<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

What is Leaky Gut           The largest part of the immune system in our body is in the mucosal lining in the gut. The immune system makes sure all those undesirable elements do not get across into the bloodstream to begin with. The intestines are permeable to a certain degree so the proper nutrients get through. Spots in the gut wall open and close selectively to admit the good stuff as the contents of the intestines pass by. Normally, only certain nutrients are absorbed if they are sufficiently broken-down and in the right form. Everything else is selectively blocked out. But when the pores are too big or the screening process breaks down, the intestines become hyperpermeable (overly permeable). Leaky gut syndrome is a term used when the intestines become damaged, more openings develop in the gut wall, and the wall becomes more ‘porous’ to the extent that some of the contents passing through the intestines are allowed to get into the bloodstream when they should be kept
 out. 
            Not just food particles slip through. Pathogens, toxins, and other types of ‘waste’ get through that should normally be screened out. Insufficiently broken-down food particles or toxins may cause the liver to work much harder trying to clean everything out. The liver may not be able to keep up with all the detoxification demands sent its way and the toxin load starts building up in the body. 
           When the gut becomes hyperpermeable, all sorts of gunk can get through and run loose in the body. When this happens, the immune system kicks into gear to stop these invaders. Typically the immune system escorts the invaded out of the body quickly. However, this task often falls to the liver, which may be quite overworked and not able to do this immediately. If not removed right away, the troublesome particles and complexes can migrate through the body and settle in any of the different tissues they pass by. This leads to inflammation in whatever part of the body they settle. 
           Now we have a new problem: inflammation. This puts even more pressure on the immune system to cover even more ground in defending the body. With the immune system running on ‘high’ on a regular basis, it may be spread thin over a wide array of territory defending the gut, cleaning the blood, fighting inflammation, warding off pathogens, and so on. Many autoimmune conditions start this way. Which type of autoimmune condition a person ends up with may depend on which part of the body the immune complexes settle into.
             see Autoimmune / Neuro Conditions
           If you are having food sensitivities to more than a dozen foods, you may very likely have a leaky gut. When the gut is injured in this way, any food eaten may be a candidate to be insufficiently digested and absorbed leading to food intolerances. If you find you are sensitive to a few foods, remove those, then later notice some previously tolerated foods are now causeing problems, consider a leaky gut. The core issue may not be the foods you are eating, but simply that digestion is poor and the gut injured, so anything eaten (and eaten frequently) may become problematic.
           
           What Causes Leaky Gut? 
           Anyone can develop a leaky gut at any time in their lives. Several factors can lead to leaky gut, either occurring individually or working together. Any chemical or physical activity that stimulates the pores in the intestines and keeps them open for too long can lead to increased permeability. Some common sources follow. 
           Yeast – This is probably one of the primary causes of leaky gut.Yeasts are single-celled organisms that usually reside in the mucosal lining. Yeast can grow out of the single-cell form and into a fungal form. The fungal form grows root-like tentacles (hyphae) that drill deep into the mucosal lining, poking ‘holes’ in the gut. 
                       Excessive environment toxins –With the detoxification system overloaded or dysfunctional, environment toxins from either inside or outside the body may build up. They can irritate the intestinal lining. The constant inflammation and immune system activity can create a more permeable gut wall. 
           Chronic stress – Stress suppresses the immune system and can alter intestinal physiological function, increase gut permeability, and cause inflammation. A healthy immune system can easily block out typical pathogens, but a weak one may be overrun. When the immune system is overactive for an extended period of time, leaky gut can develop.
           Inflammation – Anything causing inflammation may lead to leaky gut. This can result from insufficiently broken-down food or infections of any kind. Maybe the stomach just does not produce enough hydrochloric acid, resulting in improper digestion. Larger particle sizes from any food can irritate the gut lining. Yeast/bacteria/parasites/viruses can all cause inflammation. Besides the physical damage created by an imbalance of microbes in the gut, bacteria and yeast give off many toxins.
             see Bacteria
             see Yeast
   see Viruses
           Medications – Medications, prescription and over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, may also lead to increased permeability. They are considered ‘hard’ on the gastrointestinal lining. Aspirin reduces the thickness of the mucosal lining in the gut, thus making it more susceptible to yeast, inflammation, and irritation by food passing through the gut. 
           Diet – A diet high in sugar, refined flour and processed foods, complete with their rainbow of artificial food colorings, flavorings, and preservatives places a lot of stress on the immune system as well as the liver. Our bodies see most of the artificial chemicals as pure toxins. The more you consume, the more the body must process out. Most processed foods have less nutrition in them as well. So, you use more energy and nutrients processing these foods from your body and receive less energy from the food. A diet high in refined sugar, flours, and artificial chemicals can actually cost you nutrients and energy rather than supply them.
             see Feingold Program
           Zinc deficiency – Zinc is necessary in maintaining intestinal wall integrity. Supplementing with zinc could contribute significantly to healing a leaky gut in about eight weeks (Sturniolo 2001). Zinc is also instrumental in a maintaining a healthy immune system (Prasad 2002). The synthesis of serotonin involves zinc. Since serotonin is also necessary for melatonin synthesis, a zinc deficiency may result in low levels of both of these compounds, causing problems with the sleep cycle, calming, and hyperness. 
             see Serotonin



JAH
www.glutenfreeeugene.org


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