🌺🌺Tip of the Month🌺🌺 Ive been asked a number of times What is Leaky Gut? Well, heres what Ive put together for you. Another Warning--Super long post and lots of info!!!!! 🌺🌺What is Leaky Gut syndrome And how to Heal leaky gut. Leaky gut is a condition that causes many health problems, yet its rarely talked about in the media or in doctors’ offices. As a matter of fact, many people have this condition but have no clue! Heres a look at what leaky gut is, how it occurs and what you can do to heal it without the use of pharmaceuticals. 🌺🌺What is leaky gut? The leaky gut story begins in a very important organ: your small intestine. The small intestine is so important because most of the vitamins and minerals in the foods you eat are absorbed there. In order for the vitamins and minerals to be absorbed, the small intestine contains microscopic pores so the nutrients can be transferred into the bloodstream. Once transferred, the nutrients are then shuttled and deposited all around the body by the blood. The wall of the intestine is considered a semipermeable. This means the pores only allow certain things to enter the bloodstream and block other things from entering the bloodstream. For instance, specific molecules and nutrients are allowed to pass through but toxins and large undigested food particles are blocked. The problem with leaky gut is it causes the pores in your intestine to widen. When this happens, the undigested food particles and toxins that are supposed to be blocked are allowed make their way into the bloodstream. Because these items are not supposed to be in the blood, they cause the immune to go into attack mode, which can often lead to allergies. To give you an example, imagine you have leaky gut and eat an apple. When it makes its way into your small intestine, bits of undigested apple that should stay in the small intestine will slip through the large pores directly into your blood. Because these particles are not supposed to be in your bloodstream, the immune system identifies them as dangerous invaders. Basically, the immune system says, “Hey, this particle shouldnt be here, so we need to attack it with an immune response and build up antibodies to protect ourselves from it.” The problem is the immune system doesn’t just build up antibodies to the food particles; it attacks your healthy cells, too. This is one of the ways food allergies and autoimmune disorders develop. 🌺🌺So, how does leaky gut happen? There are a few different ways you can develop leaky gut. For example, if you are chronically constipated, overtime the toxins in your stool will irritate the lining of your intestines. This irritation leads to inflammation which will cause the pores in the small intestine to expand. If the irritation and inflammation are allow to continue for an extended period of time it can lead to irritable bowel syndrome, Crohns disease, or colitis. The other common cause of leaky gut is an imbalance of the flora inside your gut. We all have good and bad bacteria in our digestive system. When your gut flora is in balance the bad bacteria pose no threat. But when the bad bacteria outweighs the good, irritation and inflammation occur, again, causing the pores of the intestine to open up. So remember, the top foods to remove that cause leaky gut are sugar, grains, conventional meat, conventional dairy and GMO foods. The top toxic exposures to eliminate are tap water, pesticides, NSAIDS, and antibiotics but remember to always consult with your physician if he has prescribed these for you. The Leaky Gut Diet and 5 Healing Foods #1 Bone Broth – broth contains collagen and the amino acids proline and glycine that can help heal your damaged cell walls. Im trying a bone broth fast for 3 days to help rapidly repair leaky gut. #2 Raw Cultured Dairy - contains both probiotics and SCFA’s that can help heal the gut. Pastured kefir, yogurt, amasai, butter, and raw cheese are some of the best.😁I find these have too much sugar, so avoid this one. #3 Fermented Vegetables - contain organic acids that balance intestinal pH and probiotics to support the gut. Sauerkraut, Kimchi, and Kombucha drinks are excellent sources. #4 Coconut Products – all coconut products are especially good for your gut. The MCFA’s in coconut are easier to digest than other fats so better for leaky gut. Also, coconut kefir contains probiotics that support your digestive system. #5 Sprouted seeds – chia seeds, flaxseeds, and hemp seeds that have been sprouted are great sources of fiber that can help support the growth of beneficial bacteria. But if you have severe leaky gut, you may need to start out getting your fiber from steamed vegetables and fruit. Also, consuming foods that have anti-inflammatory Omega-3 fats are beneficial such as grass-fed beef, lamb, and wild caught fish like salmon. Top 5 Supplements for Healing Leaky Gut There are many supplements that support your digestive health but I believe the most beneficial are: L-Glutamine, Probiotics, Digestive Enzymes, Aloe Vera Juice, and Licorice Root. #1 Probiotics are the most important supplement to take because it helps replenish good bacteria and crowds out bad bacteria. I recommend getting probiotics in both food and supplement form. If people only follow part of the protocol in healing their gut by removing the damaging irritants and leave out the re-inoculating their gut with beneficial bacteria it wont keep bad bacteria at bay. So load up on BOTH probiotic rich foods and take AT LEAST 50 billion units of probiotics daily from a high quality brand. I suggest Digestive Advantage for IBS. It has enzymes and probiotics. #2 Digestive enzymes (one or two capsules at the beginning of each meal) ensure that foods are fully digested, decreasing the chance that partially digested foods particles and proteins from damaging your gut wall. Digestive Advantage for IBS. #3 L-Glutamine is critical for any program designed to heal leaky gut. Glutamine is an essential amino acid that is anti-inflammatory and necessary for the growth and repair of your intestinal lining. L-glutamine acts a protector and coats your cell walls, acting as a repellent to irritants. Take 2-5 grams 2x daily for two weeks or more. #4 Licorice Root (DGL) is an adaptogenic herb that helps balance cortisol levels and improves acid production in the stomach. DGL supports the body’s natural processes for maintaining the mucosal lining of the stomach and duodenum. This herb is especially beneficial if someone’s leaky gut is being caused by emotional stress. Take 500mg 2x daily. #5 Quercetin has also been shown to improve gut barrier function by sealing the gut because it supports creation of tight junction proteins. It also stabilizes mast cells and reduces the release of histamine which is common in food intolerance. New studies have also shown it’s effectiveness in healing ulcerative colitis. Take 500mg 3x daily with meals. If you can follow the above protocol you are well on your way to healing your gut for good! In my opinion, leaky gut is a huge issue that the conventional medical community seems to ignore. As a holistic health coach, one of the first things I focus on with people is healing the gut. Luckily, there are a number of different ways to do this. Now that you know what leaky gut is and how you can heal it, you have the tools you need to keep your gut healthy without the help of a doctor and without taking medication. 🌺🌺Heres to your Health🌺🌺
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 18:46:16 +0000
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