LEAKY GUT WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
DISCOVER WHY IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR DIGESTIVE HEALTH
Autoimmune disease, allergies and asthma, as well as type 2 diabetes and fatty liver have all been linked to a condition known as ‘leaky gut’, but what does this actually mean, and how do you know if you might be affected? We asked naturopath Margaret Jasinska from Cabot Health to explain.
WHAT EXACTLY IS LEAKY GUT?
It occurs when the lining of the small intestine becomes excessively permeable, due to irritation or inflammation. There is an official test called the lactulose/ mannitol test, however it’s rarely used in clinical practice. A large body of research has established the presence of leaky gut in autoimmune disease, allergy, asthma and other conditions, so it’s assumed a patient with one of these conditions has a leaky gut.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
Leaky gut causes a larger quantity of undigested food, plus bacteria, yeast and other micro-organisms, plus their waste products, to be absorbed into the bloodstream. This can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, aches and pains, allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, depression and mental fog.
HOW DOES IT AFFECT THE BODY?
The increased absorption of waste products places a major strain on the immune system and liver, which must try to clear these waste products. This can overwhelm the liver’s detoxification capacity. Leaky gut also places a person at higher risk of developing an autoimmune disease, if they are genetically predisposed.
SO IT CAN LEAD TO FATTY LIVER?
The waste products, bacteria and bacterial toxins that leak through the gut and arrive at the liver can cause damage to liver cells. When the liver is inflamed and damaged, it can accumulate a higher level of fat inside it. So a slim individual can develop a fatty liver, as a response to gut toxicity.
HOW DO YOU TREAT IT?
Removing foods that have an irritating effect on the gut lining is a good start – gluten, dairy products and grains. A food allergy or intolerance can inflame the gut lining. Alcohol, the oral contraceptive pill and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen also increase gut permeability.
CAN NATURAL MEDICINES HELP?
Sometimes small intestinal bacterial overgrowth can cause leaky gut. In that instance, a naturopath or herbalist might prescribe a mixture of anti-microbial herbs like oregano, cloves and thyme, which are very helpful. Glutamine is an amino acid (building block of protein) that helps repair the gut lining. It is the main source of fuel for enterocytes (cells that line the intestines). Digestive enzymes help prevent undigested food from remaining in the gut and promoting bacterial and yeast overgrowth.
LEAKY GUT IS AN UNDERLYING DRIVER OF MANY COMMON AILMENTS, SO IMPROVING GUT HEALTH IN IS A CRITICAL FACTOR IMPROVING OVERALL HEALTH