Leaky Gut Syndrome

Leaky gut syndrome occurs when the intestinal membranes lose structural integrity, becoming excessively porous. This allows toxic material and large molecules of unprocessed foodstuffs to pass into the body. Numerous physical and mental health problems have been linked with this leakage in the intestines, including ADHD, autism, depression, allergies, asthma, and skin diseases like eczema and psoriasis. Leaky gut syndrome may also be a factor in autoimmune diseases like arthritis, chronic fatigue, and fibromyalgia. 

Leaky gut starts with intestinal inflammation and/or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), which is brought on by a combination of factors. For instance, several drugs are known to contribute to intestinal inflammation, including antibiotics, corticosteroids (e.g. Prednisone), NSAIDS (e.g. ibuprofen, indomethacin), aspirin and birth control pills. Infections from yeast, parasites like giardia and cryptosporidium, and bacteria like H. pylori, klebsiella, and citrobacter will also cause intestinal inflammation and leaky gut.

Dietary considerations are also a factor. Alcohol and caffeine contribute to intestinal inflammation, as do many chemical additives in fermented and processed food (e.g. dyes, preservatives, peroxidized fats). Enzyme deficiencies and a high carbohydrate diet are culprits as well.

The intestines do not absorb nutrients correctly when they are inflamed, which can cause fatigue and bloating. When large, undigested food particles are absorbed because of the excessive porousness in the membranes, this contributes to allergic and autoimmune responses like asthma, hay fever, arthritis and fibromyalgia. 

The inflammation damages carrier proteins that help nutrients to be assimilated. This can cause nutritional deficiencies. Leaking toxins also burden the liver and immune system. Finally, the damaged intestinal membranes also allow bacteria, viruses, and yeast to pass more readily into the system to damage other organs and systems.

Healing the Gut

Reducing intestinal inflammation and rebuilding damaged intestinal membranes to stop gut leakage can help with numerous health problems. 

Many people in natural health think that colon cleansing will solve all colon problems, but solving the problem of leaky gut isn’t the same as doing a colon cleanse. A cleanse is focused on detoxifying the colon, while solving leaky gut is primarily about reducing inflammation and promoting tissue healing and repair.

There are some similarities between colon cleansing therapies and natural therapies for leaky gut, but there are also some important differences. Here are six steps you can take to reduce intestinal inflammation, promote healing, and stop intestinal leakage.

Avoid Intestinal Irritants 

To get rid of intestinal inflammation, stop consuming substances that irritate and damage the intestinal membranes. Avoid foods that are loaded with food additives and eliminate food allergens. Wheat, corn, and dairy products are common food allergens that cause intestinal inflammation. Diets high in refined sugars and simple carbohydrates (bread and pasta) can also contribute to intestinal inflammation.

Gluten may be particularly problematic in leaky gut because it contains gliadin, a protein which mimics zonulin, a hormone that increases gut permeability. Therefore, avoiding all foods that contain gluten may be necessary to support gut health. These include wheat, barley, rye, triticale, spelt, and kamut, and all products made from them. Alternative grains that can be helpful in improving gut health include millet, rice, quinoa, and amaranth.

There are several drugs that can may damage the intestinal membranes, these include NSAIDs, antibiotics, corticosteroids and birth control pills. Use them only when necessary to avoid intestinal inflammation. Drinking purified water will also help, as chlorine and other chemicals in water can contribute to intestinal inflammation.

Bind Irritants and Toxins with Fiber

Fiber serves an important role in reducing intestinal inflammation. It protects your colon by binding toxic or irritating substances you can't avoid and directly soothes existing irritation.

It also feeds the friendly bacteria that inhabit the digestive tract. These bacteria also help protect the colon from toxins. Fiber also increases colon transit time, holds moisture in the colon to encourage proper elimination, and absorbs materials released from the liver through the bile (like excess cholesterol) to clear them out of the body.

So, increasing the amount of fiber in the diet is an important step in improving gut health. The best way to do this is to eat more fibrous foods such as whole grains, legumes, leafy green vegetables, whole fruits. A fiber supplement, especially one that contains slippery elm and marshmallow, can also help increase dietary fiber. Always drink plenty of water when taking any fiber supplement.

