Leaky gut is a medical condition that creates gaps/openings in the lining of the intestines. The intestines have an essential role in protecting the body from harmful bacteria and toxins. The gastrointestinal or GI tract is a tube of connected organs. They include:
Esophagus
Stomach
Small and large intestines
Enzymes in the stomach and small intestine digest and break down nutrients from the foods and drinks that the body uses for energy, growth, and repair. There are openings in the walls that allow water and nutrients to pass into the bloodstream while the toxic/harmful substances are kept inside. Theopenings begin to widen with a leaky gut and allow food particles, bacteria, and toxins to enter directly into the blood.
Microbiota
There is also a wide array of bacteria known as gut microbiota. These bacteria help with digestion, protect the walls, and support immune function. Research has found that imbalances in the gut microbiota can trigger an immune system response. The response causes inflammation and a higher probability of intestinal permeability or IP. Intestinal permeability looks at the ease of substances leaking out of the intestines and into the blood. Symptoms of leaky gut can include:
Diarrhea
Constipation
Gas
Bloating
Nutrition issues
Poor immune system
Headaches
Brain fog
Memory loss
Fatigue
Skin rashes
Microbiota Disruption
Various risk factors can disrupt the gut microbiota and contribute. Examples include:
Healing a leaky gut involves making dietary adjustments and removing the foods that the body sees as toxic. Lifestyle changes and support for a healthy gut:
The healthcare field realizes that leaky gut syndrome is interconnected to many other chronic health conditions. This issue can be tested for and corrected, aiding professionals to catch diseases early and slow the progression.
Leaky gut is a condition affecting the lining of the intestines, creating a dysfunctional environment for proper digestion. It is also called �increased intestinal permeability�, because with leaky gut, the intestines lose some of their ability to filter nutrients and other substances. When this happens, particles of incompletely digested foods, bacteria, other waste by-products may leak through the intestines into the bloodstream. It is usually caused by some form of damage to the intestinal lining.
Our intestines are lined with cells, which are sealed together by something called �tight junctions�. In healthy intestines, these junctions work like gatekeepers, which essentially allow or prohibit particles to move through the gut and into the circulatory system. With leaky gut syndrome, particles can slip through the cells and tight junctions and literally leak into bloodstream or lymphatic system, and move freely throughout the body.
When the body recognizes these foreign substances and detects something is wrong, the immune system kicks in, and tries to fight what it perceives to be danger in the intestines. This causes inflammation and inhibits functioning. In this situation, a woman�s ability to digest food and absorb nutrients is decreased, and her immune system can become compromised. Impaired immune functioning here is extremely important, as our guts contain tissue known as gut-associated lymphatic tissue (GALT) which helps protect us from antigens causing food allergies as well as microbes carrying disease.
When the body is continually trying to repair itself from the effects of leaky gut, it can be caught in a never-ending cycle, especially when the source of the problem is not diagnosed. For example, if unrecognized food allergies are creating leaky gut, and the same foods are consumed over and over, a self- perpetuating, inflammatory cycle will be triggered, and the intestinal lining cannot heal.
Chronic inflammation in the intestines is a concern, because of the potential for its link to many serious disorders ranging from depression, osteoporosis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis to Alzheimer�s, heart failure, and more. Leaky gut may be also be linked to other gastrointestinal problems such as irritable bowel disease, Crohns disease or celiac disease, as well as immune system disorders such rheumatoid arthritis, and even asthma. That�s why I stress to my patients the importance of sharing all of their symptoms and concerns, no matter how small they may seem. As we examine each of the symptoms, we can figure out what may be causing them, and how to relieve them.
How Does Leaky Gut Syndrome Develop?
Sometimes digestive problems originate early in our lives�such as lactose intolerance or food sensitivities. The problems may ebb and flow, especially during busy or stressful times. Other times we can develop issues related to taking certain medications or medical treatments that may have caused damage in our gut. Things like radiation, chemotherapy, corticosteroids, and even long term use of aspirin and antibiotics can wreak havoc with our intestinal flora, or the �good bacteria� that keep our digestive system functioning properly.
