Did you know that over 70% of our immune system lies in our gut?
In fact it is so important to our daily functioning, that it is often referred to as our ‘second brain’.
Many doctors and health practitioners are now saying that more than 80% of the population have some degree of a condition referred to as Leaky Gut.
Let’s talk more about this prevalent condition and I will outline some natural remedies for healing leaky gut…
Leaky Gut:
In the human body, the gut lining acts as a fine filter which allows only selective passage of food particles and other substances through it.
When this lining gets inflamed, the junctions become more permeable and this leads to malabsorption of nutrients, further causing severe gastrointestinal and food sensitivity issues.
The whole cycle can eventually culminate in the development of an autoimmune disease if the toxic wastes seep into the blood stream.
The leakage of toxins, overburdens the liver which then results in the body being less able to handle chemicals in food, water and air.
The main culprits that initiate inflammation in the gut lining include toxins from medications (antibiotics, NSAID’s), plastics and pesticides, infections including candida overgrowth, parasites and some foods types.
Gluten can also be a major cause of leaky gut. Stress and age can also known to contribute.
Common Signs of Leaky Gut:
Leaky gut causes serious malfunctioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Hence, it can create a wide array of symptoms, encompassing various parts of your body. This is why it is often referred to as the leaky gut syndrome [i].
The symptoms can usually be categorized under the following five areas:
- Dermatological symptoms
- Autoimmune symptoms
- Gastrointestinal symptoms
- Musculoskeletal symptoms
- Neurological symptoms
Some of the most prominent symptoms include:
- Excessive fatigue
- Constant headache
- Low back pain
- Bladder infections
- Anemia
- Sinusitis
- Bloating and flatulence
- Diarrhea
- Severe food insensitivities
- Celiac disease
- Crohn’s disease
- Dermatitis
- Acne and rosacea
- Canker sores
- Rheumatoid arthritis
This certainly isn’t a complete list and symptoms will vary in each individual…
How to treat Leaky Gut:
Treatment requires a holistic plan of attack.
Experts suggest the following key action points to heal leaky gut:
1) Change your diet
Since leaky gut is an ailment of your digestive tract, it is important to alter your diet to begin treatment.
The following actions are recommended:
- Eliminate foods that cause inflammation, such as GMO’s, hydrogenated oils, refined foods, sugar, dairy and glutens.
- Increase the intake of fresh vegetables that fight inflammation. It is advisable to consume nutrient-dense organic vegetables from different color groups, in particular dark leafy green vegetables. A few examples include spinach, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts and so on.
- Increase your intake of vitamin D, by taking vitamin D3 supplementation or better still enjoy 10 minutes of daily mid-morning sunshine on your skin.
- Incorporate probiotic supplements in your diet in order to restore your gut micro flora. Kefir, kimchi and sauerkraut are some of the most common foods you can opt for. Coconut oil is easy to digest and especially good for your gut. You might even want to try some coconut kefir! Caprylic acid which comes from coconut oil is known for its anti-viral and anti-fungal activity.
- Opt for nutrient-dense food that is packed with vitamins, minerals and good fats. Bone Broth is especially important to help your body in generating new cells and connective tissues.
2) Incorporate digestive enzymes, quercetin and the herbs, licorice root and marshmallow root into your diet.
3) Include supplements like L-glutamine that restore the balance of your gut micro flora to a great extent.
4) Take up mild physical exercise daily. Have lots of water, reduce alcohol, stress and get a good seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep.
I hope that you now have a better understanding of the disorder referred to as the Leaky Gut Syndrome.
The majority of us live with its symptoms…but there are several natural remedies to help us heal…
Share this post with your friends and family so that they too can start healing their body from the inside!
To schedule a consultation with me on-line or in-person, you can contact me HERE: https://soniaperezchinesemedicine.com/contact/
REFERENCES:
[i] Kiefer D, Ali-Akbarian L (2004). “A brief evidence-based review of two gastrointestinal illnesses: irritable bowel and leaky gut syndromes”. Alternative Therapy Health Medicine 10 (3): 22–30.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of Sonia Perez Chinese Medicine or its staff.
