Is Leaky Gut A Real Health Condition?

Is leaky gut a real health condition? It is a real health condition, but the term leaky gut is not referenced in major scientific studies.

The condition of this is when bacteria and toxins leak through your intestinal wall.  The actual health term of this condition is referred to as intestinal permeability. When your gut is leaking toxins and bacteria in your bloodstream it can cause widespread inflammation which can negatively affect your immune system.

Some of the common symptoms of leaky gut syndrome are bloating, food sensitivities, fatigue, digestive issues, and skin issues. Very few scientific studies even mention the term leaky guy syndrome as most of them reference the health term intestinal permeability.

Is leaky gut a real health condition? photo credit: iStock- Rudzhan Nagiev

There are a lot of factors that cause leaky gut syndrome, and it can be any of these things.

• High consumption of sugar- An unhealthy high sugary diet can potentially harm your intestinal barrier wall.
• Excessive alcohol intake can harm your intestinal wall.
• Chronic inflammation.
• Overgrowth of yeast can contribute to leaky gut issues.
• Vitamin nutrient deficiencies such as in Vitamin D, Vitamin A, zinc can cause leaky gut issues.

Chronic Diseases

Several scientific research studies have connected some chronic diseases with intestinal permeability also known as leaky gut syndrome.  Some studies show that intestinal permeability is higher with people that have celiac disease.

Research studies have also shown that people that have Crohn’s disease are linked to leaky gut syndrome. Studies have shown that people with (IBS), irritable bowel syndrome are more than likely to have leaky gut syndrome.

Here are some of the things you can do to improve your gut health:

• Be mindful of your refined carb intake and keep it at a minimum. Harmful bacteria in your gut loves when you consume excessive sugar. And that unfortunately can harm your gut barrier function.
• Focus on fermented foods that can improve your gut health like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha, etc.
• Consume high fiber foods which will help feed beneficial bacteria in your gut. Those foods are fruits, vegetables, legumes, etc.
• Limit the use of Ibuprofen when needed as that can cause leaky gut syndrome.
• Take a probiotic supplement as the good bacteria that it provides will help your gut tremendously.

The only way to improve your gut health is to make sure you follow these steps above that will help with creating beneficial bacteria in your gut. The more beneficial bacteria you have in your gut the healthier it will be.

The Bottom Line is leaky gut is a real health condition but the common health term that is referenced in scientific studies is intestinal permeability. This happens when toxins and bacteria in your gut pass through your intestinal wall into your bloodstream causing serious inflammation. The positive thing is it can be solved by following a high fiber diet and consuming minimal sugar. And minimizing the amount of stress in your life.

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