Leaky gut syndrome is a condition wherein the lining of the gut isn’t able to adequately stop bacteria and other toxins from accessing the bloodstream. This occurs because the gut lining becomes permeable, and therefore enables said entities to travel through it.
Symptoms of a leaky gut include bloating, a burning sensation in one’s stomach, diarrhea, low energy, and more.
The question you might have, however, is what causes it. What are the top leaky gut causes? We’re going to review them all below, helping you solve the issue of your gut bacteria imbalance.
Causes of Leaky Gut
A lot of leaky gut causes are still being determined. That said, many causes have already been discovered. These include the following:
A Poor Diet
Many leaky gut causes are believed to be caused, at least in part, by a poor diet. Inflammatory foods, in particular, can wreak havoc on the gut lining, causing it to become permeable over time. Inflammatory foods include red meats and processed meats, junk food, and refined grains, to name just a few.
If you eat these foods in large quantities, you’re likely to experience adverse effects at some point in time. As such, you’re advised to only eat them in moderation.
To help you discover which foods to avoid, you should use a food elimination diet. This involves cutting out individual foods for weeks at a time to see if your symptoms lessen. If they do, it’s generally a good idea to cut that food out of your diet entirely.
Improper Nutrient Absorption
Another of the leaky gut causes is improper nutrient absorption. If our bodies don’t properly absorb nutrients, inflammation could occur in the gut. This could cause the gut to become permeable, thereby resulting in leaky gut.
Improper nutrient absorption is caused by many factors. In some cases, it’s due to not chewing food adequately. In other cases, it’s due to low stomach acid levels.
If you feel that you’re suffering from poor nutrient absorption, you should consult a physician.
Infections
Infections can be leaky gut causes as well. This is because they can cause gut bacteria imbalance, thereby causing the gut to become permeable.
Generally speaking, the more present the infections are, the higher chance there is of this happening. So, if you’re incurring colds on a regular basis, for instance, leaky gut is something you might have to contend with.
This is why it’s vital to keep your immune system regulated. You can do this by eating right, getting good sleep, and taking part in physical exercise.
Prolonged Stress
Stress is one of the common leaky gut causes as well. There are plenty of reasons for this.
For one, stress weakens the immune system. When you have a weak immune system, your body is more likely to incur infections. As noted above, infections wear away at the lining of the stomach.
In addition, stress can reduce levels of acid in the stomach. This can result in poor nutrient absorption. As noted, this can create inflammation in the stomach lining.
Toxin Exposure
Another cause of leaky gut is toxin exposure. Throughout the course of each day, we can encounter a range of different toxins. This includes gasses, vapors, mist, dust, and more.
Over time, these will have a negative effect on gut bacteria. This could result in gut permeability, thus leading to leaky gut.
Certain Diseases
There are a number of diseases that might be leaky gut causes as well. Two of these include irritable bowel syndrome and Chron’s Disease, digestive diseases that affect the bowels.
Leaky gut has been connected to a variety of autoimmune diseases as well. These include lupus, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome, to name just a few.
How to Treat Leaky Gut
We’ve discussed some of the top leaky gut causes. Now, let’s talk about how you can treat it.
First and foremost, you’re advised to speak with a physician. A naturopathic physician, in particular, will be well-versed in the treatment of leaky gut and will therefore stand the best chance of properly treating your condition.
Your naturopathic physician will ask you about your medical history to decide what might be causing the issue. They’ll then devise a plan so that you can actively work to combat the condition.
The key to combatting leaky gut is to combat inflammation in the stomach. You can do this by removing certain foods from your diet and by strengthening your immune system.
Once you’ve done the work of combatting inflammation, you’ll need to build up the lining of the gut. To do this, you’ll need to consume vital vitamins and nutrients. Your physician will help you create a meal plan to ensure that you’re getting the right nutrients on a regular basis.
Finally, you’ll need to balance your gut flora. You can do this by regularly taking probiotics. This adds good bacteria to the gut, ensuring that it’s operating to the best of its capabilities.
Need Help Diagnosing Leaky Gut Causes in Your Body?
Do you believe that you’re suffering from a leaky gut? Need help diagnosing leaky gut causes in your body? If so, and if you’re in the Fairbanks, AK area, we here at Fairbanks Family Wellness are the ones to see.
As a provider of naturopathic and functional medicine, we’ve helped to treat leaky gut in countless patients throughout the Fairbanks area. Our friendly and experienced team looks forward to treating you.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
