Leaky gut syndrome (intestinal permeability), is a condition in which the tight junctions in the small intestine are no longer tight. This results in small particles passing through these junctions straight into the blood stream. The tight junctions should be a barrier controlling what can go into the blood and what cant. Once these cells are no longer tight and you have increased intestinal permeability, the particles that shouldn’t go through them end up causing a wide array of symptoms. These particles can be food, large protein, viruses, bacteria and toxins.
Think of it as your filter is broken therefore allowing unwanted particles into your blood stream.
Once you get certain unwanted food particles and proteins to pass through the no longer tight junctions, your body reacts to it as a foreign substance. Essentially over time, you may develop food sensitivities to it by generating anti bodies.
This is something that more and more emerging research on this topic. There is no definitive diagnostic test to diagnose leaky gut. However, if you are interested in working with a passionate and curious Naturopathic Doctor that understands diagnosis and rule out other possible underlined conditions, we can get to the bottom of this. There are multiple laboratory testing that Dr. Tali uses in order to assess and evaluate the composition of your stool and markers of your gut health, such as the Comprehensive Stool Analysis.
Symptoms include:
Gas and bloating, Food sensitivities, Cramps / abdominal pain, Brain fog, Indigestion, Loose stools/ diarrhea, Skin conditions such as eczema, acne, psoriasis
Some of the more common causes to your leaky gut syndrome:
Dr. Tali’s approach is always evidence based medicine. There are no guesses and often testing is necessary to assess what are the underlined root causes of your leaky gut. Leaky gut is never just one diagnosis, there is always something else that comes with it (as explained above under causes of leaky gut). For that reason, its important to work with someone who is curious about your health and is ready to dig deep with you into the root cause while supporting gut healing.
The first thing you would probably want is a relief of symptoms – great! We can do that. However, not only is it important to treat the root cause, its just as important to heal and seal the gut lining after the treatment. Your intestinal lining needs to go back to being less permeable and filter more toxins, food particles, large proteins, bacteria, etc. Therefore, supporting cell regeneration and tight junction formation is key.
Good news – most of the time, some food sensitivities that you have developed due to leaky gut, end up resolving once intestinal lining is healed and sealed. Naturopathic Medicine incorporates treatment for leaky gut such as dietary changes, lifestyle modification, supplements and herbal medicine as necessary.