Leaky Gut
Is Leaky Gut a Thing?
I have many skeptical colleagues joke about whether “leaky gut” is a real phenomenon or just another fad that has taken off. “Leaky gut” is the more pedestrian way of referring to a mechanism defined in the medical literature as “Intestinal Permeability.” So, I can assure you that this process has been confirmed and is clearly linked to conditions like food allergies, inflammatory joint disease, rheumatoid arthritis, food allergies, Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, and more.
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A Basic Review: Leakless Design with Purpose
To understand why being “leaky” is a problem, let’s start with the basics. Visualize the long tube that is your gastrointestinal tract: one end is your mouth, and the other end is your anus. In an ideal world, food will enter the tube and waste will leave the tube without having any interactions with the rest of your body. It should be a protected channel. This is “design with purpose:” it protects the rest of our body from bacteria, large food particles, or/or other substances that may be harmful to us if they pass to the rest of our body.
So What Goes Awry?
Imagine if parts along the tube starts to leak! Our protected channel no longer protects. Large molecules (e.g. food), bacterial chemicals, and toxins can move freely into the body. At this point, your faithful immune system will kick in to defend your body from these trespassers. But your immune system’s response will also create inflammation, which you can experience as brain fog, fatigue, and pain. All because of your leaky gut. In some cases, your immune system may “over-respond” mistakenly attacking “legitimate residents” in your body like your thyroid hormone. Thus, leaky gut can form the beginning steps toward autoimmune illness.
What Can Cause the Leak?
We know that some anti-inflammatory drugs, intestinal infections, nutrient imbalances, chemotherapy, and, of course, STRESS can negatively impact that solid and impermeable tube.
What Can We Do?
Fortunately, advanced diagnostic tests can confirm whether you have a leaky gut. Substances like Colostrum, Glutamine, Certain Probiotic strains, Zinc, Deglycerized Licorice, and Aloe Vera can be supportive in re-establishing the proper barrier and returning that channel to impermeability, as we want it. In doing so we re-establish the proper immune balance, help reduce inflammation, reduce or eliminate food sensitivities, and protect against autoimmunity. “Leaky gut” has important implications for numerous intestinal and systemic diseases, make sure you address it in your care. DCIM can help.
About DCIM
The team at District Center for Integrative Medicine specializes in helping patients get to the root cause of their conditions. If you’re looking for 1-on-1 help from naturopathic doctors who care, request a free consultation today!
