“Leaky Gut” could be the cause of many health problems, but is it a cause or a symptom?
The health of our gut is key to our health, because not only does it affect the health of the liver, it also houses a big part of our immune system. Health Show Episode #10 covered the topic of a leaky gut, a condition that is associated with a wide range of seemingly unconnected symptoms. I aimed to shed some light on how as a Systematic Kinesiologist we can go about identifying and resolving this issue through lifestyle changes. We talked about how it occurs and what you can do to heal it naturally.
What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?
The official definition of Leaky Gut Syndrome is an increase in permeability of the intestinal mucosa. Luminal macromolecules, antigens, and toxins associated with inflammatory degeneration. Leaky gut is a name used to describe intestinal or bowel “hyper permeability”. Put more simply, large spaces develop between the cells of the gut wall allowing bacteria, toxins and food to leak into the bloodstream.
But the intestines are indeed permeable. Spaces do open up normally. It’s designed to let things through – so that nutrients and other molecules get in and out of the intestine. The production of Vitamin B in the large bowel is absorbed back into the body via the bloodstream.
Leaky gut is a condition that evidence suggests is a significant factor in our digestive and whole body health. The problem occurs when substances overstimulate the release of zonulin. Wheat and other gluten foods do this. The spaces between the cells become wider, allowing much larger protein molecules to get into the bloodstream causing an immunologic reaction. A key to resolving autoimmune problems lies here.
Solutions to Leaky Gut and digestive health problems generally
There are many things you can do if you’re suffering from digestive distress. Removing any predisposing factors, reduce inflammation, treat and remove other contributory factors and then focus on repairing the gut lining.
- Predisposing factors could include antibiotics (they kill off your good bacteria as well as the bad), parasites, amalgams and other toxic metals, as well as food sensitivities. Avoiding sugar, alcohol and artificial sweeteners too. Chronic stress can weaken the immune system, and low stomach acid impacts on your ability to fight off bacteria and viruses. As we see in the demonstration in the video, there may well be an issue around low HCL and/or digestive enzymes. If that’s the case then taking HCL with each meal, as well as some good bacteria in the evening.
- Decreasing inflammation nutritionally with Vit D3/K2, Turmeric, Ginger, Quercitin, Vit C, Zinc.
- Other factors that may play a role in digestive health is the Ileo Caecal Valve (ICV). As we see in the video, this needs to be corrected as part of the whole person approach.
How to repair the gut lining
There’s a lot we can do nutritionally. We will test you for L Glutamine, Omega 3 fats, Zinc, as well as a good probiotic to establish which are the best for you.
All stress affects the body the same way
Most health problems are lifestyle related. So to really heal from gut issues we can’t just focus on the gut. We need to think about the food we eat, how it’s digested and what we’re thinking about. Being focused as to how we allow the body to rest and relax. Accumulating sleep debt also affects our overall health.
There will never be a full recovery in such cases until the digestive system is brought back into a healthy state. As well as the immune system supported and rebuilt.
