This will be a lone ranger post, meaning I won't be adding further comment. Worth thinking about: Your body can change over 90% of it's cells in a year.
The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, said it himself: “All disease begins in the gut”. Gut health is buzz word at the moment. Here we are looking at one of the gut issues, called Leaky gut, also known as increased intestinal permeability. It is a digestive condition in which bacteria and toxins are able to “leak” through the intestinal wall.
When the gut is “leaky” and bacteria and toxins enter the bloodstream, it can cause widespread inflammation and possibly trigger a reaction from the immune system.
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract or digestive tract is where food is broken down and nutrients are absorbed. The walls of the intestines act as barriers, controlling what enters the bloodstream to be transported to your organs. The lining of your gut is similar to a fine net, built of just a single layer of cells. It is this barrier that keeps food in your digestive system until it can be broken down safely.
If your gut is healthy, tiny holes in the lining allow nutrients to pass through, while blocking the passage of harmful substances. This is how your body absorbs vitamins, minerals and other vital nutrients. Intestinal permeability refers to how easily substances pass through the intestinal wall.
When there is an inflammation in the gastro- intestinal mucosa, the intestinal wall becomes excessively permeable, and the tight junctions of intestinal walls become loose – a condition called leaky gut. The gut becomes more permeable, which may allow bacteria and toxins to pass from it into the bloodstream. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as “leaky gut.”
Gut Health: What makes it “Leaky”?
Leaky gut syndrome remains a bit of a medical mystery, and medical professionals are still trying to determine exactly what causes it. Some of the common causes of both leaky gut and digestive dysfunction are:
The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, said it himself: “All disease begins in the gut”. Gut health is buzz word at the moment. Here we are looking at one of the gut issues, called Leaky gut, also known as increased intestinal permeability. It is a digestive condition in which bacteria and toxins are able to “leak” through the intestinal wall.
When the gut is “leaky” and bacteria and toxins enter the bloodstream, it can cause widespread inflammation and possibly trigger a reaction from the immune system.
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract or digestive tract is where food is broken down and nutrients are absorbed. The walls of the intestines act as barriers, controlling what enters the bloodstream to be transported to your organs. The lining of your gut is similar to a fine net, built of just a single layer of cells. It is this barrier that keeps food in your digestive system until it can be broken down safely.
If your gut is healthy, tiny holes in the lining allow nutrients to pass through, while blocking the passage of harmful substances. This is how your body absorbs vitamins, minerals and other vital nutrients. Intestinal permeability refers to how easily substances pass through the intestinal wall.
When there is an inflammation in the gastro- intestinal mucosa, the intestinal wall becomes excessively permeable, and the tight junctions of intestinal walls become loose – a condition called leaky gut. The gut becomes more permeable, which may allow bacteria and toxins to pass from it into the bloodstream. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as “leaky gut.”
Gut Health: What makes it “Leaky”?
Leaky gut syndrome remains a bit of a medical mystery, and medical professionals are still trying to determine exactly what causes it. Some of the common causes of both leaky gut and digestive dysfunction are:
- Inflammation: Chronic inflammation throughout the body can contribute to leaky gut syndrome
- Stress: Chronic stress is a contributing factor to many GI disorders, including leaky gut
- Poor gut health: There are millions of bacteria in the gut, some beneficial and some harmful. When the balance between the two is disrupted, it can affect the barrier function of the intestinal wall
- Yeast overgrowth: Yeast is naturally present in the gut, but an overgrowth of yeast may contribute to leaky gut
- Nutrient deficiencies: Deficiencies in vitamin A, vitamin D and zinc have each been said to play a role in increased intestinal permeability
- Excessive sugar intake: An unhealthy diet high in sugar, particularly fructose, may harm the barrier function of the intestinal wall
- Excessive alcohol intake: Excessive alcohol intake may increase intestinal permeability
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): The long-term use of NSAIDs can increase intestinal permeability and contribute to leaky gut
- Parasites: Parasites can cause extensive damage and can produce symptoms like allergies, constipation, diarrhoea, wind, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, joint and muscle aches, anaemia, skin problems, sleep disturbances, chronic fatigue, and gradual immune dysfunction. Parasites release toxins that damage tissues, resulting in pain and inflammation, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract and they can depress, the immune system.