I have briefly mentioned leaky gut in previous posts as it being a leading cause of inflammation in the body, which manifests into numerous other chronic health disorders, but what is it?
When the gut lining weakens, it develops microscopic holes in the intestinal wall, allowing toxins to pass into the bloodstream. There are many contributing factors to how the gut lining weakens: our gut microbiome may become imbalanced by gut infections such as parasites, candida overgrowth, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), the foods we eat, the drugs and alcohol we may consume, chronic stress exposure, and our environment.
The toxins include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and undigested foods, and we want our gut to destroy these things. After prolonged toxin exposure in the blood, the body could experience constipation, bloating, diarrhea, gas, autoimmune disorders such as colitis and Crohn’s, even asthma, allergies, psoriasis, eczema, hormonal imbalances, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, anxiety, and depression. Remember that the gut and brain are constantly communicating with each other (check out my posts on the Gut-Brain Axis, SIBO, and Candida Overgrowth to learn more!!) Our happy hormones are created in the gut, so if our gut is hurting, our mind will hurt as well.
Gluten is a known gut irritant and inflammatory food, along with alcohol, vegetable oils, canola oil, dairy, refined grains, and sugar (check out my post on Inflammatory Foods!!). Eliminate these foods out of your diet along with processed foods gradually by replacing them with healthier options such as organic fruits and vegetables, lean meats, healthy fats (ghee/coconut/olive oil), smaller fish like salmon, seeds, and nuts. Add bone broth to your daily diet, this has a plethora of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and collagen to heal and seal the holes in the gut lining.
Some common environmental concerns include the mercury found in large/farmed fish, BPAs found in plastics, and pesticides on produce (check out my posts on Hormone Disruptors and the Best Fish To Eat With Lower Mercury Levels!!). Medications that are harsh on the gut lining include antibiotics, NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory pain killers), birth control, steroids, and PPI (acid blocking drugs).
If you know you have IBS and intestinal discomfort, check out my website Rainbow Body Vitality above in the menu to fill out a FREE health history. It will help you become conscious of your eating habits, and you can begin healing your gut today! Remember that our bodies are constantly healing, so if you target the root cause of any other medical issues you may have, you can start to feel alive again! Kick those gut related issues to the curb!!
Health Energy 