What is Leaky Gut?

So what is leaky gut? 

In the simplest terms the term leaky gut is a condition in which bacteria (not the good kind), toxins and undigested food particles pass through the intestinal walls into your bloodstream.  

The digestive system is made up of a multitude of organs collectively breaking down your food (this is why its very important to CHEW your food ladies and gentlemen), absorb all those delicious nutrients your body needs in order to be functioning in a healthy manner and to remove harmful waste products. 

The intestinal lining acts as a barrier between your gut and bloodstream, nutrients/ water absorption mainly occurs in your intestines with their narrow junctions allowing the water and nutrients to pass into your bloodstream. 

Mistreating your gut with a highly toxic diet can cause these narrow junctions to begin to loosen allowing harmful bacteria’s, toxins and undigested food particles to enter your bloodstream. This results in what we call leaky gut syndrome. 

Studies have shown when ‘leaky gut’ occurs its triggers a widespread inflammation, which has been linked to a series of autoimmune diseases, food sensitives, skin conditions, brain fog and chronic fatigue. 

Contributing factors that can lead to leaky gut are believed to be:

• Excessive sugar intake

• Excessive alcohol 

• Inflammation (this can actually be cause and can be the cause of leaky gut) 

• Stress 

• Poor gut health - here are lots of different types of bacteria living in our gut, some needed with beneficial factors, other can be particularly harmful – if the balance is disrupted it can affect the barrier function of the intestinal wall. 

• Yeast Overgrowth 

• Smoking 

Symptoms that can cause or contribute to leaky gut are:

• Chronic diarrhoea, constipation or bloating 

• Fatigue 

• Headaches 

• Skin problems, acne, eczema, rashes 

• Joint Pain 

• Widespread inflammation