Any abundance of toxins in the system can burden our bodies. It is important to recognize imbalances and try to repair them naturally, before they lead to other disease and disorders.
How to Heal Leaky Gut Syndrome
In functional medicine, we look at the underlying causes of a disorder, and address it with a patient-centered focus. We evaluate lifestyle factors, environment, genetics, and history, and address individual aspects with a systems-oriented approach. The Institute of Functional Medicine developed a tool for clinicians to use when treating digestive disorders, called the Four �R� Program: remove, repair, replace, and reinoculate. I have added a fifth �R�, regulate. This method highlights effective ways to heal digestive imbalances.
1. Remove: Undertake an elimination diet
First we must stabilize and smooth the digestive tract. A 14-day detox cleanse is a gentle approach that helps eliminate common allergens, such as dairy, soy, gluten, sugar, yeast, and alcohol. It can help determine which foods may be contributing to symptoms. At Women to Women we work in partnership with our patients to help them manage and maintain an effective cleanse.
2. Replace: Investigate digestive aids
Oftentimes, using soothing digestive herbs, digestive enzymes, or other digestive supports, can help protect the lining from further damage, and coat the intestines while they heal. A functional medicine clinician can help determine which supports are best for each patient�s unique needs.
3. Reinoculate: Rebalance your gut flora
Friendly bacteria are important, and a well-colonized gut is vital to good digestive health. The good bacteria help abate the less-friendly ones, that lead to sickness and disease. Probiotics are an important way to re-introduce proper flora to the intestines. Proper diet, including fiber-rich foods also establish microfloral balance.
4. Repair: Rebuild your intestinal cells
There are many ways to repair and rebuild the intestinal cells and lining. Medical research continues to explore ways to advance this healing, naturally. Studies have shown glutamine is helpful for maintaining the structure and function of the intestine, and has been shown to improve damage from radiation and chemotherapy. Other therapies include methionine and N- acetyl cysteine, larch, kiwifruit, and zinc to aid in healing. It is important to work with a clinician to establish the best ways to treat and repair your digestive tract.
5. Regulate
Finally, we need to pay attention to how we feel when we eat, where and how we eat, and of course what we eat. First, we should avoid anything that we know causes GI upset. We should have our meal in a relaxed setting, eat slowly, and chew our food thoroughly. Digestion begins with an antibody in our saliva called secretory IgA (sIgA), which is an indicator of digestive immune function. Found throughout the digestive tract, sIgA is our first line of defense against bacteria and along with relaxed, healthy eating, is important to our entire immune system.
With time, patience, and a little extra help, Ellen was able to heal her leaky gut. Her life turned around, and she began to enjoy eating again, as well regain confidence that she could go out without fear of running to the bathroom! Leaky gut syndrome is not yet fully understood, but is real. The symptoms may be different for everyone, but identifying and isolating the cause can help eliminate this distressing disorder. I firmly believe digestion is the foundation of our overall health, and by nurturing and improving this very important function naturally, we can open the door to better health.
Leaky gut syndrome can cause may symptoms which may lead to further issues if left untreated. Because the gut is one of the main sources of health, a properly balanced diet can go a long way when helping to improve and maintain the proper function of the digestive system. Once diagnosed with the disorder however, several lifestyle changes can help relieve the condition and restore health.
Trending Topic: Vaccines Revealed Episode 2
Dr. Gentempo and others are bringing great awareness to our community regarding vaccinations and their dangers.
Posted: 01-12-2017
Vaccines Revealed and Exposed on Episode #2
As a healthcare provider, Dr. Patrick Gentempo has been searching for the truth behind the effects of vaccines on the general population. When making critical decisions about you and your children�s health, it�s essential to have the correct knowledge of all medical procedures you�re being involved in, including the administration of mandatory vaccines, among others.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .�
So how do you know if you have a leaky gut? Keep a watch out for these 7 leaky gut symptoms.
