The Year Of The Doctor :
During 2019, I worked with 5 different medical professionals to help heal my gut. The short story is, Dena Norton, who I continue to work with, played a pivotal role in bringing health back to my life. But there is more to the story, so Ill start from the beginning.
The Holistic Nutritionist: Understanding western medicine often overlooks root causes, I began by seeing a Holistic Health Specialist who did muscle testing in order to determine my ailments as well as the supplements that could be beneficial to me. While the supplements did help, the muscle testing did not uncover the root cause of my gut issues. Even though my symptoms improved slightly, they only did so for a short time, as the root cause was still present.
The Gastroenterologist: Being the science-minded person I am, I acknowledged that alternative medicine has its place but so wanted more testing and scientific backing. I went to a gastroenterologist who gave me a colonoscopy, endoscopy, and had me take a blood test for Celiac. He also had me take two standard stool tests. Everything came back normal. Still, I was experiencing nasty gut symptoms. This entire experience did nothing to advance me, but rather helped me rule out things I didnt have.
The Functional Medicine Doctor: Reverting back to what I believe to be true, I went to a functional health doctor who happens to be one of the leading gut doctors in the country. Ill skip a long story and say I didnt get what I needed out of the experience.
How Do You Repopulate The Gut With Good Bacteria
The best way to repopulate your gut with good bacteria is to feed the ones that are there already.
We all have somewhere around 1000 types of bacteria in our guts, making up a community of about 100 trillion microbes. The more types of bacteria you have down there, the lower your risk of disease and allergies. We know this from many animal tests and human studies comparing the microbes of people with and without particular diseases.
Recent examples include:
Modern life does a number on your gut bacteria. Scientists who have lived and worked with traditional hunter gatherer cultures around the world and tested their microbiomes have found that they have a far higher diversity of bacteria than people in developed countries.
The Hadza people of Tanzania have a gut microbiome diversity about 40 per cent higher than the average American and about 30 per cent higher than the average Brit .
While probiotics can certainly play a role in restoring a dwindling microbiome, the latest research tells us that their long-term effects are minimal if we dont eat the right diet to keep them alive. Find out more about probiotics on our blog How long does it take for probiotics to start working?
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Leaky Gut
Different individuals experience leaky gut in different ways. According to the Mayo Clinic, some of the main physical symptoms of leaky gut are as follows.
- Symptoms of an irritable bowel such as intermittent constipation and diarrhea
- Sensitivities to foods such as gluten, soy, and dairy
- A propensity toward developing autoimmune diseases
- Lab-confirmed vitamin and nutrient deficiencies
- Skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis
- Learning disabilities, developmental issues, or autism
- An imbalanced thyroid
It is important to keep in mind that not all symptoms need to be present for the problem of a leaky gut to exist.
In addition, symptoms can sometimes come and go. While all of these symptoms can certainly be attributed to other conditions, it is important to at least consider the possibility of a leaky gut diagnosis.
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Work Toward A Heavily Plant
If youre experiencing leaky gut, a diet thats fiber-filled and plant-based can decrease inflammation and irritation from gluten and other sugars. Meat and fish are fine to consume, but focus on gluten-free grains, vegetables and fruits, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats . Plus, the prebiotics found in high-fiber whole foods like asparagus and whole-grain oats are crucial to feeding the probiotic bacteria in the gut microbiome and keeping it healthy.
How To Speed Up The Healing Process With Probiotics
Probiotics are live bacteria that are beneficial to the body, and they can be found in fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, and kimchi. Probiotics are also available in supplement form. Many people take probiotics to improve digestive health, but they can also help speed up the healing process.
Probiotics work by restoring the balance of good bacteria in the gut, which is important for gut health. In addition, probiotics help to heal leaky gut, which is a condition that can lead to inflammation and a variety of other health problems. If youre looking for a way to speed up the healing process, consider taking probiotics. They may just be the key to a speedy recovery.
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Begin An Elimination Diet
The diet that most of us consume today is far removed from that which our ancestors ate decades ago.
Todays diet is full of heavily processed foods designed to remain shelf-stable for months or longer.
Added chemicals, sugars, artificial sweeteners, and other products can do a lot of damage to the lining of the gut.
An elimination diet is a great place to start on the journey toward healing. Begin by removing some of the most common food allergens that affect millions of people today.
These include foods containing soy, dairy, gluten, processed sugar, and various chemical additives.
An elimination diet can help you discern exactly which foods are causing you problems.
In order to perform an elimination diet effectively, you will discontinue consumption of a specific food for a two week period and then reintroduce it to your diet. Upon reintroduction of the food, be careful to note any side effects that occur.
