence for several decades that part of the root cause might exist in the gut.

7. Mood Issues and Autism

According to a study published in the journal Neuroendocrinology Letters, a leaky gut has been shown to cause various neurocognitive disorders. For example, the inflammatory response characteristic of intestinal hyperpermeability triggers the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and other chemicals that are thought to induce depression.

A study published in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience described the “vicious circle between immune system impairment and increasing dysbiosis that leads to leaky gut and neurochemical compounds and/or neurotoxic xenobiotics production and absorption.”

The authors go on to describe findings from a number of studies that point to their theory that autism may be connected to problems in the gut microbiome, particularly within the first year of life. It is actually a common hypothesis in modern science that a leaky gut is strongly related to autism.

What the Medical Community Has to Say About Leaky Gut Syndrome

Do most conventional doctors support the idea that a leaky gut is real?

WebMD refers to a leaky gut as “something of a medical mystery.” This isn’t surprising since it’s not a diagnosis that most doctors have been taught in medical school. “From an MD’s standpoint, it’s a
very gray area,” says gastroenterologist Donald Kirby, MD – Director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the Cleveland Clinic. In his opinion, “Physicians don’t know enough about the gut, which is our biggest immune system organ.”

To make matters worse, government agencies have also contributed to the confusion. According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), “There is currently little evidence to support the theory that a porous bowel is the direct cause of any significant, widespread problems.”

So while it’s encouraging that science is coming around to leaky gut syndrome being a real problem, we are by no means at a point where there are standard diagnostic tools for testing and treating leaky gut.

In the Western/conventional medical world, if there are no standard diagnostic criteria for a disease, then there are no specific therapies or treatments available. Moreover, if there are no “proven” treatment models, then most MDs are left with no other choice than to follow what they believe to be the “safe path” and prescribe drugs that only treat leaky gut symptoms. For example, medications (like proton pump inhibitors or antacids) can be used to manage symptoms like acid reflux medications but these drugs don’t solve the root problem.

Because much of the medical community denies leaky gut’s very existence, it’s critical that you understand what leaky gut is and what to look out for in case you or a loved one is affected by it. The good news is that many functional and integrative medicine practitioners have a greater understanding of this condition than they did even a decade ago. They are much more likely to help you determine if you are suffering from leaky gut syndrome and to give you tools to help repair
your gut.

How Do You Get Rid of Leaky Gut? Tests

Now that we’ve talked about leaky gut symptoms, causes, and opinions, let’s talk about how to test for and repair leaky gut.

Several leaky gut syndrome tests are available that can help confirm a diagnosis and point you in the right treatment direction. Tests are helpful for identifying specific sensitivities and uncovering which types of toxins or deficiencies are contributing to your symptoms. Leaky gut tests include:

• Zonulin or Lactulose Tests
• IgG Food Intolerance Test
• Stools Tests
• Organic Acid Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies Tests
• Lactulose Mannitol Test

What leaky gut treatments are available?

After years of research and patient care, I developed a four-step process for helping to heal leaky gut. I cover this process in my article entitled The Leaky Gut Diet and Treatment Plan. If you’re concerned that you or a loved one may have leaky gut symptoms, I encourage you to read the detailed instructions, food suggestions and recommended leaky gut supplements listed in this article.

The basic steps to healing a leaky gut are as follows:

1. Remove foods and factors that damage the gut.
2. Replace these with healing foods as you follow an anti-inflammatory leaky gut diet.
3. Repair the gut with specific leaky gut supplements like butyric acid.
4. Rebalance your microbiome with probiotics
   (beneficial bacteria). This is key because bacteria in your gut are a major component of the intestinal barrier. They help promote resistance to the colonization of harmful or pathogenic bacteria species by competing for nutrients. Gut microbiota also regulates the digestion and
   absorption of nutrients and helps supply epithelial cells with energy.

Two of the most common questions people ask are: “What can I eat if I have a leaky gut syndrome? And what should I NOT eat when I have leaky gut?”

If you’re struggling with leaky gut or other GI issues, remove processed foods

— including unsprouted grains, added sugar, GMOs, refined oils, synthetic additives, and conventional dairy products. A healing leaky gut syndrome diet includes foods like:

• Bone broth
• Raw cultured dairy (like kefir, yogurt, amasi, butter, and raw cheeses)
• Fermented vegetables
  and other probiotic foods. Probiotics may help reverse leaky gut by enhancing the production of tight junction proteins that defend against intestinal permeability.
• Coconut products
• Sprouted seeds (like chia seeds, flaxseeds, and hemp seeds)
• Foods with omega-3 fatty acids, especially salmon and other wild-caught fish
• Herbs and spices
• Other nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods like grass-fed beef,
  lamb, other fresh veggies and most fruits, apple cider vinegar, sea
  veggies, and other superfoods

Final Thoughts

• A leaky gut syndrome is classified by a malfunction in the intestinal tight junctions in the digestive tract, allowing larger-than-usual particles to pass from the digestive system into the bloodstream. When this occurs, the balance of inflammatory immune responses is disrupted,
  leading to chronic inflammation and poor immunity.
• Although no causal relationships have yet been officially established, leaky gut is correlated with a large number of issues and diseases, including digestive disorders, depression, autism, celiac disease, autoimmune disease, and more.
• Common leaky gut symptoms include food sensitivities, digestive issues, autoimmune disease, thyroid dysfunction, nutrient malabsorption, inflammatory skin conditions, and brain-related issues such as depression and autism.
• A leaky gut syndrome is not a recognized diagnosis in the medical community yet — but I’m confident it will be recognized someday, due to the vast body of research that has already been conducted.
• If you suffer from any leaky gut symptoms, I encourage you to consult with your naturopathic doctor about options for treatment. I’ve seen many people improve when adjusting to a healing diet, rather than a disease and inflammation-causing one. In addition, there are helpful dietary supplements many people implement to support better gut health.