The 7 Signs You Have Leaky Gut
1. Food Sensitivities � People affected by food sensitivities oftentimes find that leaky gut is to blame. Because of the onslaught of toxins that enter the bloodstream, the immune systems of people with intestinal hyperpermeability are on overdrive mass-producing various antibodies, which makes their bodies more susceptible to antigens in certain foods (especially gluten and dairy).
2. Inflammatory Bowel Disease � Researchers from Hungary have recently uncovered that elevated gut permeability is oftentimes localized to the colon in people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis.
Another study suggests that, for Crohn�s disease patients, leaky guy is prevalent in a majority cases and even up to 10% � 20% of their �clinically healthy relatives,� which suggests a potential genetic component. Zinc supplementation has been found to be quite effective at tightening up the intestinal tight junctions in these cases.
3. Autoimmune Disease � The key to understanding how leaky gut can cause an autoimmune disease is through the research done on a protein known as �zonulin.� According to a 2011 article published in the journal Physiologic Reviews,
Zonulin is the only physiological modulator of intercellular tight junctions described so far that is involved in trafficking of macromolecules and, therefore, in tolerance/immune response balance. When the finely tuned zonulin pathway is deregulated in genetically susceptible individuals, both intestinal and extraintestinal autoimmune, inflammatory, and neoplastic disorders can occur.�
Eating gluten can oftentimes trigger this dangerous cascade. University of Maryland, School of Medicine researchers have uncovered that gluten �activates zonulin signaling irrespective of the genetic expression of autoimmunity, leading to increased intestinal permeability to macromolecules.�
4. Thyroid Problems � One of the autoimmune diseases that leaky gut syndrome may directly affect is�Hashimoto�s disease. Also known as �chronic thyroiditis,� this disorder can lead to hypothyroidism, impaired metabolism, fatigue, depression, weight gain, and a host of other concerns.
5. Malabsorption � Various nutritional deficiencies result from leaky gut include vitamin B12, magnesium and key enzymes that help digest food. It is recommended that people with leaky gut supplement with a whole foods based multi-vitamin�and live probiotic�to not only help digest the food that they eat, but to make sure that they get the vital nutrition that they need.
6. Inflammatory Skin Conditions � First described over 70 years ago, the gut-skin connection theory has described how intestinal hyper-permeability can cause a slew of skin conditions; particularly acne and psoriasis.� Generally, dangerous creams and drugs are prescribed for these skin disorders, yet they can oftentimes be fixed by healing the gut!
7. Mood Issues and Autism � According to a study published in the journal Neuro Endocrinology Letters, leaky gut has been shown to cause various neurocognitive disorders. For example, the inflammatory response characteristic of intestinal hyperpermeability triggers the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and other chemicals that induce depression.
Regarding autism, a study was just published this past January in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience describing the �vicious circle between immune system impairment and increasing dysbiosis that leads to leaky gut and neurochemical compounds and/or neurotoxic xenobiotics production and absorption.� The idea is that the �metabolic pathways impaired in autistic children can be affected by genetic alterations or by environment-xenobiotics interference.�
How Do You Repair Leaky Gut?
If you think that you might have leaky gut after reading this article, then I have two very important things to tell you:
You don�t have to suffer any more because there is hope!
If you follow these�4 steps�to heal leaky gut, you can put your body in the position where it can very well heal itself.
I�m not saying that it�s a cure-all, but these 4 steps to heal�leaky gut�have helped countless people over years and I believe that it can help YOU as well!
Dr. Gentempo and others are bringing great awareness to our community regarding vaccinations and their dangers.
Posted: 01-11-2017
Vaccines Revealed and Exposed on Episode #1
As a healthcare provider, Dr. Patrick Gentempo has been searching for the truth behind the effects of vaccines on the general population. When making critical decisions about you and your children�s health, it�s essential to have the correct knowledge of all medical procedures you�re being involved in, including the administration of mandatory vaccines, among others.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900�.�
In most popular conceptions of human physiology, the gut exists primarily as a passive conduit along which food travels and breaks down for digestion and absorption. It�s where bacteria hang out and digestive enzymes go to work. It�s a �place,� an inert tunnel made of flesh and mucus. Lots of things happen there but the gut itself isn�t doing much.