Whats The Quick Fix Or Magic Potion To Heal Leaky Gut
Is that the sound of crickets chirping?
Unfortunately, there are no quick fixes or magic cures to healing leaky gut. As much as gluten is vilified and probiotics are heralded, those simple answers arent the real path to healing for most people with increased intestinal permeability.
Healing the gut is like peeling back layers of onion: you address one aspect and it can bring to light something else. And if that sounds negative, I like to see this as an opportunity to further help your body to achieve homeostasis.
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How Does A Leaky Gut Affect My Body
Erosion of your intestinal lining is one thing, and intestinal permeability is another. Most people who think they may have a leaky gut have certain common gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, food sensitivities, bloating and indigestion. These types of symptoms are common and may have many possible explanations, and many of them may injure your intestinal lining. You dont have to have a leaky gut to experience those effects.
Erosion of the intestinal lining
If your gut lining is under constant assault, eventually it wont be able to fend off erosion by chemical irritants, abrasive particles or bacteria inside your gut. This is what happens in peptic ulcer disease and SIBO . The wrong kind of bacteria overwhelms the other bacteria that would usually balance them. The erosive acids and enzymes in your gut overwhelm the protective mucus that usually neutralizes them.
Erosion of your gut lining will affect your digestion, your immunity, and your sensitivity to pain in your intestines. And in some cases, it may lead to intestinal permeability. But it doesnt have to go that far for you to feel unwell. If you have gastrointestinal symptoms, these are likely related to the underlying condition that would be injuring your intestinal lining in the first place. Many gastrointestinal diseases share these same symptoms.
Intestinal permeability
Pathophysiology Of Glutamine Deficiency
Glutamine is essential also for the growth and viability of cell lines in culture, and requires that it is present in the medium 10100 fold in excess of other amino acids. Presence of glutamine in the medium cannot be substituted with glutamic acid or glucose . Glutamine deficiency leads to cell death in many human cell lines. Enteral administration of glutamine stimulates intestinal mucosal protein synthesis and protects enterocytes from apoptosis. Animal and clinical studies have shown that glutamine deprivation leads to villous atrophy, mucosal ulcerations and cell necrosis in the small intestine . There is an increased susceptibility to infections due to decrease in plasma glutamine concentration which impairs the functioning of immune cells .
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In This Webinar I Cover How To Heal Leaky Gut Syndrome
Okay, well, I want to welcome everyone. This is Dr. Nik Hedberg, and tonight were talking about how to heal leaky gut syndrome. So, lets get this started. I really enjoy doing these webinars, trying to get some good information out there to everyone. And leaky gut, its a big issue. Its main connections are going to be with autoimmune diseases and a variety of chronic conditions, which well talk about. Im just going to cover what it is, what causes leaky gut, and then some of the things that you can do about it, and then how we manage it in the practice if its there.
The Leaky Gut Protocol
The protocol is ingested as a shake with three items, which provides nutrients to help decrease intestinal inflammation, support detoxification, heal the intestinal lining and reestablish a healthy gut flora. The shake contains a protein blend cleanse for detoxification, a probiotic, and an immunoglobulin complex . These immunoglobulins or antibodies help to support immune function in the gut, as well as seal up the tight gap junctions in the intestinal lining. Although the immunoglobulin complex is derived from bovine, it does not contain the proteins found in dairy that cause an immune reaction with a dairy intolerance. Check with your provider if you are concerned about a possible reaction. The protocol is most effective when used in combination with an elimination diet.
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How To Restore Gut Health
At the Ruscio Institute for Functional Medicine, we focus on minimally invasive, scientifically validated, predominantly natural solutions for gut health. We improve your gut health through diet and lifestyle changes and other natural treatments, all introduced at the right time, and personalized to you.
Our recommendations come from a combination of real-life experiences with patients and a dedication to scientific research. Our holistic gut health doctors and care team look beyond symptoms and treat the root cause so you can restore your gut health and feel better, faster. Get competent care today.
Bone Broth & Collagen
Collagen is important because it may be able to enhance intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction by strengthening the Tight Junctions according to at least one study. This means that collagen may be able to close those gaps in the intestinal lining that allows toxins to leak through into your bloodstream. Bone broth is an excellent source of Collagen and other Collagen sources include marine collagen, bovine powders, and collagen peptides.
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When Should I See A Doctor
Improving your diet may help you feel better, but a leaky gut sometimes can have other causes, like infection or disease.
In some cases, food sensitivities may be causing your symptoms. If you suspect you may have a food sensitivity, Dr. La Vella recommends working with a doctor to determine your sensitivity.
It is very safe for anyone to adopt a whole foods diet and youll likely start feeling better within a few weeks, says Dr. La Vella. If you have ongoing symptoms and are still concerned after making these changes, talk to your doctor. There may be an underlying cause that needs to be treated.
