The Leaky Gut— Signs, Symptoms and How to Heal It

leaky gut

(DoctorFarrah)- Have you ever heard of a “Leaky Gut”?

Sounds like a miserable word, right? But perhaps you’re right in that, since leaky gut gives you a whole slew of symptoms that the word “miserable” would be the appropriate word to describe.

Leaky Gut or Leaky Gut Syndrome, otherwise known as “intestinal permeability”, is a condition in which the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged, causing undigested food bits, bacteria, and toxic waste products to “leak” through the intestines and inundate the bloodstream. These foreign substances entering the blood can cause an autoimmune response in the body causing inflammatory and allergic reactions such as food allergies, irritable bowel, migraines, eczema, chronic fatigue, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.

With a leaky gut, damaged cells in your intestines don’t produce the enzymes needed for proper digestion. The result is your body cannot absorb important nutrients, which can lead to a weakened immune system and hormone imbalances.

Signs of a Leaky Gut

The following are the more common signs and symptoms of a leaky gut:

  • Poor immune system
  • Chronic constipation, gas or bloating, or diarrhea
  • Brain fog, memory loss, and headaches
  • Autoimmune diseases such as lupus, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or celiac disease
  • Arthritis or joint pain
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, ADD
  • Excessive fatigue
  • Skin rashes and problems such as eczema, rosacea, or acne
  • Cravings for sugar or carbs

Healing a Leaky Gut

Healing a leaky gut involves a two-fold process — changing your diet and eradicating some foods that your body considers toxic. With the help of a nutritionist or naturopathic practitioner, he/she will examine you and recommend the appropriate foods that need to be reduced or added to your daily diet. These foods might be removed from your daily diet: gluten, soy, refined sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.  

Remember, the sensitivities might vary from person to person. From your nutritionist, these kinds of foods might be added to your daily diet: avocados, flax, healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids, coconut oil, fish, probiotics, etc. These replenish the healthy bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract; and restores L-glutamine, an amino acid that revitalizes your intestinal wall lining.

Within a few weeks, you will feel the difference. Your energy levels will be up, and the pains including diarrhea, bloating, skin rashes, insomnia, etc. will disappear.

After three months, your leaky gut should disappear and what you’ll have is a very healthy intestinal gut.

If you’d like to know more about leaky gut and how to fix it, do visit our website at www.naturalcancermedicine.org, or www.treatingcancer.org.

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