Leaky Gut Syndrome Videos

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10 Signs You Have a Leaky Gut—and How to Heal It

My body never completely bounced back after I had my first child—15 years ago. I've told myself that my symptoms were part of being a busy mom: fatigue, digestive problems, joint pain, insomnia, lowlibido, even mild-grade depression. Many moms I know suffer the same ailments, or worse. They'll subside at some point, I told myself.

My health care provider tested me over the years for various medical conditions—from anemia and thyroiddisorders to mononucleosis and Lyme disease. The tests always came out negative. "You just need to sleep more and manage your stress better," he told me.

I found an answer four months ago when I went to see Willie Victor, a nutritionist in Mill Valley, California, whose practice is based on the healing properties of food. She asked me to keep a food diary and take a blood test for food allergies and sensitivities.

The results were shocking. It turns out I was "highly sensitive" (not quite allergic, but almost) to a number of foods that had been a regular part of my daily diet—dairy, soy, sugar, caffeine and gluten.

She told me that I had "leaky gut syndrome," a condition that is not typically diagnosed but could be affecting the health of many people. Dr. Robynne Chutkan, assistant professor of medicine at Georgetown University Hospital, says leaky gut "is likely to emerge as one of the most significant medical concepts of our time."

What is leaky gut? 

Leaky gut, or "intestinal permeability," as Victor explained, is a condition in which the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged, causing undigested food particles, toxic waste products and bacteria to "leak" through the intestines and flood the blood stream. The foreign substances entering the blood can cause anautoimmune response in the body including inflammatory and allergic reactions such as migraines, irritablebowel, eczema, chronic fatigue, food allergies, rheumatoid arthritis and more.

With leaky gut, damaged cells in your intestines don't produce the enzymes needed for proper digestion. As a result, your body cannot absorb essential nutrients, which can lead to hormone imbalances and a weakenedimmune system. 

What causes leaky gut? 

In many cases, leaky gut is caused by your diet. For me, certain foods that I was consuming every day, including gluten, soy and dairy, were being treated by my body as foreign invaders that had to be fought off. When I ate these foods, my body went to war, producing antibodies, which triggered an immune response that included diarrhea, headaches, fatigue and joint pain.

Leaky gut can also be caused by medications including antibiotics, steroids or over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin and acetaminophen, which can irritate the intestinal lining and damage protective mucus layers. This irritation can start or continue the inflammation cycle that leads to intestinal permeability.

10 signs you have a leaky gut:

According to Dr. Leo Galland, director of the Foundation for Integrated Medicine, the following symptoms might be signs of leaky gut:

1. Chronic diarrhea, constipation, gas or bloating
2. Nutritional deficiencies
3. Poor immune system
4. Headaches, brain fog, memory loss
5. Excessive fatigue
6. Skin rashes and problems such as acne, eczema or rosacea
7. Cravings for sugar or carbs
8. Arthritis or joint pain
9. Depression, anxiety, ADD, ADHD
10. Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, celiac disease or Crohn's

How to heal a leaky gut

The key to healing a leaky gut is changing your diet and eliminating the foods that your body treats as toxic. On the advice of my nutritionist, I eliminated gluten, dairy, soy, refined sugar, caffeine and alcohol. Within six weeks, I was feeling like a new person. My energy levels were way up, the diarrhea and bloating had subsided, and I was sleeping like a baby at night.

In addition to eliminating certain foods, I added a few things to help repair my leaky gut. These included healthy fats such as fish, coconut and olive oils; avocados and flax; probiotics to restore the healthy bacteria in mygastrointestinal tract; and L-glutamine, an amino acid that rejuvenates the lining of the intestinal wall.

Within three months, I had controlled my leaky gut. I have to adhere to my new dietary changes or I suffer the consequences—diarrhea, bloating and fatigue. But it's a small price to pay for feeling so alive and healthy again!

If you have any of the symptoms I mentioned, get checked by your health care provider. I had sensitivities to certain foods, but your symptoms could be caused by other issues. It's important to design a treatment plan that fits your issues.

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Leaky Gut: What It Is and How to Heal It

Leaky gut is a condition that causes many health problems, yet it's rarely talked about in the media or in doctors’ offices. As a matter of fact, many people have this condition but have no clue! Here's 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.

[Read: Is There an Acid Reflux Diet?]

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 shouldn't 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.

[Read: How to Cure Candida.]
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, Crohn's 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. 