Get medical and nutritional support on your weight loss journey. Attend a free seminar to learn how Samaritan Weight Management Institute can help you feel your best.
Learn more about probiotics and improving gut health.
- Cells that form the lining of the intestines are called enterocytes. Permeability occurs when the junctions between these cells loosen and microorganisms and toxins can leak through.
What Is The Best L
Well, the first thing to look for in a L-Glutamine supplement for intestinal health is the form it comes in, i.e. capsules v powder.
Because if you are going to be taking high doses of glutamine you do not want to buy it in capsule form. After all, who would want to swallow 30 pills of glutamine a day?!
So pure powder is undoubtedly the best way to go. Especially since it is also going to be easier for your body to digest. Which is particularly important if your digestive system is already in poor health.
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Leaky Gut: General Recommendations
So, while leaky guy can be a concerning condition to experience, know that one way to treat it is by eating right. A balanced diet, with emphasis on helpful enzymes, probiotics and less sugar, can help you get through each day better and better. Taking care of your body, starting with the proper leaky gut diet plan, goes a long way.
So thats it. No doctor bills. No scary drugs or unpronounceable medications. Just real, whole foods and some supplements. Just 7 natural sources helped my body in its amazing ability to fight for health on its own. You want to help your body kill yeast and avoid gluten. Reduce the amount of sugar you eat, and increase your intake of helpful natural substances like collagen and strong antimicrobial foods like coconut! Any foods that are gut-healthy are also great to implement into your diet, especially foods that are high in fiber.
I hope these tips help you if youre battling leaky gut. Cheers to a happy gut and an even happier you!
overgrowth-and-treated-my-leaky-gut/ Look forward to connecting with you there.
For more gut-friendly recipes and tips by Mollie, check out her blog www.molliemason.space and follow along on instagram
Antimicrobials Kill Off Bad Gut Bacteria
It is clear that imbalanced gut bacteria, or dysbiosis, plays an enormous role in the development of leaky gut.
Because of that, its absolutely necessary to kill off bad bacteria and encourage healthy growth of beneficial microbes.
Most often, getting rid of bad bacteria is going to require being on antimicrobials of some kind .
As a dietitian, Im a big fan of herbal antimicrobials.
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What Disease Is Associated With Leaky Gut
There are diseases that are known to be associated with intestinal permeability, and there is a lot of speculation about other possible diseases that might be connected to it.
Known disease associations
Intestinal permeability is a recognized feature of several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases affecting the digestive system, including inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease. In these cases, scientists generally consider it to be a symptom, not a cause. These diseases cause chronic inflammation in the intestines, which leads to erosion of the intestinal barrier gradually over time.
There have been cases where scientists found intestinal permeability in people before they were diagnosed with these diseases. This has led to some speculation that intestinal permeability might develop independently from these diseases, and might even be a contributing cause. But scientists concluded that intestinal permeability in these cases wasnt enough to cause the disease by itself. It was more likely to be an early sign of disease.
Possible disease associations
What Doctor To See For Gut Health
The best doctor to see for improving gut health is one who takes a whole-person, holistic approach to addressing your concerns and improving your health. Our team at the Ruscio Institute for Functional Medicine has spent years interviewing experts, analyzing scientific data, and organizing the most effective treatments that consistently help our patients. Ready to see a doctor for gut health? Work with our qualified team today.
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How Fast Can You Heal Leaky Gut Syndrome
You have a health problem and cant quite determine the cause. Maybe youve been tested for a number of conditions and theyve come back negative. Maybe youve been diagnosed with Celiac disease, IBS, or IBD.
Whatever the case, theres something going on in your body and you and your doctor are having trouble putting your finger on it. You could have Leaky Gut Syndrome.
Leaky Gut Syndrome is fairly common, yet is not considered a legitimate medical diagnosis. This means that there is not a lot of information about it, and it can be difficult to determine the length of time it takes to heal from the condition.
Also known as increased intestinal permeability, Leaky Gut Syndrome often correlates with Celiac disease. It can cause a number of physical and mental issues that greatly affect the life of the sufferer.
The Truth About Leaky Gut Syndrome: What Is It And How Do You Heal
Is leaky gut syndrome real? Heres what you need to know about this condition, how it affects your body, and how to heal for good.
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Clues You Might Have Leaky Gut Syndrome
If you answered yes to ANY of the above questions, then you may have leaky gut syndrome.
The most common symptoms I find in the office are gas and seasonal allergies. Yes, seasonal allergies indicate that your gut lining is inflamed or compromised. For women specifically I find bloating after eating to be the most common symptom.
