The
Leaky Gut
Are you not feeling
like yourself? Perhaps you have bloating or cramps, are always tired, have
sensitivities to certain foods, or suffer from headaches and overall body pain.
Any combination of these symptoms can get you down, and make it difficult to
get out of bed in the morning.
If this describes how
you feel, you could have a leaky gut. Many suffer from leaky gut symptoms but
can’t pinpoint the root cause, which is why I want to answer the most common
questions about Leaky Gut Syndrome.
What
is Leaky Gut Syndrome?
After you eat food,
your body absorbs the proper nutrients through your small intestine. When your
gut is healthy, it is designed with cells that line up like a watertight fence
so that only what should cross the barrier, is allowed to cross.
However, with Leaky
Gut Syndrome, antigens can leak through these walls by way of inflammation.
Antigens are proteins that are seen as “foreign invaders,” and when they come
in contact with your bloodstream, your immune system can get confused. When
this happens, your immune system and white blood cells can attack themselves,
causing those horrible symptoms we mentioned earlier, and even lead to an
auto-immune disease.
These diseases can
include: Hashimoto’s (thyroid disease), multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus,
rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, alopecia (loss of hair) or vitiligo (loss
of skin pigment).
Why
Does It Happen?
If you have
sensitivities to certain foods, like glutens in grains (wheat, spelt, rye,
barley) and casein found in dairy (even lactose-free), the proteins in these
foods can actually cause irritation in your gut and intestines. When irritation
occurs, that “wall” in your small intestines can actually weaken, allowing for
the antigens to enter the bloodstream.the proteins in these foods can actually
cause irritation in your gut and intestines. When irritation occurs, that
“wall” in your small intestines can actually weaken, allowing for the antigens
to enter the bloodstream.
Because of this, the
irritation in your gut can worsen, making your symptoms more severe. If the
issue continues unattended, it is possible that this can develop into an
autoimmune disease, which can make you ill.
Is
There Anything I Can Do?
Yes! The study of naturopathic wellness suggests that by
taking the proper supplements, you can encourage your body to become balanced
once again. For instance, L-glutamine can be beneficial when trying to repair
your inflamed intestines, as it an essential amino acid, fueling the cells of
the small intestine. Other supplements such as aloe juice, digestive enzymes
and probiotics can also promote self-healing with Leaky Gut Syndrome.
What’s
in Dr. Peggy’s Arsenal?
- Aloe Juice
Aloe Juice has
properties which can help buffer the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract and reduce
damage done by acids. Most importantly, I choose Ultimate Aloe Juice for my cabinet,
because it contains a certain number of active ingredients — three times
more polymers than aloe gel and 50 percent more active components
than is required to achieve maximum benefits by being consumed
orally. Many Aloe products on the market can be diluted with water and
don’t have enough active ingredients to be effective.
- Digestive Enzymes
When taken with
meals, digestive enzymes can also be helpful as they can assist in breaking
down our foods, making them easier to digest and maximizing the potential to
absorb nutrients. The digestive supplement I use is Isotonix® Digestive Enzyme Formula with Probiotics.
- Probiotics
Important to gut
health, probiotics can encourage your body to help restore friendly bacteria,
which can be a root cause of an unhealthy gut and Leaky Gut Syndrome. Nutriclean® Probiotics have the key strains
that will allow for the friendly bacteria in your system to find balance once
again.