Except that the�gut serves another very important and active role: as a dynamic, selective barrier between us and the external world with all its nasties. Dynamic in that it responds differently depending on what�s trying to get through. Selective in that it�s supposed to let in good things�and keep out harmful things.
Lining the gut are epithelial cells whose cell membranes fuse together to form protein complexes called tight junctions. The tight junction is the doorman. These are the dynamic, selective parts of the gut. Like the doorman, the tight junction�s job is to discern between what belongs inside and what doesn�t. What gets passage through the gut lining into our body and what is denied. Tight junctions keep out pathogens, antigens, and toxins while admitting nutrients and water.
You can look at the list of conditions commonly associated with elevated intestinal permeability. If you have any or all of them, you may have�leaky gut. Put another way, if you have leaky gut, you may be at a greater risk for some of these. What are they?
Celiac disease: When gluten is broken up into fragments in the gut, those fragments induce the release of zonulin, which tells the tight junctions to become more permeable. This happens to everyone whose guts come into contact with those gluten fragments, but the effect is enhanced in people with celiac. Their gluten-induced leaky gut is way more leaky than it should be, and it stays leaky long after the gluten has been gone. In fact, before direct testing for gluten antibodies and intestinal damage became widespread, a common test for celiac used to be the very same intestinal permeability assessment I just mentioned.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Patients with Crohn�s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by severe inflammation of the gut lining, tend to have leaky gut. And in general IBD, which includes Crohn�s and ulcerative colitis, high intestinal permeability precedes the development of the disease.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): As discussed yesterday, IBS patients often show increased gut permeability. Some researchers suggest that leaky gut leads to the kind of chronic, low-level inflammation that characterizes IBS.
Asthma: There is a high prevalence of leaky gut in people with moderate to severe asthma, though researchers aren�t sure whether it�s a cause or consequence of the asthma.
Food allergies and intolerances: The transportation of the food allergen across the gut lining appears to be a necessary step�in the development of a food allergy, and a 2011 review concluded that an overly leaky gut facilitates this�transportation�and leads to�the inducement of allergy.
Autism: Children with autism and their first-degree relatives tend to have abnormal gut permeability, suggesting a gene-environment�component to autism. This is present in some, but not all people with autism.
Rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and other autoimmune diseases: Both RA and AS have been linked to leaky gut, and the connection may hold for other autoimmune diseases, too.
Obesity and metabolic syndrome: Both obesity and metabolic syndrome are often�linked with intestinal permeability, and a recent paper explores all the potential mechanisms that might explain the link.
Depression: By some accounts, 35% of depressed patients have leaky gut.
Eczema: Going back as far as 1986, researchers have found leaky gut to be common in eczema patients.
Plus, even if it wasn�t the proximate cause of your health problems, leaky gut probably isn�t helping you get better and you should try to fix it. Multiple feedback loops which make teasing apart cause and effect nearly impossible also make it possible to step in the middle of the loop(s) and break it up.
Steps to Relieve Leaky Gut Syndrome
First, avoid things that might cause it.
Gluten. Gluten begets gliadin releases zonulin induces leaky gut. I discussed this in the celiac section above, but it�s important to reiterate that gliadin has this leaky effect on every gut, not just in celiacs. Celiacs just get it worse than non-celiacs.
Stress. Stress can directly induce leaky gut and stress can take many forms, as we all know. Bad finances, marital strife, unemployment, too much exercise, lack of sleep, extended combat training, and chronic under-eating all qualify as significant stressors with the potential to cause leaky gut, especially chronically and in concert.
Too much alcohol. Ethanol increases intestinal permeability by changing the gene expression of�the proteins involved in tight junction function. If you do drink, be sure to follow best practices and definitely do not drink on an empty stomach. Alcohol also depletes zinc, which is a crucial pro-gut nutrient.
Poor sleep habits. In one recent study, mice�whose circadian rhythms were disrupted were more susceptible to liver damage and alcohol-induced intestinal permeability.
NSAIDs. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen can be helpful in certain situations, but they are far from benign. One of their worst and most pronounced effects is leaky gut.
