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Let’s talk about how you can repair a leaky gut by changing your eating habits. I will also cover some natural remedies that will help with some common health issues initiated by a leaky gut.
When intestinal permeability increases and there is a less stable barrier between the contents of your intestine and your bloodstream, inflammation occurs, and changes in the gut flora trigger some unwelcoming symptoms.
This article is for you if you are experiencing symptoms or conditions like these on a regular basis:
Excessive fatigue
Constipation, bloating, or diarrhea
Headaches, brain fog, memory loss
Joint pain and inflammation, arthritis
Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, celiac disease or Crohn’s
Depression, anxiety, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Nutritional deficiencies
Poor immune system
Excessive cravings for sugar or carbs
Dealing with one or two of such symptoms chronically indicates that your gut lining is threatened. This means unwanted substances which aren’t normally present in the blood are seeping through the intestinal wall and are seen as foreign by the immune system.
If this is the case, your immune system will respond to the threat with inflammation, its first line of defense, and this will change the composition of normal bacteria in the gut. Resulting in all kinds of problems.
Read this article where I talk about what lifestyle habits cause leaky gut.
The Connection Between Your Diet And Gut Health
One of the main drivers of our chronic gut-related inflammation is our access to fast food restaurants on every corner and processed foods lining the grocery store aisles. There are emerging studies suggesting that the Standard American Diet (SAD in short), which is low in fiber and high in processed sugar and saturated fats, may initiate the imbalance.
Do We Supply Our Gut With The Right Fuel?
Your gut is full of symbiotic bacteria that can support your health if you supply them with the right fuel in the form of fiber from plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. Dietary fiber works in a similar way as probiotics to improve the microbiome. When fiber is fermented by the gut flora, it creates a short-chain amino acid called butyrate.
Research like this have suggested that butyrate may stimulate mucus production and improve tight junctions in the lining of the intestinal tract.
The Main Eating Habits That Can affect Your Digestive System negatively Are:
Consuming too many processed foods
Not eating enough of high fiber and antioxidant-rich plant foods
Consuming wheat products despite having gluten-sensitivity
Diets high in saturated fat and sugar which have been shown to reduce the abundance of Lactobacillus (a type of friendly gut bacteria).
Diets lacking in nutrients, like vitamins A and D, zinc, or magnesium
One of the best approaches is to consume a nutritious, unprocessed diet that includes anti-inflammatory foods to rebuild the gut lining and bring more balance to the gut flora.
Holistic Strategies To Heal The Intestinal Lining
One of the best approaches to repairing leaky gut is to consume a nutritious, unprocessed diet that includes anti-inflammatory foods to rebuild the gut lining and bring more balance to the gut flora.
Some of the great foods for keeping gut lining strong and healthy are:
Mushrooms: High in beta-glucans and keep friendly gut bacteria thriving. When the microbiome is healthy, so is the gut epithelium
Garlic and Ginger: The healing prebiotic and anti-inflammatory duo, pair together perfectly in soups, broths, and sauces.
Turmeric: Anti-inflammatory herb that helps to protect the gut lining from inflammation
Bone broth: Contains collagen which is nourishing the intestinal lining
Probiotic foods: Sauerkraut, kimchi, fermented pickles, yogurt, and kefir are great food sources of probiotics
Salmon and Sardines: Wild fish high in omega-3s are an important part of healing leaky gut. Look for SMASH fish (salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, herring) which are high in omega-3 and low in mercury.
Strategic Supplementation to Restore Gut Health
Probiotics
Probiotics perform many functions simultaneously. They repair leaky gut and the main causes of permeable gut lining, by reducing inflammation, dysbiosis (imbalance of good and bad bacteria), overgrowth, or infection. A high-quality probiotic supplement provides microbes to nourish other bacteria in the gut and keep the acidity of the gut stable. Acidity deters pathogens and encourages the growth of your symbiotic bacteria.
L-glutamine
Glutamine is an important amino acid. In the digestive tract, it’s best known for helping to repair the intestinal lining. Studies have shown that glutamine can improve the growth and survival of enterocytes, or intestinal cells. It may also help to regulate the function of the intestinal barrier during stressful times.
Shop for L-glutamine (15% OFF of professional-grade products)
Zinc
Zinc is also a necessary element of many metabolic processes and is well-known for its ability to boost the immune system.
Studies have found that zinc supplementation helped to strengthen the gut lining and repair a leaky gut in patients with Crohn’s disease and suggest that zinc is able to modify the tight junctions of the intestinal lining, helping to limit gut permeability.
Collagen Peptides
Collagen is an important protein that can be found in almost every tissue of the body. It may also play a beneficial role in gut health.
Collagen peptides are a more easily digestible and bioavailable form of collagen. A recent research found that collagen peptides were able to prevent further breakdown of the intestinal lining and show anti-inflammatory properties in the gut.
Butyrate
When fiber is fermented by the gut flora, it creates a short-chain amino acid called butyrate. Now butyrate supplementation may stimulate mucus production and improve tight junctions in the lining of the tract. Shop for Butyrate
Licorice Root
One of my favorite adaptogenic herbs is licorice root. Licorice root can also help support the body’s natural processes for maintaining the mucosal lining of the stomach and duodenum. It is especially beneficial if someone’s leaky gut is being caused by emotional stress or irritable bowel syndrome.
Deglycyrrhized licorice is made from licorice root which has been used for thousands of years in Eastern medicine for its soothing and decongestant properties. The downside is that pure licorice root contains compounds that can raise blood pressure (when taken on consecutive days). So DGL is licorice root with those compounds removed. Shop for DGL.
More Tips for improving Gut Health
In addition to avoiding the standard American diet and it’s beneficial to avoid exposure to potential “toxins” found in tap water, alcohol, cigarettes, pesticides, NSAID pain-killer medications and antibiotics, all of which can stress the gut. However, always consult with your physician if he or she has prescribed these for you.
Another tip is to consider following an elimination diet at first. When it comes to worsening or promoting digestive health its important to monitor your symptoms and look for your body’s signals and list them. For example, some people do better with certain protein foods than others do.
You may be wondering, are eggs bad for leaky gut? What about beans and legumes?
You may choose to eliminate eggs and legumes at first and then try reintroducing them after several weeks. This can help you uncover whether they are problematic for you or not.
In place of eggs and legumes, try meat, poultry, fish, and collagen protein or bone broth protein powder instead.
Reducing the intake of FODMAP foods is also recommended as part of an elimination diet since FODMAP carbohydrates can worsen digestive issues like bloating and gas.
Also called intestinal permeability, leaky gut is a condition that occurs when the intestinal lining becomes damaged.
Not only does leaky gut impact digestive health, but this condition can also cause widespread symptoms related to inflammation and autoimmune reactions.
If your doctor has recommended you to follow a leaky gut meal plan or you feel that you need help with making adjustments to your current routine to heal your gut holistically, I’m one message away and happy to help.
Need more support? Book your FREE Connection call today!
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