The Truth About Leaky Gut

16 Jun

Written By The Square Genius

Blood cells, food and toxins outside the gut illustrating the concept of leaky gut

What are the symptoms of leaky gut?

You might have heard or read this term before, what is leaky gut?

To understand this condition, we need to talk a bit about the digestive system.

The hollow organs of the digestive system are lined by a single row of cells that act as a barrier.

The space between each of these cells is known as tight junctions.

Some toxins are known to increase the space between tight junctions, leading to increased gut permeability, commonly known as leaky gut.

When this happens, pathogens, toxins, and incompletely digested food material to pass directly from the gut into the blood.

This can potentially lead to a myriad of symptoms like bloating, diarrhoea, reflux, indigestion, constipation, brain fog, and fatigue.

For years, leaky gut was looked at as a farce by mainstream medicine, but it all changed in the year 2000 when a group of researchers, headed by world-renowned Italian paediatric gastroenterologist Alessio Fasano, discovered a protein called Zonulin.

Interestingly, zonulin was discovered as an accident while trying to develop a potential cholera vaccine.

Zonulin has been shown to control the space between intestinal tight junctions, leading to increased intestinal permeability.

Factors that cause increased intestinal permeability include gluten in predisposed individuals, processed foods high in sugars, yeast overgrowth, chronic stress, excess alcohol and more.

To reduce your risk of getting a leaky gut, eat a healthy diet rich in green leafy vegetables, avoid smoking, meditate or exercise to reduce stress and sleep.

Please feel free to contact me at www.guthealthmedic.co.uk for any questions you may have.

Dr. Leke Asong

Gut Health Medic

TAGGED:
leaky gut / intestinal permeability / zonulin