Then, take proactive steps to improve gut barrier function.
Take whey protein isolate and glutamine. Both supplements have been shown to reduce leaky gut in patients with Crohn�s disease.
Try resistant starch and other prebiotics. Whether potato starch, green bananas/plantains, mung bean starch, inulin powder, jersualem artichokes, leeks, pectin, or apples, start eating RS and other prebiotics on a regular basis. They increase butyrate production (which reduces intestinal permeability) and support the growth and maintenance of healthy microbial populations.
Take probiotics and/or (preferably �and�) eat fermented food.�Prebiotics are important, but you also need to provide the right gut bugs if you�re deficient. You can do it with both supplements and food. L. rhamnosus and L. reuteri supplements reduce leaky gut and improve symptoms in kids with atopic dermatitis. L. rhamnosus also helps restore the gut barrier in kids with acute gastroenteritis. In rats with leaky gut, yogurt improves gut barrier function.
Get adequate sunlight and/or take vitamin D3 supplements. Vitamin D helps protect against injuries to the intestinal lining, while a vitamin D deficiency promotes intestinal permeability�and inflammation.
Get enough zinc. Oysters, red meat, supplements � zinc supplementation reduces leaky gut.
Make broth, eat gelatinous cuts of meat. I don�t have any scientific references for this one, but it�s such a staple piece of advice in the �healing your gut� scene that it�s worth including. Plus, oxtails are magic, and science can�t quite explain magic just yet.
Exercise intelligently.�Intense, protracted exercise induces leaky gut. This is normally transient and totally manageable, but if taken to the extreme as in chronic cardio, exercise-induced leaky gut can become a chronic condition. The same goes for any kind of chronic exercise. Even too much strength training can probably do it, though you�d have to do a ton of volume without much rest. Meanwhile, moderate exercise improves gut barrier function. The tried and true triumvirate of lifting heavy things, walking lots, and sprinting occasionally is the safest bet.
If all this stuff seems daunting and far-reaching, that�s because it is daunting and far-reaching. The gut affects nearly everything. But look at the bright side: fixing your gut may be the key to good health for many of you. It�s actually quite empowering. Don�t you think?
The gut is a fundamental structure in the overall health of the digestive system as it allows for the absorption of nutrients and water. According to each individual person’s diet, the gut will develop specific bacteria which are often essential for proper digestion, however, when an improper diet builds harmful bacteria, digestive complications, such as leaky gut syndrome can occur.
As a healthcare provider, Dr. Patrick Gentempo has been searching for the truth behind the effects of vaccines on the general population. When making critical decisions about you and your children�s health, it�s essential to have the correct knowledge of all medical procedures you�re being involved in, including the administration of mandatory vaccines, among others.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .�
Leaky gut syndrome is not generally recognized by conventional physicians, but evidence is accumulating that it is a real condition that affects the lining of the intestines. The theory is that leaky gut syndrome (also called increased intestinal permeability), is the result of damage to the intestinal lining, making it less able to protect the internal environment as well as to filter needed nutrients and other biological substances.
As a consequence, some bacteria and their toxins, incompletely digested proteins and fats, and waste not normally absorbed may “leak” out of the intestines into the blood stream. This triggers an autoimmune reaction, which can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as abdominal bloating, excessive gas and cramps, fatigue, food sensitivities, joint pain, skin rashes, and autoimmunity. The cause of this syndrome may be chronic inflammation, food sensitivity, damage from taking large amounts of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), cytotoxic drugs and radiation or certain antibiotics, excessive alcohol consumption, or compromised immunity.
Leaky gut syndrome may trigger or worsen such disorders as Crohn�s disease, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma.
My colleague, pediatrician Sandy Newmark, M.D., who deals with leaky gut syndrome in children, tells me that it isn�t clear how many people have this disorder or exactly what problems can be attributed to it. Dr. Newmark says that it has been established that a significant percentage of children with autism have increased intestinal permeability, but it isn�t known whether this is a cause or an effect of food sensitivities and an underlying metabolic problem.
