Leaky gut is just that.....a gut that leaks.
It is due to increased intestinal permeability....or in easier terms to understand....the lining of the gut becomes weak and begins to break down.
The broken-down gut then begins to allow foreign substances to travel from INSIDE the gut.....THROUGH the gaps in the lining of the gut wall (the leaks).....OUT into the bloodstream where they are not meant to be!
These foreign bodies are identified by the body as "invaders" to the systemic bloodstream and a protective reaction begins to take place....which can eventually lead to chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases.
Many things contribute to the leaky gut and some of these are listed here:
Food allergies and intolerances
Pathogens
Drugs
Alcohol
Nutrient deficiencies
Stress
Gluten
Toxins
How do you know if you are suffering from leaky gut?
That is a very loaded question.....and one that can't be answered for certain.
However....below is a list of symptoms that might indicate you have leaky gut:
Chronic diarrhea, constipation and/or bloating
Headaches, brain fog, memory loss
Excessive fatigue
Skin rashes, eczema, rosacea, acne, and other chronic rashes
Arthritis and other joint pain
Depression, anxiety, ADD
Poor immune system
Nutritional deficiencies
Diagnosed autoimmune disease
How do you heal?
You can successfully heal a leaky gut by making changes in your diet and lifestyle. Eliminating certain foods to identify personal food triggers that may be causing an inflammatory response inside your body is key. The Autoimmune Protocol Diet (AIP) does just that. It eliminates common food triggers (ie; gluten, dairy, refined sugar, nuts, eggs, etc) from your diet just long enough to help you identify if these foods work with or against your body.
In addition to eliminating foods from your diet, AIP also introduces nutritional foods that are vital to repairing your gut from the inside out. It is possible to see relief from some of the listed symptoms within days!
Some of the ladies in my group have symptom relief within the first 3 days!! Others require more healing time....but continue to see relief and even full recovery from certain chronic ailments within months.
If you are experiencing even just ONE of the above-listed symptoms....or maybe you are just seeking a healthier lifestyle in general...it is my hope that you will research the Autoimmune Protocol.
I would also like to encourage you to sign up on my healthy living lifestyle group...The Best You waitlist. We reopen our highly successful support group every few months. You will be notified as soon as we reopen as long as your name is on that list!
I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube to get all my health and wellness tips first!! And as always, sign up to get my emails here to see more of my clean eating, healthy living and more fun tips!
See you next week!
XOXO,
Tracey