Improve Colon Transit Time

Colon transit time is the length of time it takes for material to travel from one end of the alimentary canal to the other. In a healthy colon, this should be about 18-24 hours. To test your own colon transit time, eat a food that colors the stool (like beets) and see how long it takes for the color to show up in the stool and be eliminated. If it takes more than a day, then you have a sluggish colon transit time. 

You’re not alone if you have a problem with this. The average colon transit time of most people in North American is 72 hours. This means the waste products of food sit too long in the digestive tract, which allows them to ferment and irritate the intestinal lining. Increasing colon transit time moves this material through the bowel faster so it doesn’t inflame the intestinal lining.

Just drinking plenty of water and taking some dietary fiber will usually improve colon transit time. Bitter herbs can also help because they stimulate digestive secretions and increase the flow of bile. A Digestive Bitters Formula containing herbs like dandelion root, orange peel, angelica, cardamom, chamomile, gentian, and fennel may be helpful for improving digestion and speeding up a sluggish colon transit time.

In some cases, a Stimulant Laxative Formula containing cascara sagrada, Turkey rhubarb, senna, aloes, or other herbs that contain anthraquinone glycosides may be helpful. These products should not be used on a long-term basis, but only for a limited period to improve transit time while other remedies, such as fiber, bitters, and enzymes, have a chance to do their work. 

If a person finds it difficult to have a bowel movement without stimulant laxatives a Gentle Bowel Cleansing Formula containing magnesium hydroxide and triphala may be helpful. High doses of vitamin C (over 3,000 mg per day) and magnesium (over 800 mg per day) may be helpful. Both of these nutrients will loosen the stool at high doses. Start with the recommendations above and gradually increase the dose of both until the bowels start to move better, then slowly back down.

Eliminate Harmful Organisms

Yeast, bacteria, and parasites can all contribute to intestinal inflammation. Yeast, in particular, secretes a toxin that damages the intestinal lining and increases membrane permeability. Normally, your colon is populated by friendly bacteria (probiotics) that inhibit the growth of yeast and other harmful microbes. Unfortunately, antibiotics, chlorinated water, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), birth control pills, and other medications can damage the friendly flora, resulting in overgrowth of yeast and other microbes.

Herbs that reduce harmful bacteria and fungus in the intestines include enteric-coated peppermint oil, goldenseal, oregano, cloves, black walnut, pau d’arco, and cinnamon. An Anti-Fungal Formula or an H. Pylori-Fighting Formula that contains these ingredients may be useful. Nutritional supplements that can be helpful include berberine, zinc, and caprylic acid.

Plug the Leaks

Of course, the primary goal in everything we’re trying to do here is to plug the leaks in the intestinal walls. This means involves restoring tone and integrity to the intestinal membranes. There are a number of herbs and nutrients that can help. Kudzu, uña d’gato (cat’s claw), pau d’arco, black walnut, slippery elm, and marshmallow can all help. L-glutamine is a nutrient that can help rebuild and repair the gut lining. 

Bone broth is high in both glutamine and glycine, amino acids essential in healing the gut. It is also loaded with nutrients to build healthy bones, muscles, teeth, and connective tissue. Drink 1-4 cups per day. 

Other herbs that can help soothe intestinal irritation and restore health to the gut wall include deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), chamomile, aloe vera juice, calendula, and plantain.

Repopulate the Colon with Probiotics

The friendly flora that inhabit the digestive tract are also known as probiotics, because they have a beneficial effect on health. Probiotics protect the intestines from infection by harmful bacteria and yeast. They also assist with the breakdown of food and provide nutrients to the intestinal membranes. Finally, they help neutralize toxins in the digestive tract.

The best way to repopulate the colon with friendly bacteria is to eat fermented foods with live cultures, such as yoghurt or raw sauerkraut. Another way is to take probiotic and prebiotic supplements. Probiotics supply friendly bacteria and prebiotics feed healthy bacteria in the intestinal tract.

If you have issues with brain fog, mood, frequent indigestion, poor immunity, autoimmune disorders, or chronic fatigue, try taking these steps to improve your intestinal health. People are often amazed at how many health problems disappear (and how much better their overall health and energy are) when they heal their intestinal tract by reducing inflammation and putting a halt to gut leakage.