Do u have a Leaky Gut?

Healthy digestive tract is linked to overall wellness

By Dr. Santosh Mohapatra On Oct 27, 2021

Leaky gut syndrome is a condition in which the lining of the gut is compromised by small holes. These holes, like tears in a paper coffee filter, allow toxins and food particles to pass into the bloodstream, where they are not supposed to be, and where they can trigger health problems. The condition is also known as intestinal permeability.

In a healthy gut, the lining is thin but durable. It forms a tight barrier that allows important nutrients to pass through to the bloodstream while keeping large food particles and bacteria inside the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and headed toward the exit. In a leaky gut, larger particles are able to pass through the gut barrier and disrupt the body’s internal ecosystem.

What causes leaky gut?

A wide variety of factors can irritate the delicate lining of the gut, including diets high in sugar and processed foods, diets low in phytonutrient-rich whole foods, exposure to toxins and synthetic chemicals, exposure to unwelcome bacteria (via food poisoning, for example), medications such as ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), overtraining or insufficient rest between bouts of exercise, poor-quality or insufficient sleep, circadian clock disruption, and stress.

Over time, the irritation caused by one or more of these factors can lead to inflammation, which weakens the tight junctions between the cells in the gut lining. Then, in a vicious cycle, the particles that leak through the weak cell junctions trigger more inflammation, making gut health even worse and adding fuel to the fire of other inflammatory conditions.