WAIT! Did you say “LEAKY” Gut?
Hey friends!
I’m sure you’ve heard this term here and there, and that is LEAKY GUT! I don’t know about you, but before my education in nutrition, I would have heard this and said WAIT, WHAT!? How can my gut LEAK!?
LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!
Shall we start things off by introducing the topic of dysbiosis? Dysbiosis is the imbalance of intestinal microbes where the more harmful organisms (or ‘bad” bacteria) dominate. These harmful organisms produce an assortment of toxic byproducts that can be absorbed into the bloodstream and can result in localized inflammation and irritation of the gut mucosa. This results in mucus OVERPRODUCTION, increased mucosal PERMEABILITY and OVERBURDENING of the immune system!
What are some SIGNS & SYMPTOMS of GUT DYSBIOSIS
Cravings for sugar and sweets
Constipation, diarrhea, bloating or abdominal pain
Fatigue
Feeling vaguely unwell, in the absence of other health conditions
Recurring vaginal, prostate or urinary tract infections
Poor memory or concentration
Hormonal issues like PMS, menstrual irregularities or sexual dysfunction
AND THE LIST GOES ON!
A HEALTHY intestinal wall REQUIRES essential nutrients that are produced by “good” bacteria, and in their absence, mucosal cells begin to die. A combination of decreased mucosal cells and chronic inflammation, the gut wall becomes LEAKY, meaning that the junctions between cells that were once tight and secure are now loose and allowing intestinal contents to pass through. Candida albicans is the biggest opportunist, increasing gut leakiness by penetrating the mucosa, enabling the fungus to spread throughout the body (MORE ON CANDIDA IN FUTURE POSTS!)
A leaky gut will allow partially digested food to be absorbed into the bloodstream. This triggers your immune system as it responds to this food material as a foreign invader. THIS IS HOW FOOD ALLERGENS AND SENSITIVITY RESULTS!
If our immune system is continually being called upon to deal with undigested food absorbed from a leaky gut, it becomes overburdened and unable to accomplish other tasks set out for it. This can contrite to more frequent infections, asthma, or autoimmune disease. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT that a weak gut lining COULD IMPACT YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM!?
In addition, your adrenal glands can become weakened from the the chronic inflammation associated with a leaky gut. This is because the body releases CORTISOL (a stress hormone produced by the adrenals) in response to this chronic inflammatory state.
In a complex interplay of body systems, this heightened cortisol level can also impact blood sugar balance, as cortisol liberates glucose for the purpose of energy production. THINK ABOUT IT! Our body is perceiving this inflammation as a STRESSOR, which elicits a FIGHT or FLIGHT response, which we will need ENERGY for! So naturally your body is getting to work on supplying as much energy in the form of glucose as it can.
Its hard to believe that the health of your gut can have such a complex interplay of other (seemingly unrelated) body systems. OR IS IT!? A healthy gut is a healthy foundation, and it is where I like to start with many of my clients (of course everyone is different!).
If you think your gut could use some support, you’re in LUCK! GUT HEALTH IS MY JAM! Let’s chat! I offer a FREE 30-min discovery call to see if we will be a good fit for one another!