What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?
Leaky Gut Syndrome is condition whereby your intestinal wall becomes damaged, allowing large molecules of partially digested food to enter the bloodstream. When these molecules come into contact with healthy tissue, they cause an immune response called dietary leukocytosis which puts an excessive strain on your immune system. Now your body is busy cleaning up after your last meal instead of performing its normal function of keeping your body healthy.
What Causes Leaky Gut Syndrome?
Leaky gut syndrome is caused by a diet high in refined sugars and starches (white sugar, white flour, etc.), chemical food additives, drugs (birth control pills, antibiotics, antacids, NSAIDs), microorganisms, nutritional deficiencies and diseases. Basically, anything that irritates your intestine, including a high stress lifestyle, can result in leaky gut syndrome. Overgrowth of yeast, called candidiasis, is another main cause of leaky gut syndrome and results from a diet high in sugar.
What Are the Symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome?
If you have leaky gut syndrome, your body’s immune system is now busied with haz-mat clean up, resulting in you feeling fatigued, achy and foggy-brained. If you find yourself experiencing flu-like symptoms, achy joints, brain fog and fatigue after meals, you likely have leaky gut syndrome.
What’s worse, since leaky gut syndrome causes systemic inflammation throughout the body, it puts your joints at risk for arthritic conditions and can worsen already existing arthritis.
How Can I Cure Leaky Gut Syndrome Naturally?
In order to cure leaky gut syndrome, you need to heal your intestinal lining by nourishing the cells that regulate the digestion of food, enterocytes. A natural amino acid called L-Glutamine is the best nutrient to help these cells regenerate and is an important nutrient for maintaining muscle mass. Studies have shown that L-Glutamine can help to heal stomach ulcers, and it also increases water absorption into the gut wall, helping the whole body to stay hydrated and flush toxic waste out of the system.
Food sources of glutamine include cabbage, beets, beef, chicken, fish, beans, and dairy products, but for treatment of leaky gut syndrome it’s best to take L-Glutamine in powder form for optimal bio-availability. It tastes mild and can be dissolved directly in water or masked with a little bit of juice. Most vitamin and supplement suppliers will carry L-Glutamine supplements.
There are no side effects of taking L-Glutamine, but taking too much can result in an upset stomach. And, of course, you should check with your doctor if you’re taking other supplements or medications, or if you have a health condition.