Some alternative medicine practitioners blame such unrelated problems as migraines, bad breath and insomnia on leaky gut syndrome and recommend buying home test kits purportedly capable of measuring intestinal permeability. I doubt it. For treatment, some of these practitioners recommend an assortment of dietary supplements.
I would be wary of any diagnosis of leaky gut syndrome if you don�t have inflammatory bowel conditions (Crohn�s disease, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome), rheumatoid arthritis, or asthma.
The leaky gut treatment I recommend involves avoiding alcohol and NSAIDS as well as any foods that you�re allergic to. Make sure you�re eating plenty of fiber. Take Culturelle or another probiotic supplement containing Lactobacillus GG. I would also recommend eating an anti-inflammatory diet, including essential fatty acids like fish oil and GLA. In addition, you might try supplementing with glutamine, an amino acid that helps maintain intestinal metabolism and function and seems to benefit patients who have had intestinal injury from chemotherapy and radiation.
Leaky gut syndrome is still considered a medical mystery, characterized by symptoms of bloating, gas, cramps, food sensitivities, and aches and pains. While it’s generally not recognized as a direct diagnosis but rather a general diagnosis that requires further studies, the number of people presenting these common symptoms have been on the rise. Many experts have begun to discuss the importance of digestive health.
Trending Topic: The Side Effects of Vaccines Revealed
As a healthcare provider, Dr. Patrick Gentempo has been searching for the truth behind the effects of vaccines on the general population. When making critical decisions about you and your children�s health, it�s essential to have the correct knowledge of all medical procedures you�re being involved in, including the administration of mandatory vaccines, among others.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
Because it is something of a mystery disease that can show itself as a bewildering array of other conditions, you could have Leaky Gut Syndrome and not even realize it.
The reason is that Leaky Gut Syndrome is one of the many concepts in medicine that cuts across the boundary lines of specific diseases.
It is a major example of an important medical phenomenon: distress in one organ causes disease in another. That is why it is vital to look beyond the symptoms and discover the root cause of illness.
Conditions that Signal Leaky Gut Syndrome
Do you have:
arthritis
allergies
depression
eczema
hives
psoriasis
chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia?
Then you may also have Leaky Gut Syndrome, because it causes or contributes to these conditions.
Getting a better understanding of Leaky Gut Syndrome may help you find a more effective solution to your condition.
I am telling you about Leaky Gut Syndrome because it is a vitally important, but often undiagnosed, condition that is key to recovering from many illnesses and regaining robust good health.
An Integrated Approach to Leaky Gut Syndrome
I�ve been evaluating patients for Leaky Gut Syndrome for over twenty years, and have been writing about my integrated approach to this condition. My article �Leaky Gut Syndromes: Breaking the Vicious Cycle� is available online at the Foundation for Integrated Medicine. (1)
Through my clinical experience and further research I came to understand how gastrointestinal health in general, and Leaky Gut Syndrome in particular, contributes to many seemingly unrelated conditions.
To share my knowledge and help my colleagues learn more about this important topic I wrote a chapter titled �Integrative Approach to the Gastrointestinal System� for the textbook Integrative Medicine: Principles for Practice in 2004 and coauthored the book-length monograph Gastrointestinal Dysregulation: Connections to Chronic Disease, in 2008.
I have found Leaky Gut Syndrome especially relevant for many people with chronic fatigue syndrome.
What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?
Because it connects apparently unrelated disorders, Leaky Gut Syndrome is one of the most misunderstood concepts in medicine today.
To begin with, Leaky Gut is not a single disease or syndrome; it�s a pathological condition that occurs as part of many different diseases and syndromes. The term refers to an abnormal increase in the permeability of the small intestine. Increased intestinal permeability is a component of many different disorders.
Leaky Gut Syndrome is associated with:
inflammatory and infectious bowel diseases (6-12),
several types of arthritis (13-18),
acne (19),
psoriasis, (19),
AIDS (20),
chronic liver disease (21),
pancreatic disease (22)
as well as numerous conditions triggered by food allergy, including eczema, hives, and irritable bowel syndrome (29-37).