[Read: 5 Common Causes of Belly Bloat.]

How to heal a leaky gut

One thing you can do to heal a leaky gut is take glutamine. Glutamine, also known as L-glutamine, is an amazing amino acid that has the ability to heal soft tissue like the lining of your intestines. It is very good for improving the health and integrity of your gut. 

Another thing you can do is take a probiotic. Probiotics are full of good bacteria which will help to restore the balance of your gut flora. You want to have more good bacteria in your gut.

I normally don’t recommend dairy, but if you enjoy eating yogurt, try Kefir, which is full of probiotics. I also recommend fermented foods like sauerkraut, which help balance your gut flora out. Your other option is to just take a good probiotic, which you can find at most health food stores. 

As you can see, one of the main causes of leaky gut is inflammation. Omega-3 is known for its ability to combat inflammation. You can increase the amount of omega-3 in your diet by eating more fatty fish like salmon, or by taking a fish oil supplement. 

In my opinion, leaky gut is a huge issue that the conventional medical community seems to ignore. As a holistic nutritionist, one of the first things I focus on with my clients 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.

[Read: Foods That Cause Bloating.]

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9 Signs You Have A Leaky Gut

The gut is the gateway to health. If your gut is healthy, chances are that you're in good health. However, there's a condition called leaky gut that can lead to a host of health problems.

What is a leaky gut?

The gut is naturally permeable to very small molecules in order to absorb these vital nutrients. In fact, regulating intestinal permeability is one of the basic functions of the cells that line the intestinal wall. In sensitive people, gluten can cause the gut cells to release zonulin, a protein that can break apart tight junctions in the intestinal lining. Other factors — such as infections, toxins, stress and age — can also cause these tight junctions to break apart.

Once these tight junctions get broken apart, you have a leaky gut. When your gut is leaky, things like toxins, microbes, undigested food particles, and more can escape from your intestines and travel throughout your body via your bloodstream. Your immune system marks these "foreign invaders" as pathogens and attacks them. The immune response to these invaders can appear in the form of any of the nine signs you have a leaky gut, which are listed below.

What causes leaky gut?

The main culprits are foods, infections, and toxins. Gluten is the number one cause of leaky gut. Other inflammatory foods like dairy or toxic foods, such sugar and excessive alcohol, are suspected as well. The most common infectious causes are candida overgrowth, intestinal parasites, and small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Toxins come in the form of medications, like Motrin, Advil, steroids, antibiotics, and acid-reducing drugs, and environmental toxins like mercury, pesticides and BPA from plastics. Stress and age also contribute to a leaky gut.

if you suffer from any of the following conditions, it’s likely that you have a leaky gut:

9 Signs You Have a Leaky Gut

1. Digestive issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

2. Seasonal allergies or asthma.

3. Hormonal imbalances such as PMS or PCOS.

4. Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, lupus, psoriasis, or celiac disease.

5. Diagnosis of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia.

6. Mood and mind issues such as depression, anxiety, ADD or ADHD.

7. Skin issues such as acne, rosacea, or eczema.

8. Diagnosis of candida overgrowth.

9. Food allergies or food intolerances.

How do you heal a leaky gut?

In my practice, I have all of my patients follow The Myers Way comprehensive elimination diet, which removes the toxic and inflammatory foods for a certain period of time. In addition, I have them follow a 4R program to heal their gut. The 4R program is as follows.

1. Remove.

Remove the bad. The goal is to get rid of things that negatively affect the environment of the GI tract, such as inflammatory and toxic foods, and intestinal infections.

2. Replace.

Replace the good. Add back the essential ingredients for proper digestion and absorption, such as digestive enzymes, hydrochloric acid and bile acids.

3. Reinoculate.

It’s critical to restore beneficial bacteria to reestablish a healthy balance of good bacteria.

4. Repair.

It’s essential to provide the nutrients necessary to help the gut repair itself. One of my favorite supplements is L-glutamine, an amino acid that helps to rejuvenate the lining of the gut wall.

If you still have symptoms after following the above recommendations, I would recommend finding a Functional Medicine physician in your area to work with you and to order a comprehensive stool test.

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Does Karen Brimeyer's 'Leaky Gut Cure' really work?

