Exploring Leaky Gut
Damaged cells in a leaky gut
What is Leaky Gut?
Leaky gut is another term for hyper-permeability of the digestive lining. It is where the lining of the intestines is damaged, causing gaps that allow harmful substances such as food particles, toxins and bacteria into the blood stream.
Intestinal permeability is an index for intestinal barrier integrity. Intestinal permeability has been shown to increase in various diseases—not only intestinal inflammatory diseases, but also systemic diseases, including diabetes, chronic kidney dysfunction, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Some other contributing factors to leaky gut are stress, alcohol excess, certain medications, food intolerances, infections, autoimmune disorders, imbalances in the gut microbiota, aging and inflammation.
Symptoms of Leaky Gut
Symptoms can include diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, cramping, fatigue, headaches, joint pain, nutritional deficiencies, difficulty concentrating, skin issues such as eczema and inflammation in the gut and body.
A chronic increase in intestinal permeability may contribute to other medical conditions such as IBS, Crohn’s, coeliac, chronic liver disease or fatty liver, food intolerances and sensitivities, diabetes, fibromyalgia and PCOS.
Managing Leaky Gut
Certain dietary and lifestyle changes may improve the strength of the intestinal barrier and tighten up the junctions between cells.
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