Leaky Gut Syndrome is not widely recognised by the medical community, so getting a sound diagnosis can be hard. First and foremost seek out an integrated practitioner, preferably somebody with additional expertise or special interest in this area. There are many symptoms that can red flag Leaky Gut Syndrome and not all have to do with digestive issues! If you are suffering from any of the ailments listed in Gold Nugget S5#33, seriously consider investigating your gut health.
How To Treat Leaky Gut Syndrome
With over 100 trillion bacteria inhabiting the average human gut, we all have a unique microbiome. In fact, even identical twins have different patterns of gut bacteria and as a living, organic biomass, the environment of our gut is constantly changing. This means that everybody’s gut health is going to be unique and what works for you might not be right for somebody else. Also, gut health research is really in its infancy and we have a looooong way to go before understanding how it all works!
Here are 5 of 9 easy steps to get you going:
1. Try A High-Strength Probiotic
One of the best ways to reduce the bad bacteria in your gut is to crowd them out with the good! A great way to do this is with a high-quality probiotic supplement. Furthermore, probiotics have been shown to help seal the cellular junctions that line your gut wall. In other words, probiotics can help to reverse the ‘leaks’ in your gut!
2. Eat Fermented Foods
When we eat fermented foods, our gut bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate, acetate and propionate. Immune cells along the lining of our gut contain receptors for SCFAs! This is compelling evidence that the activity of our gut bacteria can directly impact and interact with our immune system. SCFAs are also used to make colonocytes (the cells that line our gut). This helps to preserve the integrity of our gut wall and prevent any nasties from escaping into the bloodstream.
3. Get More Gut-Loving Beauty Sleep!
However, not getting enough sleep won’t just make you tired and grumpy. It actually affects your gut health. The research shows that sleep deprivation suppresses your good bacteria while increasing levela of bad bacteria in your gut, contributing to Leaky Gut Syndrome. All the more reason to get your recommended eight hours of Zzz’s!
4. Stress Less
Anything that makes us feel rotten is likely to negatively impact our gut microflora, too. Stress has been shown to reduce the ‘friendly’ bacteria populations in our gut, while simultaneously helping the bad guys to proliferate and gives us a lower chance of fighting off bad bacteria and viruses. There are many ways to tackle stress, from starting meditation to getting an endorphin hit from a workout.
5. Stick To Sprouted Grains (Preferably Low Or Gluten-Free Varieties)
Grains naturally contain nutrient blockers such as phytates and lectins. These compounds are designed to protect plants from attack while they grow and develop. However, this also makes it harder for our systems to digest them. Sprouting or fermenting grains reduces the levels of these nutrient blockers and alleviates digestive strain. The best gluten-free organic grains to sprout include:
- Quinoa
- Millet
- Buckwheat
- Brown rice
- Teff
- Sorghum
- Amaranth
