HOW TO FIX A LEAKY GUT

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Leaky Gut Syndrome, also known as 'hyperpermeable intestines', is a condition affecting the intestinal lining, in which it becomes increasingly porous. What this means is that big parts of undigested food particles and other types of waste that your body usually wouldn't allow through, are now able to get into the bloodstream. This waste could contain harmful bacteria and toxins that could cause chronic inflammation, resulting in a possible over-reactive immune response in the body.

What Are The Main Causes of Leaky Gut?

Our intestines become more permeable as we get older. However, certain unhealthy lifestyle habits can expedite the process, such as:

  • Poor diets, ones that are low in fibre & high in processed, sugary foods

  • Vitamin deficiencies

  • Inconsistent sleeping patterns

  • Chronic stress

  • Alcohol

  • Bacteria imbalances

  • Candida, H.pylori and parasitic infections

  • Chronic inflammation

  • Conventional drugs such as NSAIDs & proton pump inhibitors

Can You Repair a Leaky Gut?

In short - Absolutely! You’ll be glad to know it just takes a little dedication and a few changes to your lifestyle to help you to repair your leaky gut.

The best leaky gut treatment is simply to adopt an appropriate leaky gut diet rich in healing foods, and a probiotic supplement, which have been shown to assist in improving and normalising the microbial balance of your intestines, so that your digestive tract/gut can function better.

A Gut Reaction

Leaky gut is said to be associated with a broad range of diseases such as::

  • Digestive disorders, like Irritable Bowel Syndrome

  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, like Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease

  • Inflammatory skin conditions, such as Eczema, Psoriasis and Acne

  • Autoimmune diseases, which include Type 1 Diabetes, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Autoimmune hepatitis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Celiac disease, Rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus

  • Nervous system and brain diseases, like Multiple Sclerosis, Schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, depression and autism

A Gut Feeling

Common leaky gut symptoms include:

  • Food sensitivities, allergies and asthma

  • Digestive issues, such as bloating, gas, cramps, pain, thyroid dysfunction, nutrient malabsorption and compromised metabolism

  • Inflammatory skin conditions

  • Chronic fatigue

  • Muscle and nerve pain

  • Brain-related issues, such as brain fog and forgetfulness

Loosen Your Belt

Making sure that your stress levels are kept in check is a good way to help the function of your intestinal barrier and overall health. Adopting anti-stress rituals like breathing exercises or meditation can assist in decreasing your stress levels. Exercising regularly and maintaining a good sleeping pattern can help to boost immune function and reduce inflammation.

We understand how much a leaky gut affects your daily life, so we've compiled a list of what foods to eat and what foods to avoid to make your path to gut health a little easier.

Foods to Avoid With A Leaky Gut:

  • Sugar

  • Gluten

  • Lectins

  • Refined carbs

  • Genetically-modified foods, pesticides & chemical preservatives

  • Processed meat & dairy

  • Unfiltered tap water (can contain chlorine & fluoride)

  • Excess alcohol

  • As well as conventional drugs like anti-inflammatories and antibiotics

What To Eat When You Have A Leaky Gut

Bone broth - Bone broth contains helpful collagen and amino acids like proline and glycine. It also happens to be full of vitamins and minerals to assist in healing the damaged cell walls.

Raw cultured dairy - Pasteurised kefir, yoghurt, buttermilk, butter and raw cheese are all full of probiotics.

Fermented veggies - Sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, kvass are great sources of probiotics.

Coconut products - The medium chain fatty acids in coconut are easier to digest than other fats which is good news for a leaky gut. Try coconut oil, MCT oil, and coconut kefir to aid your digestive system.

Prebiotic foods - Indigestible fibres help probiotic bacteria to thrive in the gut. Sprouted seeds like chia, broccoli, flax and hemp are sources of fibre that help encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria.

Insoluble fibre - Good sources of insoluble fibre come from green mangoes, papaya, banana, asparagus, artichokes, mushrooms, garlic, onions and leek. Steamed veggies and fruit are especially good for a leaky gut.

Omega 3 - Anti-inflammatory foods rich in omega-3 fats, including grass-fed beef, lamb and wild-caught fish, salmon is a particularly great choice.

The Bottom Line

Now you can rest assured in the knowledge that Leaky Gut Syndrome is often completely reversible with a wholesome diet, healthy lifestyle and radical self-care.

Admin Distil Digital