Right at this moment in time, I’m in the “love and heal my gut” mindset.

 

Basically, I’ve been following the AIP diet since the beginning of May this year, and even though I’ve definitely felt the positive benefits of it, I have also been dealing with a few set-backs due to gut inflammation.  Why and how this is happening, I may never know, but I’m on a mission.

 

• To accept and fully embrace where I am at this very moment in time. 

• To love my body.  Symptoms and all.

• To nourish and heal my gut as best I can, while learning from the journey.

 

 

So what is leaky gut?

 

I’m amazed at the amount of research that is coming out showing that many people’s food allergies and sensitivities, fatigue and sleep issues, autoimmune conditions, as well as skin issues, digestive problems and slow metabolism can actually be symptoms of a leaky gut.  

 

Leaky gut, or intestinal permeability is exactly that.  A gut that leaks.  It is (in very basic “Leigh” terms), when the lining of your digestive tract, which works as a barrier, becomes damaged allowing proteins, undigested food particles and toxins that normally can’t pass through, to escape into the blood stream – a place they shouldn’t be, causing inflammation and leading to immune reactions. 

 

If you leave this damage unrepaired, it can not only cause malabsorption issues - where your body is unable to absorb the vital minerals and nutrients it needs - it can also lead to more severe health issue, like IBS, eczema and psoriasis, chronic fatigue and da da daaaa….autoimmune diseases.

So what Can cause leaky gut?

 

A leaky gut IS NOT the root cause of any of the above symptoms. There is something else going on deeper which is causing the leaky gut, and to heal it means you need to delve into what is causing it in the first place. There seems to be four main causes of leaky gut, which include:

 

Parasites | As the saying goes - if you have a pulse, you have a parasite! These pesky little critters are way more common than conventional doctors will have you believe - and a simple stool test is just not enough to diagnose them as they can be located anywhere within your body (not just your colon/stool), and love to hide in biofilm which conventional testing doesn’t pick up.

Toxin overload | Today, we are surrounded by chemicals and toxins, however some of the worst offenders include the overabundant use of antibiotics as well as pesticides and preservatives in the foods we eat.

A poor diet | A diet filled with inflammatory causing foods, with the most common culprits being refined sugars, gluten, GMO’s and conventional dairy.  This can be different for everybody.

Chronic stress | Can over time weaken your immune system, leaving your body unable to fight off bad bacteria or viruses.

Bacterial imbalance (dysbiosis) | An imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria in your gut.  The overuse of prescription antibiotic drugs, lingering gut infections and the lack of probiotic rich foods all contribute to this imbalance. Note - a bacterial imbalance is not “usually” a root cause and is often a symptom of one of the above causes.
 

 

 

so How can I Heal a Leaky Gut?

 

The good news is that it CAN be healed, and addressing the root cause of this inflammation is paramount. However, a few simple steps to incorporate (some thanks to Dr Axe's website ) are:

 

1. ROOT CAUSE. We must turn off the tap that is causing the bath to flood in the first place, rather than continuously mopping up the overflow. Meaning, we have to address the reason we have the leaky gut otherwise anything we do to heal will be a waste of time (and money). This will be different for everyone from parasite cleansing and viral/heavy metal detoxing to ensuring our drainage pathways are open and working (how often do you go to the bathroom? Do you sweat regularly?)

2. REMOVE foods that damage the gut – for me personally, this has included gluten, soy, corn, sugar and dairy.  I also do not consume any processed GMO foods*.  Remember, this list can be different for everybody, however you have to break the cycle and stop adding to the inflammation before you can begin to heal it. For some it may also include animal protein, and/or grains.

3. REPLACE with gut healing foods – again for me, this includes an abundance of pesticide free organic plant based produce. And at times in the past, it has also included grass-fed organic meats and bone broth filled with glycine, gelatin and collagen that help heal damaged cell walls.

4. REPAIR with specific supplements – this for me takes the form of apple cider vinegar and digestive enzymes prior to eating - helping my digestion do its thing.  Along with aloe vera juice and magnesium baths at the end of the day to help detoxify and repair.

5. REBALANCE with prebiotics and probiotics – from food. This step I incorporated after my gut started to heal as consuming these foods too fast can potentially cause further inflammation. Think sauerkraut, miso paste, etc.

 

*Note – I removed these foods personally from my diet after extensive research, trial and error with my own body and with the support of my holistic practitioner.

 

 

One of my favourite food products that I've added into my diet is coconut.  If tolerated, coconut products are especially good for your gut as the Medium Chain Fatty Acids in coconut are much easier to digest than other fats - a wonderful and healing addition to your wellness lifestyle.