Article

What's up with leaky gut?

 

Virtually everyone I have worked with as a holistic nutritionist has had some degree of leaky gut.

 

Leaky gut can have serious consequences including allergies and sensitivities, digestive issues, and chronic health problems.

 

In my experience it is impossible to get over serious health conditions without addressing leaky gut.

 

 

What IS leaky gut?

 

 

Undigested food particles are not supposed to get into the body, and if they do, the body can develop allergies and sensitivities to those foods.

 

Undigested foods can also teach the immune system to attack and damage tissues of the body.

 

 

 

Leaky gut is a big problem.

 

Some autoimmune conditions associated with leaky gut include:

 

1. •celiac disease
   

2. •crohn's
   

3. •colitis
   

4. •Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
   

5. •asthma
   

6. •multiple sclerosis
   

7. •rheumatoid arthritis
   

8. •ankylosing spondylitis
   

9. •Grave's disease
   

10. •lupus
    

11. •scleroderma
    

12. •chronic fatigue syndrome
    

 

"If your patient is having leaky gut syndrome today, 5 years later, maybe ... autoimmunity."

Aristo Vojdani, PhD   Orhomolecular Medicine Today Conference 2012

 

 

Other issues associated with leaky gut:

 

1. •headaches, migraines
   

2. •low energy
   

3. •brain fog, poor memory
   

4. •anxiety or depression
   

5. •food and environmental allergies
   

6. •chemical sensitivites
   

 

 

Got leaky gut?

 

Suspect leaky gut if you have:

1. •acid reflux/burning in stomach
   

2. •abdominal bloating
   

3. •chronic gas
   

4. •constipation
   

5. •had food poisoning or stomach flu
   

6. •taken antibiotics in the past
   

7. •food allergies and sensitivities
   

 

 

How the gut is supposed to work...

 

 

How things go bad...

 

Intestinal cells are damaged by:

1. •overgrowth of "bad" bacteria
   (check for a white tongue)
   

2. •intestinal parasites
   

3. •sugar
   

4. •refined grains
   

5. •alcohol
   

6. •drugs (prescription and over the counter) especially birth control pill
   

7. •stress hormones
   

8. •gluten-containing grains
   

 

 

The gluten problem...

 

Gluten and other grain-protein fragments can cause problems with the digestive tract and immune system.

 

The most problematic fragment is gliadin – a derivative of gluten. Gliadin and other gluten fragments teach the immune system to attack intestinal cells and body tissues.

 

 

Gliadin and the path to autoimmunity

 

 

Gliadin can cause immune cells to attack and damage:

1. •joints
   

2. •pancreas
   

3. •adrenal glands
   

4. •thyroid
   

5. •reproductive organs
   

6. •heart
   

7. •brain
   

 

 

More bad news...

Gliadin antibodies can also cause damaging reactions to these foods:

1. •dairy products
   

2. •casein
   

3. •whey
   

4. •yeast
   

5. •oats
   

6. •coffee
   

7. •soy
   

8. •eggs
   

9. •corn
   

10. •rice
    

This may explain why 30% of celiacs do not get better on a gluten-free diet.

 

FROM: Beyond the gluten-free diet for optimal healing

Aristo Vojdani, PhD  Orhomolecular Medicine Today Conference 2012

  

 

Addressing leaky gut.

 

 

Avoid or eliminate:

1. •gluten-containing grains
   

2. •dairy products
   

3. •sugar and white starches
   

4. •alcohol
   

5. •unnecessary medications
   

 

Eat this:

1. •vegetables – lots
   

2. •fruit – some
   

3. •probiotic foods
   (miso, tempeh, fermented vegetables)
   

4. •digestive enzymes if needed
   

 

Beneficial nutrients:

 

With serious or chronic health issues...

Consider the benefits of working with someone who is an expert in digestive healing:

1. •specific protocols for intestinal healing
   

2. •specific dosing for therapeutic levels of nutrients
   

3. •step-by-step guidance
   

 

Want to know more?

 

Leaky gut mechanism and effects

Physiol Rev January 1, 2011 vol. 91 no. 1 151-175

Zonulin and Its Regulation of Intestinal Barrier Function: The Biological Door to Inflammation, Autoimmunity, and Cancer

Alessio Fasano

http://physrev.physiology.org/content/91/1/151.abstract

Leaky gut and autoimmune issues

(comprehensive article)

Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2012 Feb;42(1):71-8.

Leaky gut and autoimmune diseases.

Fasano A.

http://www.celiaccenter.org/documents/publications/Leaky%20gut%20and%20autoimmune%20diseases,%20Clinical%20Reviews%20in%20Allergy%20%26%20Immunology,%20November%202011.pdf

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