Leaky Gut – The ‘Whys’ and ‘Hows’
Leaky Gut – The ‘Whys’ and ‘Hows’
Got a headache? Pop in a pill. Out with friends? Consume some processed foods. Feeling feverish? Have an antibiotic. Hands feeling sweaty? Wash with an antibacterial soap. Haven’t all of us done all of the above sometime or the other? Add to it chronic stress, thanks to the present way of life. And what we have is a perfect recipe for a ‘Leaky Gut’! Scary, right? The environment we live in is hugely polluted with chemicals and toxins. Widespread use of pesticides, a diet of genetically modified crops, food additives and preservatives, household cleaning products, have all created a dangerous toxic load in our bodies that has affected our gut! An excessive use of antibiotics, chemicals added to processed foods (preservatives), etc tend to kill the good bacteria in the gut. A leaky gut affects the whole body. Here’s brief rundown of what it does:
Brain – Depression, Anxiety, ADHD
Skin – Acne, Rosacea, Eczema, Psoriasis
Thyroid – Hashimoto’s, Hypothyroidism, Graves
Colon – Constipation, Diarrhea, IBD
Adrenals – Fatigue
Joints – Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Headaches
Sinus Mouth – Frequent colds, Food sensitivities
There are a few definitive tests to determine if you have a leaky gut:
– A Lactose Breath Test – diagnosis small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), leaky gut
– An Organic Acids Test – reveals mineral and vitamin deficiencies
– An Immunoglobulin test – checks for food allergies
– A stool test – tells you the balance of good and bad micro-organisms in the body
Gluten and the ‘Leaky Gut’ Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, kamut and spelt. Genetic modification has made Gluten stronger and more concentrated in the grains we consume, leading to an increase in food allergies. Some people are unable to digest gluten. The most severe form of gluten intolerance is called Celiac disease, a hereditary autoimmune disease. Gluten increases intestinal permeability, thereby causing an immune response in the body. In turn the immune system reacts by causing inflammation, resulting in a ‘Leaky Gut’.
Is there a solution to this ‘Leaky Gut’?
Yes! Under the garb of civilisation, we have moved away from an agrarian life to an urban one. We have forgotten that the earth lives in us. We are all 90% microbial. It is time for our inner and outer eco-systems to live in harmony. Let us combine the best of modern day living with those simple routines that kept us healthy over years. We must expose ourselves to soil, dust, plant oils, bacteria, and re-establish the symbiotic relationship that we have always had with microbes. So then, how about getting outdoors, hugging our pets after they have rolled in the leaves, allow our kids to get their hands dirty in the mud/sand! For those with Celiac disease, we have a dietary solution. Gluten free products are now available at your doorstep. Work these into your daily diet and let your angst stay in the past! Come, allow yourself to ‘goglutenfree’!
