Are You Suffering From Leaky Gut?

WHAT IS LEAKY GUT?

Let’s go back to the basics and understand what a leaky gut is. It’s becoming mainstream now and you probably read about it in numerous places but are still lacking an in-depth understanding. 

Do you know what causes it in the first place, its consequences and its symptoms? 

We should all be looking at our gut health from the outset. If you haven’t heard yet, more than 90% of all autoimmune issues have leaky gut associated with them. That doesn’t even take into account the fact that a lot of health issues nowadays are also closely linked to gut health, think food sensitivities, migraines, skin issues, joint pain, fatigue, and low mood. 

HOW DOES IT HAPPEN?

It can start at birth. When you’ve had a C-section instead of natural birth, you’re not getting the good bacteria that you’d get if by passing the vaginal canal. 

Antibiotics, birth control, tap water, steroids, over-the-counter pain relievers, excessive sugar intake, stress, yeast overgrowth are just a few ways that a lot of your good gut bacteria is wiped out.

Keep in mind that the good bugs are essential when it comes to building the gut. Remember, the intestinal lining’s surface area is about 4,000 square feet and this is basically built and protected by the good bacteria. 

This lining is like a barrier that determines what gets through the bloodstream and what doesn’t. So, if this is damaged, it will have “holes” that will allow bacteria, food particles and toxins to freely enter the bloodstream. That’s when a leaky gut starts…

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF HAVING LEAKY GUT?

If good bacteria are wiped out, bad bacteria will start to dominate the area including yeast and fungi. You’ll then have candida overgrowth, bacterial overgrowth, and inflammation around the gut lining.  The immune system will get triggered and react once it detects the foreign bodies in your bloodstream. Then you’ll have inflammation which is the foundation of almost all diseases and this will then be spread throughout your body

SYMPTOMS OF LEAKY GUT:

Low mood: You will not be producing enough serotonin which is the “happy hormone”.

Sleeping issues: Not enough serotonin is equal to low melatonin which will then affect sleep.

No energy:  The body can’t maximize and absorb nutrients like B vitamins, especially B12 correctly and this will then affect your energy levels.

Low libido: Low mood and no energy contributes to this but here’s a fun fact: serotonin is found in the genitals too! So, low serotonin = low libido.

Sugar/carb cravings: Good and healthy bacteria crave a balanced healthy diet but bad bacteria demand sugar, starch, and other carbohydrates. An unhealthy gut means many bad bacteria lurking inside your body and that will cause cravings for sugar or carbs.

Bloating, gas, food sensitivities, fatigue, joint pain, migraines, skin issues, constipation, unexplained weight gain, cellulite, depression, and anxiety are other symptoms that you have to watch out for. I have an in-depth explanation of each symptom in this blog post.

WHY ARE WE NOT LOOKING AT THE GUT?

It’s simple. We do not have enough data and we have limited resources on this.

It is a good thing that right now, functional medicine is now being considered by many which then leads to topics like these ones.

If you’re worried that you’re suffering from a leaky gut, you can run an Organic Acid Test. It will look for candida, yeast, or fungal overgrowth. It also looks at bacteria, if you have too much or too little. It can also determine your serotonin, dopamine, mitochondrial and energy function levels, glutathione for the liver, and all of the B vitamins and Vitamin C. A hair tissue test is also very useful to assess mineral imbalances and heavy metals which can often lead to major health issues, including leaking gut.

These can be very expensive. That’s why another option for you is to work with an integrative health practitioner, like myself, directly for a more personalised approach and support throughout your protocol.

Or if this is still not an option for you, you can jump straight to my GI Protocol as this is a proven formula to heal the gut (including leaky gut).