Delve into Leaky Gut Syndrome, a condition known scientifically as Hyperpermeable Intestines. This complex term signifies a pivotal shift in the intestinal lining, marked by increased porosity and the breakdown of its screening mechanisms. Consequently, larger holes emerge, disrupting the body's ability to filter out undesirable substances effectively. The aftermath? A cascade of undigested food particles, yeast, toxins, and various waste materials bypass the body's natural defences and infiltrate the bloodstream unchecked.
The intestinal lining is the first mechanism of defence for our immune system. The outer layers of intestinal cells (epithelial) are connected by structures called tight junctions. At the tips of these cells are the microvilli, which absorb properly digested nutrients and transport them through the epithelial cell and into the bloodstream. During normal digestion process, the tight junctions stay closed, forcing all molecules to effectively be screened and only pass into the blood stream through the mucosa cells. For reasons we will discuss later these tight junctions can become “open” or permeable allowing unscreened molecules to flow directly into the bloodstream (think of it like a fish net with very small holes).
The first reaction your body has to these “foreign” bodies in your blood is to fight like hell. Initially, your liver is called into action to work overtime and try to screen out all the particles that your intestinal lining was supposed to be taking care of. In most cases, the liver has no chance of keeping up with the constant flow of waste into your blood and all the toxins, undigested food molecules, yeast, and other pathogens start to accumulate in your body.
Now the sleeping giant wakes up (your immune system) and it is not happy. It goes into full battle mode to fight the evil intruders and get them out of the body ASAP. More often than not, the body cannot keep up with the task at hand and the majority of these foreign bodies absorb into tissues throughout the body… causing them to inflame.
Inflammation is also an immune response and causes more stress on your system. Now that your body is focused on fighting the large war, the little battles are starting to be ignored, like filtering out the blood, calming inflamed areas of the body, fighting bacteria, regulating the gut, etc. This process flow can lead to your body fighting itself and an array of autoimmune diseases such as Chronic Fatigue, MS, IBS, Ulcerative Colitis, and Fibromyalgia.
Now your body will begin to produce antibody soldiers designed to fight against these foreign objects (which can be things such as the Casein protein from the milk you’re drinking, or other proteins in nuts, grains, or eggs). Even chemicals normally found in foods such as Phenols and Glycerin can now trigger immune responses when they enter the body. For instance, some people immediately react to dairy of any kind. They get instant brain fog, a headache, sore throat, and horrible sinus drainage. A similar reaction can happen when one eats food high in phenols such as tomato juice. This is all part of a reaction as a result of years with leaky gut.
A great article at EnzymeStuff points out that, if you are having any food sensitivities to more than a dozen foods, you likely have leaky gut syndrome. Any undigested foods that are absorbed into the blood stream are now considered enemies of the state, and your immune system will develop reactions to many of them, leading to food intolerances. When you have a Leaky Gut condition, the damaged microvilli along the intestinal lining cannot manufacture the digestive enzymes they need to break down the food for proper digestion. The resulting condition allows food molecules to flow into the bloodstream that have not been completely broken down into the nutrients your body needs. Bottom Line: The foods that you’re eating are not the root of the problem; it’s the leaky gut letting the food molecules into your bloodstream. Of course, the caveat is severe food allergies such as gluten to a Celiac or deadly peanut allergies.
Symptoms of Leaky Gut can vary from person to person depending on the level of damage and the tissues being affected. A good article at AllergyScape describes multiple food sensitivities as a sign that your immune system is developing antibodies to everything you’re eating.
All of these things add up to a host of symptoms with a myriad of explanations… all leading back to one thing: the constant river of foreign objects being allowed to enter your bloodstream.
The cause of Leaky Gut is widely debated in the medical community. However, there is some level of consensus that the following are the basic contributors:
The medical community is also still rather divided about the methods used to alleviate leaky gut. Treating Leaky Gut is a multi-faceted approach that requires many different pieces of the puzzle to fall into place. If each one is utilized, the holes in the sinking ship will plug up and allow the body to return to a more normal state.
Diet Restrictions: Eliminating sugars, starches, grains, and any other irritating foods alleviate the inflammation and starve out the yeast overgrowth (this is where the SCD diet takes over the healing process). Reducing both of these allows the intestinal tract slowly return to its normal permeability, stopping the flow of foreign objects into the blood, which will stop food intolerance symptoms and eventually help stop the vicious cycle just as the book described it. I would argue that the Specific Carbohydrate Diet is the foundation of curing leaky gut, but it does need some help from the next three pieces.
Here’s a free guide to get started on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet: “How To Start The SCD Diet In 24-Hours” includes:
An initial consultation with the Integrative practitioner or neuropathologist at Health Renewal is mandatory and will be approximately 45 minutes. Your Health / Skin Renewal practitioner will begin working on a unique prescription plan which may include an appropriate IV infusion therapy. Your practitioner may also prescribe additional nutraceutical supplements and/ or herbal therapies to restore your gut membrane and advise on SCD Specific Carbohydrate Diet.
