Leaky gut is admittedly becoming a commonality in health discussions — and with good reason. This broken-down lining of the intestines can snowball into a myriad of health challenges touching everything from digestion to mood. Here’s a clear breakdown of what it is, and why it’s so crucial, plus any steps you can take now to start healing.
Breaking Down the Basics
First, what is leaky gut? It’s a condition in which the lining of the gut becomes excessively permeable. But under normal conditions, your gut serves as a secure gate — allowing beneficial nutrients and excluding harmful substances.
But if the tight junctions between those gut cells become loose, unwanted particles — such as toxins, undigested food and bacteria — can leak into the bloodstream. This can cause widespread inflammation, confuse the immune system and cause a slew of uncomfortable symptoms.
Common Symptoms to Watch For
Symptoms of leaky gut will most often occur in two categories:
- Digestive Symptoms
- Bloating, gas, or reflux
- Diarrhea or constipation
- IBS, IBD, or SIBO flare-ups
These problems are usually caused by a disruption of the balance of micro-organisms in the gut and an impaired gut barrier.
Whole-Body Symptoms:
- Chronic fatigue or brain fog
- Primary skin problems, such as acne or eczema, are the most common
- Joint pain or mood swings
When the gut barrier is compromised, inflammation that’s loose in the body can do far worse than to just interfere with your digestion.
What Triggers Leaky Gut?
A number of different lifestyle and environmental factors may harm the lining of the gut such as:
- Diets that are too high in processed foods, sugar, or alcohol
- Chronic stress or sleep deprivation
- Overuse of NSAIDs like ibuprofen
- Underlying infections or autoimmune conditions
It’s also commonly observed in people suffering from IBS, celiac disease, dysbiosis, autoimmune conditions.
Steps Toward Healing
Dr. Ruscio tells that the road to recover from leaky gut starts with 3 key strategies:
1. Clean Up the Diet
Build on an anti-inflammatory base, such as the Mediterranean diet. When they are more difficult to treat- trying a low FODMAP or elemental diet for a short time may be restful to the system.
2. Improve Daily Habits
There are so many things, such as chronic stress, lack of sleep and overtraining, that can negatively affect gut health. Concentrate on quality sleep, moderate movement, and stress-reduction practices such as mindfulness or walking.
3. Add Smart Supplements
Although not everyone will need to be taking them, certain supplements can be helpful in gut healing:
- Probiotics to rebalance gut flora
- To mend the lining of the gut, L-glutamine and zinc are used.
- Immunoglobulins, or colostrum (nursing mother’s milk) to help reduce inflammation
But don’t rush into pills. Dr. Ruscio is a firm believer in the power of building a strong foundation (diet and lifestyle) before relying on supplements.
Final Thoughts
Knowing so much about what does leaky gut is the first step-in long-term relief. With the tools and mentorship most people find not only positive effects in their bowels, but on their entire spectrum of health.
