Leaky gut syndrome is a little known but very common disorder that refers to an irritated and inflamed small intestine. This irritation or inflammation results in foreign substances being absorbed into the bloodstream thus causing symptoms and other health problems.
In other words, large spaces formed between the cells of the intestinal wall allow penetration of bacteria, toxins and food. The term “leaky gut syndrome” was coined by functional medicinal practitioners.
This is a very serious condition because the gut is the largest immune system organ in the body. Our immune system is tasked with fighting foreign agents in the blood and prevent them from causing harm. If the immune system is impaired in any way, the body will be in trouble.
A perfectly functioning small intestine will filter all the harmful substances and won’t let them pass through but if it is permeable, these substances are basically given a free pass to wreak havoc in our body. Of course, at first, the immune system can fight them off but if they are able to enter the body at will, the immune system will have a hard time catching up. The immune system will do it’s job but after a while, it will fail and this can cause auto immune disorders.
The symptoms of leaky gut vary from mild to serious. These symptoms can really affect your quality of life because most of them are recurring and difficult to deal with. It is also important to note that not everyone will experience the same sets of symptoms.
The most common symptoms are related to the digestive tract like diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, abdominal pain, food sensitivities and food intolerance. Other symptoms include insomnia, memory loss, mood disorders, anxiety, depression, fatigue and many more. This particular set of symptoms are due to the lack of the needed and essential nutrients in the body.
There are also skin problems that can be attributed to leaky gut because the overwhelming number of toxins in your body need to be flushed out and sometimes, the body uses the skin as its outlet. Examples are eczema, genital infections, itching, rashes and skin infections.
Leaky gut can also lead to the development of auto immune diseases such as arthritis and psoriasis. The reason for this is that the immune system fails to function properly due to being over worked and attacks the different internal parts of the body like the joints, muscles and other tissues.
As you can see, these symptoms vary from mild to serious but one thing is clear, in order to get rid of these symptoms, you need to treat the underlying health disorder, in this case, leaky gut. If you focus on getting rid of the symptoms instead of the cause, these symptoms will only come back. Sure, you may have success in getting relief from some of these by focusing on them but in the long run, you will only be wasting your time and ultimately putting your health at risk.
It is advised to consult with your doctor or a functional medicinal practitioner regarding the diagnosis of leaky gut. One thing you can do is monitor yourself and check if you suffer from the symptoms mentioned above. If you see that you experience most of them, you may have leaky gut syndrome but take note that some of the symptoms above can also be associated with other disorders.
You can go here to watch a video presentation that will teach you more about the disorder. A free report is also available and it can help you determine if you are indeed suffering from leaky gut syndrome. Another important factor in your gut health is your diet. You have to be sure that you’re eating foods that are not irritating the gut. You may want to read up on the recommended diet for leaky gut.