All these recommendations will be summarised on a sheet or print out which you can take home with you.
The intestinal lining is the first mechanism of defence for our immune system. The outer layers of intestinal cells (epithelial) are connected by structures called tight junctions. At the tips of these cells are the microvilli, which absorb properly digested nutrients and transport them through the epithelial cell and into the bloodstream. During normal digestion process, the tight junctions stay closed, forcing all molecules to effectively be screened and only pass into the blood stream through the mucosa cells. For reasons we will discuss later these tight junctions can become “open” or permeable allowing unscreened molecules to flow directly into the bloodstream (think of it like a fish net with very small holes).
The first reaction your body has to these “foreign” bodies in your blood is to fight like hell. Initially, your liver is called into action to work overtime and try to screen out all the particles that your intestinal lining was supposed to be taking care of. In most cases, the liver has no chance of keeping up with the constant flow of waste into your blood and all the toxins, undigested food molecules, yeast, and other pathogens start to accumulate in your body.
Now the sleeping giant wakes up (your immune system) and it is not happy. It goes into full battle mode to fight the evil intruders and get them out of the body ASAP. More often than not, the body cannot keep up with the task at hand and the majority of these foreign bodies absorb into tissues throughout the body… causing them to inflame.
Inflammation is also an immune response and causes more stress on your system. Now that your body is focused on fighting the large war, the little battles are starting to be ignored, like filtering out the blood, calming inflamed areas of the body, fighting bacteria, regulating the gut, etc. This process flow can lead to your body fighting itself and an array of autoimmune diseases such as Chronic Fatigue, MS, IBS, Ulcerative Colitis, and Fibromyalgia.
Now your body will begin to produce antibody soldiers designed to fight against these foreign objects (which can be things such as the Casein protein from the milk you’re drinking, or other proteins in nuts, grains, or eggs). Even chemicals normally found in foods such as Phenols and Glycerin can now trigger immune responses when they enter the body. For instance, some people immediately react to dairy of any kind. They get instant brain fog, a headache, sore throat, and horrible sinus drainage. A similar reaction can happen when one eats food high in phenols such as tomato juice. This is all part of a reaction as a result of years with leaky gut.
A great article at EnzymeStuff points out that, if you are having any food sensitivities to more than a dozen foods, you likely have leaky gut syndrome. Any undigested foods that are absorbed into the blood stream are now considered enemies of the state, and your immune system will develop reactions to many of them, leading to food intolerances. When you have a Leaky Gut condition, the damaged microvilli along the intestinal lining cannot manufacture the digestive enzymes they need to break down the food for proper digestion. The resulting condition allows food molecules to flow into the bloodstream that have not been completely broken down into the nutrients your body needs. Bottom Line: The foods that you’re eating are not the root of the problem; it’s the leaky gut letting the food molecules into your bloodstream. Of course, the caveat is severe food allergies such as gluten to a Celiac or deadly peanut allergies.
Symptoms of Leaky Gut can vary from person to person depending on the level of damage and the tissues being affected. A good article at AllergyScape describes multiple food sensitivities as a sign that your immune system is developing antibodies to everything you’re eating.
All of these things add up to a host of symptoms with a myriad of explanations… all leading back to one thing: the constant river of foreign objects being allowed to enter your bloodstream.
The cause of Leaky Gut is widely debated in the medical community. However, there is some level of consensus that the following are the basic contributors:
The medical community is also still rather divided about the methods used to alleviate leaky gut. Treating Leaky Gut is a multi-faceted approach that requires many different pieces of the puzzle to fall into place. If each one is utilized, the holes in the sinking ship will plug up and allow the body to return to a more normal state.
Diet Restrictions: Eliminating sugars, starches, grains, and any other irritating foods alleviate the inflammation and starve out the yeast overgrowth (this is where the SCD diet takes over the healing process). Reducing both of these allows the intestinal tract slowly return to its normal permeability, stopping the flow of foreign objects into the blood, which will stop food intolerance symptoms and eventually help stop the vicious cycle just as the book described it. I would argue that the Specific Carbohydrate Diet is the foundation of curing leaky gut, but it does need some help from the next three pieces.
Here’s a free guide to get started on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet: “How To Start The SCD Diet In 24-Hours” includes:
An initial consultation with the Integrative practitioner or neuropathologist at Health Renewal is mandatory and will be approximately 45 minutes. Your Health / Skin Renewal practitioner will begin working on a unique prescription plan which may include an appropriate IV infusion therapy. Your practitioner may also prescribe additional nutraceutical supplements and/ or herbal therapies to restore your gut membrane and advise on SCD Specific Carbohydrate Diet.
All these recommendations will be summarised on a sheet or print out which you can take home with you.