Sometimes, Leaky Gut Syndrome plays a primary role in the evolution of an illness.
Crohn�s disease is a serious chronic intestinal disorder that effects almost a million people in the United States. People who develop Crohn�s disease may have a genetically induced increase in intestinal permeability that creates the inflammation in the bowel. This predisposing leakiness can be found in close relatives of patients with Crohn�s diseases, suggesting that it precedes the development of inflammation.
Leaky Gut Syndrome can also be caused by the treatment for another disease.
In rheumatoid arthritis, for example, the drugs used to relieve pain and inflammation can damage the intestinal lining, leading to Leaky Gut Syndrome within two weeks. Leaky Gut Syndrome, in turn, is associated with aggravation of arthritis.
For most conditions, the precise role of Leaky Gut Syndrome remains unclear, but it seems to be part of a vicious cycle that makes the condition get worse over time. Allergic reactions to food, for example, cause a transient increase in intestinal permeability. If this happens frequently, it may increase the number or severity of food allergies.
In chronic fatigue syndrome and major depressive disorder, Leaky Gut Syndrome activates the intestinal immune system to produce chemicals called cytokines that spread inflammation through your body.
Inflammation is an important trigger for symptoms like fatigue, malaise, pain, and depression.
When should you suspect Leaky Gut Syndrome?
If you have:
pain in multiple joints,
a chronic skin condition,
chronic diarrhea or abdominal pain,
chronic fatigue,
chronic depression,
malaise,
a feeling of being infected but your doctor can�t find the infection,
or if you use aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs on a regular basis, or if you�re a heavy drinker of alcohol.
Recent research in animals has indicated that Leaky Gut Syndrome may also be associated with difficulty losing or gaining weight, but its association with obesity is still under investigation.
Five Steps to Help Heal Leaky Gut Syndrome
Get rid of anything that might be causing or contributing to increased intestinal permeability:
Stop drinking alcohol for at least a month.
Stop using aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). I wrote about the side effects of these common pain relievers in a recent Huff Post article �Why Medication Can Be Dangerous to Your Health.�
Have a stool test for intestinal parasites. There is extensive medical literature on intestinal parasites causing symptoms like fatigue, joint pain and skin disorders, without causing diarrhea. I discuss these in a chapter I wrote titled, �Intestinal Protozoan Infestation and Systemic Illness�, for the Textbook of Natural Medicine, 3rd Edition, in 2005 [34].
Adopt an anti-inflammatory dietary pattern. I explain the benefits of eating to reduce inflammation, and provide a plan to achieve that, in my book, The Fat Resistance Diet. The principles are simple to understand: avoid foods with added sugar and refined starches, made from white flour. Decrease consumption of saturated fat and most vegetable oils, using extra virgin olive oil instead. Eat at least 9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day and at least 4 servings of fish per week.
There are dietary supplements that help the small intestine heal and restore its functional integrity. The most important of these are the amino acid L-glutamine and the amino sugar N-acetyl- glucosamine, which are readily available in health food stores.
These are but a few introductory steps toward an integrated approach to this condition. There is a vast amount of scientific literature on Leaky Gut Syndrome, a sample of which appear in the references below from journals such as The Lancet, The British Medical Journal and The Annals of Internal Medicine.
The health of every system in the body is ultimately essential to promote overall wellness and when one of these is out of balance, it can trigger an array of symptoms and disorders. Digestive health is of utmost importance because it’s the source of most nutrients. When a disorder develops it could be due to another cause, such as leaky gut syndrome.
Trending Topic: More Vaccine Truths Revealed
Vaccines still remain as one of the most controversial topics of our time. Immunizations and vaccines are believed to be the cornerstone of modern medicines, where many professional physicians and healthcare providers validate their effectiveness, however, others have argued whether all vaccines can truly be labeled as safe and effective. Many experts have been warning the public on the dangers of vaccinations while the government and various other medical groups claim these should be mandatory. The accounts of side effects caused by these have increased.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
RA is an autoimmune condition that is more commonly experienced by females and is thought to occur or result from a combination of factors including genetic, environmental, and other unknown events that occur within our bodies. These factors can cause people to experience multiple hot, swollen, inflamed, and painful joints at multiple sites throughout their body, most commonly in their hands, wrists, ankles, and feet. Current medical management of RA and other autoimmune diseases involves the use of medications to manage the disease but we have yet to find a cure at this time.
