When I started going to acupuncture years ago, I met with the nutritionist on staff to learn more about how my diet choices could be affecting my immune system. I described the symptoms I was experiencing (brain fog, feeling like I was totally dragging until about 11:00 in the morning, always exhausted and needed a lot of sleep, bloating, achy joints and muscles, Celiac Disease, Infertility, chronic Iritis) and she told me that my symptoms were likely related to a leaky gut. Huh? She explained to me that particles were likely getting through the lining of my gut into my bloodstream and my body was attacking them, causing my immune system to go into overdrive. The gut is naturally permeable with microscopic holes to allow nutrients to pass through the lining to nourish our body and is also designed to keep the harmful particles, such as toxins and bacteria, from passing through and into our bloodstream. When there is an increased intestinal permeability, the junctions in the gut open up allowing not only the nutrients, but also pathogens, bacteria, and toxins to pass through and the immune system sees them as invaders and goes into high alert.
Approximately 80% of the immune system is located in the gut. Leaky gut turns into chronic inflammation, which then turns into other ailments and health problems. Therefore, we can’t have a healthy immune system if our gut isn’t healthy and this increases our susceptibility for inflammation and autoimmune disease. Once we have a leaky gut, it’s only a matter of time before we begin to develop other health problems or autoimmune diseases. The good news is the gut has the ability to be healed.
Signs of a leaky gut:
Bloating, gas, cramps, eczema, food sensitivities, aches and pains, depression and anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hormonal imbalances such as PMS or PCOS, diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as Lupus, Celiac disease, Hashimoto Thyroiditis, or Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Causes of a leaky gut:
Diet, intestinal parasites, bacterial imbalance, gluten, infections such as candida overgrowth, and small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and lifestyle factors such as chronic stress, toxic overload, and inadequate sleep.
The result of a leaky gut:
Chronic inflammation, which leads to other ailments, health problems, and disease.
How to heal a leaky gut:
Eliminate foods known to cause irritation and damage to the gut, replacing them with nutrient-dense healing foods, including bone broth. The Autoimmune Protocol provides a nice template for this process. Explore the possibility of infections, candida overgrowth, or intestinal parasites, especially if symptoms continue. Supplements such as probiotics, L-Glutamine, and digestive enzymes can help heal the lining of the gut. Working with a skilled practitioner can help determine the best course of action for individual differences.
Often people focus primarily on diet changes and get frustrated with the results when they continue to experience symptoms. Chronic stress, inadequate sleep, and toxin exposure contribute to leaky gut as well so not addressing lifestyle changes can stall the healing process. This was my experience. I was trying to heal a leaky gut while in a period of my life where I was under a tremendous amount of stress and not getting enough sleep due to being overwhelmed by infertility and traveling full time for work.
I am on an ongoing journey to keep my gut healthy and my immune system calm. Therefore, the food I eat and my lifestyle choices are important players. I’ve been working on diet choices for several years now, and while I always feel like there is more to learn, I do feel like I have found a pretty good plan for my body. I am still working on the lifestyle factors that will support my gut and immune system and it has become even more of a challenge for me since becoming a Mom. I am currently home with my daughter and her naps are usually very limited these days, so “me” time for self-care is hard to squeeze in. Fitting in exercise, stress reduction techniques, and getting adequate sleep is challenging, but I am determined to keep working at it. I try to be creative with my time so I can spend time with my daughter while also tending to my health and healing.
*Information provided on this site is designed for informational purposes only and is not meant to replace medical advice.
