Choosing the right leaky gut syndrome supplements can make a significant difference in how you feel — this guide breaks down exactly what works, what doesn't, and what Dr. Ava Bell-Taylor recommends.

Leaky Gut Syndrome and Irritable Bowel: 

What Causes Gut Problems?

The intestines or the gut serve to keep the body safe from excess bacteria and toxins. Nonetheless, the gut is responsible for a few other functions aside from digestion. It is home to a majority of the immune system and is responsible for creating neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and acetylcholine. The gut-brain axis is a complex, bidirectional communication system between the brain and the gut. This connects the emotional and cognitive areas of the brain to the gastrointestinal functions.

What is Leaky Gut?

LGS or leaky gut syndrome is one of the most common digestive syndromes that can occur with any type of inflammatory disease of the intestines. It leads to loss of barrier function which manifests as increased permeability of the intestine, allowing large molecules from the food enter into the bloodstream and cause hypersensitivities. Permeability is increased when the intestinal lining functions improperly.

In most cases, GI cells form a distinct barrier that is responsible for determining what goes into the bloodstream. An unhealthy gut may possess large fissures or cracks that could enable undigested food, toxins, and bacteria to enter the tissues underneath it. This severe alteration may result in detrimental changes in the gut microbiome, which could result in inflammation, digestion difficulties, and an imbalance in the gut microbiome can provoke an immune response in the body, which causes inflammation. This inflammation is believed to cause the increased intestinal permeability associated with leaky gut syndrome. 

Patients suffering from celiac disease, irritable bowel, and Crohn’s disease undergo the the loosening of the tight junction as manifest in leaky gut syndrome. In all these conditions, they also undergo the disappearance of microvilli (small projections on the intestinal epithelial cells that aid in absorption). Whether they are the same disorders or whether one is an advancement of the other remains unknown.

What Causes Leaky Gut

Although the causes of Leaky gut syndrome are still unknown, suffering from stress, having an unhealthy diet devoid of fiber, over-relying on alcohol and processed foods, Yes! Some bad bacteria and lack of good bacteria can lead to problems as well. Other causes which may lie down the line are a history of chemotherapy, radiation, recurrent infections and diabetes. These can pose a challenge to leaky gut syndrome.

Leaky Gut Symptoms

The symptoms are relatively straightforward: food sensitivities, diarrhea diversified with abdominal bloating, and crams. Other associated symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, skin issues, headaches, and difficulty focusing. Leaky gut syndrome does not define who you can suffer from but does increase the odds of developing an autoimmune disease coupled with anxiety and depression as a byproduct.

Leaky Gut Syndrome (or LGS) is something that can even lead to death. It is associated with autoimmune disorders as well as chronic diseases. Conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic infections, asthma, autism, diabetes, lupus, polycystic ovaries, food allergies, liver disease, eczema, obesity, and even mental disorders are thought to be linked to LGS. 

How to Heal a Leaky Gut

While healing a leaky gut requires a shift toward a more active approach, there are a few actions that provide symptomatic relief: 

• Speak to a holistic practitioner   
• Receive food allergy testing and avoid offending foods within the range of moderate to severe sensitivity  
• Eliminate inflammation-promoting foods like dairy products, eggs, wheat, and gluten   
• Steer clear of fast and packaged foods    
• Add fiber-rich foods to your diet   
• Take or eat foods rich in glutamine    
• Include green, leafy vegetables in your diet   
• Use digestive enzymes that facilitate the breakdown of complex food particulates        
• Use probiotics to restore already lost gut flora   
• Reduce meat consumption    
• Eliminate sugar and sugar substitutes    
• Maintain a schedule for exercising    
• Manage stress    
• Limit excessive engagement with antibiotics