5 Steps to Heal Your Gut By Jessica T. Wei, MD


it? Read further and you will have a better understanding of the primary importance of maintaining the integrity of your gut as one of the major first lines of defense for your body. You will also learn about what conditions may be associated with a breach in this protective gut barrier, and what power you have to restore this fundamental protection.


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Our bodies are so beautifully and intricately designed to sup- port our health and well-being. There is a very deliberate compart- mentalization within our bodies to provide protection and division of labor. In this article, we will focus on the lining of the small in- testine with our discussion of leaky gut. Know that any organ with a barrier function can be considered “leaky” (for example, leaky mouth, leaky brain, etc.).


The Digestive System The digestive system is comprised of many parts: our mind, mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, liver, gallbladder, pan- creas, and large intestine (colon). The small intestine is where 90% of digestion and absorption of food occurs. The lining of the small bowel is a single cell layer thick and serves additionally as a strong barrier to toxins, pathogens (bacteria, yeast, parasites, viruses), as well as large undigested food particles. This cell layer is held to- gether very securely with intercellular tight junctions which prevent anything from passing through other than thoroughly digested food and nutrients. Leaky gut (or increased intestinal permeability) oc- curs when the tight junctions between cells are compromised.


Effects of Leaky Gut Toxins, bugs, and undigested food particles, which normally are eliminated from the body, instead come into the body. This is not a good thing and ultimately contributes to the development of autoimmune conditions, as well as a whole host of other issues.


With the disruption of this barrier, there can be a reduction of


the protective mucosal layer of secretory IgA (the primary senti- nel guard of the digestive tract and lungs) further diminishing the immune defense of the gut barrier. Moreover, the digestive and absorptive capacity of the small intestine can be weakened, leading to nutrient deficiencies which can affect every part of the body, and every function of the body.


Our immune system is very well-trained to recognize things that belong to our bodies (self) and those things that don’t (non- self). As such, it will mount a defensive antibody reaction against the uninvited guests which have inappropriately crossed the gut barrier. This leads to inflammation which can affect the whole body. And over time, a continued immune response can turn into an autoimmune response against the body’s own tissues. So, leaky gut is a step in the development of autoimmune conditions.


26 Natural Nutmeg - March 2018


ave you heard of this thing called “leaky gut”? What does it mean to have a leaky gut and what symptoms would you experience? More importantly, what can you do about


Symptoms of Leaky Gut Leaky gut can cause all kinds of symptoms throughout your body:


• Bloating, diarrhea, constipation, “irritable bowel syndrome” • Food and chemical sensitivities • Asthma


• Autoimmune conditions such as: Celiac disease, Type 1 Dia- betes, Hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis), Rheumatoid arthritis, Multiple sclerosis, Ankylosing spondylitis


• Joint pain, fibromyalgia • Fatigue


• Depression, anxiety, and cognitive issues such as ADHD, brain fog


• Female and male hormonal issues • Skin conditions such as rosacea, acne, eczema, and psoriasis • Weight gain If you identify many of these as issues in your body, you may


have leaky gut. While testing for leaky gut is available (lactulose/ mannitol test, stool zonulin and others), ultimately what leads to the diagnosis of leaky gut is having the symptoms of many of the things listed above.


What Causes Leaky Gut? There are four primary causes of leaky gut:


• Poor diet • Chronic stress • Overexposure to toxins (including medications)


• Dysbiosis (low levels of good gut bacteria or overgrowth of others)


1. Poor Diet: (primary dietary offenders which can damage the lining of the gut)


• Gluten (Pro-inflammatory and causes the release of zonulin which disrupts the tight junctions between small intestinal cells. Zonulin is elevated in the tissue and blood of people affected by autoimmune conditions)


• Dairy (A1 beta Casein protein is pro-inflammatory and is very similar in structure to gluten)


• Refined sugars (Pro-inflammatory and support the growth of yeast and bad bacteria)


• Processed/packaged foods (Pro-inflammatory and foreign)


• GMO foods (Cause direct damage to gut lining. Most corn and soy in the U.S. is GMO)


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