Does Leaky Gut Cure Book Really Work or Is it a Scam? Here is a Review of Karen Brimeyer's Product:

Leaky Gut Cure is a guide to curing leaky gut syndrome written by Karen Brimeyer. Brimeyer is a health and nutrition consultant, and is the owner of Optimal Self Healing, a health consultation company in Florida. She is a certified Kalish functional medicine practitioner, and studied under Dr. Kalish personally. Karen has helped thousands of patients cure themselves of Leaky Gut Syndrome.

Leaky Gut Syndrome Explained

Leaky Gut Syndrome is an inflammatory condition that compromises the intestinal lining. It is common in individuals who suffer from inflammatory conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, Celiac Disease, Asthma, and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Common symptoms include:

• Chronic diarrhea, especially right after eating
• Rectal bleeding
• Chronic abdominal aches and pains
• Bloating
• Feeling stuffed even when you haven't eaten recently
• Recurring joint pain
• Skin rashes and conditions
• Sensitivity to certain foods

Some sufferers also complain of psychological symptoms like frustration, anxiety and irritability.

Causes

There are several causes of Leaky Gut Syndrome including:

• Certain antibiotics
• Chronic inflammation
• Compromised immunity
• Cytotoxic drugs
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Food sensitivities
• Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs taken in high doses
• Radiation therapy

Brimeyer’s Approach

In her guide, Brimeyer discusses several methods of beating LGS. The program is centered on a thorough overhaul of your dietary habits, and has shown to be very effective. The emphasis is on eating fresh, whole foods as opposed to frozen, canned, or processed foods, which often contain additives and preservatives that worsen gut conditions and impede proper digestion. Foods like white flour and processed sugars are also to be avoided.

In addition to food choices, the guide also recommends cooking methods that make foods easier to digest, as well as using minimally processed sea salt instead of iodized table salt, as it still contains vital nutrients for optimal digestive function. While traditionally made baked goods are out, the guide is full of delicious recipes that duplicate these products using much healthier ingredients.

Helpful supplements and lifestyle habits are also recommended in addition to the dietary parameters.

Do Natural Remedies Really Work?

Natural cures used to be synonymous with snake oil, as they were rarely, if ever, effective in treating even mild conditions. Things have come a long way in the last two decades, and many sufferers now swear by natural remedies, and prefer them to the more invasive options available in traditional western medicine. They won’t cure every ailment, but their success rates have risen dramatically in recent years. Over 98% of Leaky Gut Cure customers have been pleased with the guide, so the numbers speak for themselves.

Risk Free Purchase

In addition, your purchase is backed by a 60 day money back guarantee, so you get to try the remedies for yourself, and if you are not impressed, you can return the book for a full refund. Given the reputation of the author, the hundreds of positive testimonials, and the risk free offer, you really cannot go wrong with this fantastic natural health guide!

Click here to learn more about the Leaky Gut Cure Program

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Healing Leaky Gut Syndrome – Open The Door To Good Health

It is not uncommon in my practice to have women come in with new physical complaints after major life events like having a baby. Ellen is a perfect example of one of these cases. She was diagnosed at a young age with lactose intolerance, and managed her symptoms quite well. She even went through not one, but two pregnancies without any issues and was able to digest dairy-products. She thought she had overcome the condition, until symptoms presented again at a particularly stressful time in her life. She was a young mother of two, her newborn had difficulty nursing, she was working full time, and had many uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms every time she ate – gas, bloating, even diarrhea. She was exhausted, irritable, and it all impacted her daily life.

As Ellen told me her story, I thought it sounded more like leaky gut, a digestive disorder that is not always at the top of many clinicians’ diagnosis list, but more common than you think.

Our digestive system influences everything. From controlling digestion and protecting us from hostile bacteria, to communicating with the brain – sending physical signals such as gas or hunger, and emotional feelings such as anxiety, stress, and even love. This complex union moving through the gut is often referred to as our body’s second brain, affecting our health physically and psychologically.

Not a “thinking” brain, our digestive tract actually has its own reflexes and senses, working hard to move things through our body, absorbing nutrients, and removing waste. Because of this complicated system of nerves and chemicals, sometimes these exchanges of information can veer off track.

It isn’t hard to notice when our gastrointestinal tract is off, changes in digestion can impact our daily lives. Whether it’s gas and bloating, cramps and diarrhea, fatigue, or even joint pain or skin rashes, symptoms can be uncomfortable, embarrassing, even debilitating.

More than half of my patients come in with complaints relating to a digestive imbalance, and many times I can attribute it to leaky gut syndrome.

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