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The walls of your gastrointestinal tract have a semipermeable protective lining. This lining allows nutrients and water to pass through it and enter the bloodstream while acting as a barrier for microorganisms and other toxins.
The intestinal lining's permeability increases more than normal in leaky gut syndrome. This increased permeability allows toxins to cross the intestinal barrier and enter the bloodstream. Entry of toxins in the blood can triggerinflammation in the intestinal lining and cause several other diseases.
It is important to remember that leaky gut syndrome is not yet a medical diagnosis. It is a hypothetical condition, which is why there is no standard treatment for it.
Studies show that leaky gut syndrome and the associated impaired intestinal permeability is associated with diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease,irritable bowel syndrome,liver cirrhosis, diabetes, andceliac disease.
It is hard to tell whether you have a leaky gut or any other gastrointestinal disease just based on symptoms. It is because the symptoms that you may experience with a leaky gut are also common in other gastrointestinal diseases.
A leaky gut or increased intestinal permeability can harm the intestinal lining and cause the followingsymptoms:
Leaky gut syndrome is yet to be accepted as a medical condition. This is why there is no standard test for the diagnosis of leaky gut syndrome. You also can’t tell if you have leaky gut syndrome just based on the symptoms.
However, there are some tests available to evaluate intestinal permeability. These tests include:
The urine test orlactulose mannitol test involves you consuming a drink containing two different sugars: lactulose and mannitol. Mannitol has smaller molecules and should pass through the intestinal lining, absorbing into the body. In contrast, lactulose has a larger molecule, and it should be absorbed comparatively less in the body.
Your urine sample is collected after a few hours of consuming the drink. Ideally, the urine should contain more mannitol and less lactulose. If the urine test shows high levels of both sugars, it indicates increased intestinal permeability.
In this test, the doctor takes a tissue sample from your gut and tests it for permeability using a specialized device called aUssing chamber. The device allows the transfer of different molecules across the sample tissue and measures its permeability.
When the intestinal lining is more permeable, bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation. Your doctor can use blood tests to see if inflammatory markers and antibodies against certain bacteria are present in the blood. If found, it indicates the transfer of bacteria into the blood due to increased intestinal permeability.
A leaky gut occurs when the intestinal lining or intestinal barrier weakens and fails to function properly. Your intestinal barrier primarily comprises epithelial cells, mucus membranes, and good gut bacteria. They all function collectively to allow the transfer of nutrients and the prevention of toxins across the barrier.
Several factors can harm one or more components of the intestinal barrier and contribute to the leaky gut syndrome. These include:
Overly processed foods are high in refined sugars, fats, salts, and other additives and low in fiber.Studies show that additives in ultra-processed foods can alter the composition of gut bacteria and cause intestinal inflammation.
Studies have shown that a high sugar intake is a risk for good gut bacteria. Excessive sugar consumption also supports the growth of harmful bacteria in the gut, causing intestinal inflammation. These changes in the gutharm the intestinal barrier and can lead to increased intestinal permeability.
Research shows that dietary fiber promotes the integrity of the intestinal barrier. It facilitates the growth of good gut bacteria and increases the release of protective mucosa.
Since overly processed foods are low in fiber, they can’t support the intestinal barrier and increase the risk of a leaky gut.
Long-term consumption of alcohol negatively impacts intestinal permeability by several mechanisms. Astudy shows that alcohol consumption promotes the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the gut. It also causesdamage to the intestinal mucosa and increases the likelihood ofintestinal inflammation.
By causing these alterations in the gut, alcohol harms the protective intestinal barrier and promotes a leaky gut.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, are a class of drugs against pain and inflammation.Studies show that the use of NSAIDs can alter the bacterial composition in the gut.Research also shows that NSAID use increases the risk of mucosal injury and peptic ulcer.
The change in bacterial composition and mucosal injury from NSAIDs result in a compromised intestinal barrier. This causes increased intestinal permeability for toxins, promoting the development of leaky gut syndrome.
Some other causes of increased intestinal permeability and leaky gut syndrome may include:
There is no specific treatment protocol for leaky gut, and doctors usually try to find the underlying cause first. Then, the treatment involves managing the underlying cause. For example, if alcohol consumption or NSAIDs are causing a leaky gut in an individual, the doctor will suggest stopping their intake.
Your doctor can also prescribe medications depending on your underlying condition.
Treatment also focuses on improving the integrity of the intestinal lining. It can be done by following home remedies and adopting certain lifestyle changes.
Home remedies for leaky gut mainly involve dietary changes. These include:
Avoiding processed foods will prevent further damage to the intestinal lining. Meanwhile, increasing fiber in your diet will promote the integrity of your intestinal lining and overallgut health.
Dietary fiber willpromote the growth of good gut bacteria andfacilitate the production of a protective mucosal layer.
Probiotics are good bacteria thatimprove bacterial composition in the gut and support gut health.Studies show that probiotics also protect the gut mucosa from pathogens and toxins. Prebiotics are foods for good bacteria that promote their growth and diversity.
Adopting healthy lifestyle changes can also promote gut health and improve the functioning of the gut lining.
Food that can heal leaky gut includes:
Vegetables provide plenty of dietary fiber and thus can help heal the leaky gut. Fiber can heal leaky gut by promoting the production of intestinal mucosa and facilitating the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
Some of the fiber-rich vegetables that you should eat for a leaky gut include:
Like vegetables, several fruits also contain plenty of dietary fiber and can help improve gut permeability. Nutritional deficiency is common in people with a leaky gut. Fruits are rich innutritional value and can help in achieving nutritional requirements.
Some fiber-rich fruits that you can help with leaky gut include:
Disturbed bacterial composition is one cause of leaky gut syndrome. Probiotic foods supply good bacteria to the gut, promoting a healthy balance of gut bacteria and improving the intestinal barrier.
Probiotic foods that you can eat for gut health include:
You can eat foods rich in healthy ingredients, but supplements are also an option to ensure you get the desired nutrition. Supplements are a convenient and effective way to get the desired results. Some of the supplements that you can take for leaky gut syndrome are:
Fiber is one of the most healthy food ingredients for the gastrointestinal system. Scientific data shows that fiber has several properties to heal a leaky gut, which includes:
Certain foods can trigger inflammation in the gut and further disturb the gut lining, thereby worsening leaky gut syndrome. These include:
Eggs provide protein, which can help in tissue recovery and healing. They also contain omega-3 fatty acids, which can improve the integrity of the intestinal barrier and benefit a leaky gut
2. Are chickpeas ok for a leaky gut?
Chickpeas can provide you with proteins and fiber; both benefit a leaky gut. Proteins facilitate tissue recovery, while fiber improves the composition of gut bacteria and promotes the integrity of the intestinal lining.
3. Do chia seeds help leaky gut?
Chia seeds are a source of dietary fiber, which can improve gut permeability and overall gut health. Dietary fiber improves the bacterial balance and mucosal lining in the gut.
The gastrointestinal tract has a protective lining that prevents the entry of toxins from the gut into the blood. This protective lining is sensitive to certain factors such as processed foods, drugs, antibiotics, and alcohol consumption. When the gut lining is compromised, it allows the entry of toxins into the blood, a condition called leaky gut.
A leaky gut isn’t a diagnosable medical condition yet, and there is no recommended treatment protocol for it. However, improving diet through increased fiber intake and probiotics can help heal a leaky gut.