Treating Leaky Gut Syndrome Naturally:

There are four (relatively) easy ways to heal leaky gut symptoms:

1. Remove: Remove foods that are damaging to the gut, including toxic foods or anything that will negatively affect the environment of the gastrointestinal tract.

2. Replace: Replace toxic foods with healthy food. Add essential ingredients for proper digestion (i.e. bile acids and digestive enzymes).

3. Restore: Restore beneficial bacteria in order to reestablish a healthy balance of good bacteria.

4. Repair: Repair the gut with essential nutrients, including L-glutamine, an amino acid that helps to rejuvenate the lining of the gut wall.

The Leaky Gut Diet:

To heal your gut, make sure to include the following food components in your diet:

1. Raw cultured dairy: Raw, cultured dairy products, as opposed to regular dairy products, contain probiotics that will help heal the gut. Examples include kefir, yogurt, butter, and raw cheese.

2. Bone broth: Contains collagen, praline, and glycine—amino acids that will help rebuild the damaged cell walls.

3. Coconut products: The medium-chain fatty acids found in coconuts are easier to digest than other fats—and more beneficial for a leaky gut.

4. Fermented vegetables: Organic acids will help balance the intestinal pH and probiotics in support of the gut.

5. Sprouted seeds: Examples include chia seeds, flaxseeds, and hemp seeds. They are great sources of fiber and can help support the growth of beneficial bacteria. If you have a severe case of leaky gut, you might want to get your fiber from steamed vegetables and fruits instead.

Make sure to consult your family doctor before embarking on a new nutrition program.

More on Natural Remedies:

Licorice Root:

Licorice root has been used to treat a wide range of diseases and ailments for hundreds of years. It is also known to be one of the most effective home remedies for leaky gut syndrome. This herb contains important active compounds – flavonoids, stilbenoids, triterpenoids, and coumarins – that help in reducing inflammation of the intestines.

• Take 6 grams per 130 pounds of body weight of non-DGL licorice root extract daily for up to 4 weeks.
• Or, you can take 200 to 300 mg of DGL licorice root 2 to 3 times a day.
• Note: If you are pregnant or have kidney, liver, or heart conditions, you should avoid taking licorice root.

Aloe Vera:

Aloe vera does not only help with skin problems but can be an extremely effective natural treatment of several health issues too, leaky gut syndrome being one of them. This amazing plant has anti-inflammatory properties that help in relieving the symptoms of the condition and healing the intestinal lining of your gut.

• Consume 2 ounces of aloe vera gel 6 times a day to relieve the pain and inflammation that comes with a leaky gut.
• Mix 2 tablespoons of aloe vera juices in 1 glass of water.
• Drink this mixture once a day until you notice an improvement.

Oil of Oregano:

Oregano oil is a strong natural treatment that directly fights the damaging flora that is causing leaky gut syndrome and heals the leaky gut. It has antifungal properties that help in stopping the excessive growth of yeast and Candida in the intestines. Oil of oregano is a great option for people who suffer from a leaky gut as it works quickly to eliminate the problem.

• Mix 3 drops of oil of oregano in 1 glass of water.
• Drink it 2 times a day.
• Increase the dosage gradually up to 6 drops 2 times daily.
• Repeat this remedy until you notice an improvement in your condition.

Garlic:

Garlic is a super-ingredient, when it comes to home remedies, no matter the condition or ailment that needs to be treated. It is a powerful herb that has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties. Garlic is helpful in getting rid of excess yeast, balancing intestinal pH, and aiding indigestion. If you are looking for one of the most potent home remedies for leaky gut syndrome, garlic is all you need.

• Chew 1 clove of garlic 2 times a day.
• Use garlic-infused olive oil in your cooking to increase the amount of garlic you consume.
• You can also take garlic supplements. However, it is advisable to consult a doctor before you do this.

Cayenne Pepper:

Are you wondering how something spicy is going to soothe your stomach? Well, you might be surprised to find out that cayenne pepper is a really great stomach soother. It stimulates the digestive process and helps in making your intestinal pH more alkaline, which in turn kills bad flora and promotes the good flora in your gut.

• Include cayenne pepper in your daily diet. One way to do this is to use olive oil infused with cayenne pepper.
• Another option is to take a cayenne pepper supplement. However, make sure that you consult a doctor first.

Chamomile:

Do you often like to sip a cup of chamomile tea? You’ll be happy to learn that chamomile tea is also great for treating leaky gut syndrome. It not only helps you sleep better but has anti-inflammatory properties that ease and prevent inflammation. You can use chamomile instead of NSAIDS whenever you experience pain, inflammation, indigestion, and gas.

• Boil 2 to 3 teaspoons of dry chamomile flowers in enough water to fill your favorite mug.
• Turn off the heat, put a lid on the teapot, and allow the flowers to steep for 10 minutes.
• Strain and drink 2 to 3 times a day.

“Spirulina is rich in vitamins, minerals, readily absorbed proteins, and phytonutrients, it offers great healing support for leaky gut syndrome. Want to learn more about the Gut-Brain connection? Check out this guest from whyspirulina.com

Always consult with your doctor if you suffer from any stomach problems.

Thank you for reading

Michael

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