Some new research is pointing to the possibility that the normal bacteria in your gut (microbiome) may contribute to your risk of RA as well as active inflammation in your joints. This is possible as the type of bacteria that make up our individual microbiome is different, and some specific types of bacteria can lead to issues in the gut as well as other areas throughout the body including joints.
The specific bacteria in your gut is associated with the foods that you eat and can be involved in causing Leaky Gut Syndrome (aka. intestinal hyperpermeability) as well as loss of immune tolerance to the normal bacteria of your gut. Specific locations in the body with a high load of bad, opportunistic bacteria (for example, the gut) may represent the source by which immune cells begin attacking body parts as they increase the amount of inflammation circulating in the bloodstream. This led scientists to the idea that if the types of bacteria in your gut could possibly be changed, it could allow your immune system to recover and potentially stop attacking your joints.
In a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial study, patients with RA were given either a probiotic capsule daily for 8 weeks, or a placebo sugar pill for 8 weeks. At the 8-week mark, RA disease activity was significantly improved in the group which received probiotic treatment when compared with the group that was given the placebo pill.
Taking Probiotics and Lowering Inflammation
The researchers found a significant decrease in specific markers of inflammation and a significant increase in good regulatory markers. These researchers also found a lower Disease Activity Score in patients that were given the probiotic treatment as well as a lower number of active swollen joints. It is also important to note that there were no new problems noted in patients after taking probiotics in the study.
There is also the issue of underlying Leaky Gut Syndrome (aka intestinal permeability). Tight junctions are proteins that bind together cells side by side in the walls of the intestines to create a physical barrier to bacteria and particles that are within the digestive tract.
It has been shown in many studies that specific foods and food additives can lead to changes in the tight junctions between the cells of the gut, leading to holes, or �leaks� in the gut wall, thus Leaky Gut syndrome. These foods and additives include sugars, salt, emulsifiers, organic solvents, gluten and even nanoparticles. As well, all of these food additives are shown to be used in greater quantities in countries with a higher rate of RA and other autoimmune conditions.
Guide for People with Rheumatoid Arthritis
1. Reduce your intake of Food Additives
These food additives include added sugars and salt in foods and beverages such as soda, juice, milk, chips, crackers, milk and other highly processed foods.
2. Reduce your intake of Gluten � Avoid it completely if you can
Gluten has been shown to cause Leaky Gut and even Celiac Disease. Cut down on or even eliminate your intake of breads, chips, tortillas, and wheat-based highly processed cereals.
3. Start taking Probiotics (after consulting with your doctor)
Probiotic supplements have been shown to reduce active inflammation in joints of people suffering with RA as well as other autoimmune conditions. L. casei was the specific probiotic that was used in the studies outlined earlier in this article. Consult with your doctor before taking any probiotics.
4. Consult a Functional Medicine Doctor
If your current course of therapy is not effectively managing your disease, consult with a doctor who practices Functional Medicine. These doctors will help you find the root cause of your disease process and give you a course of treatment to heal the source of your condition.
Gut health is essential towards the function of many of the systems in the body, primarily because of the process of nutrient absorption after each meal. Bacteria can be found in the gut associated with the type of food people eat and new research has shown that harmful bacteria can lead to the development of rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition which causes inflammation of the joints.
Trending Topic | New Views of Vaccines Revealed
The mandatory need of vaccines and their effectiveness has been an ongoing controversial subject within the medical field. While vaccines and immunizations have been utilized before to prevent diseases, studies have been surfacing regarding the dangerous and sometimes deadly side effects these can cause among the general population. Although further research has yet to establish a link between vaccines and neurological disorders, healthcare professionals have begun to speak out against the mandatory need for these multi-billion dollar industry medicine.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
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