For those of us that have Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's disease, we have heard the phrase leaky gut many times. But what does that really mean and how does it affect us?
Our intestines have a wall with tiny openings in it that allow nutrients to pass through into our bloodstream. When these tiny openings become larger openings, it is called leaky gut. If the openings become too large they allow for toxins and harmful bacteria to enter our bloodstream causing adverse affects on our digestion and health.
Symptoms of leaky gut can include bloating, gas, diarrhea, body aches, fatigue, headaches, skin problems and nutrient deficiencies (to name a few). Clearly the health of our gut has a major impact on our wellbeing. Leaky gut can be present in the follow health conditions: ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, liver disease, food allergies, diabetes, acne, eczema, multiple sclerosis, and many others. The correlation between those health conditions and leaky gut is unclear. Meaning, leaky gut may not be a cause of those conditions but could be a side effect of those conditions.
Why does leaky gut occur? While there is no definitive answer to this right now, more research is showing that an imbalance in gut bacteria (microbiota) could be the cause of this. What causes the imbalance of microbiota in your gut . . you guessed it, diet! If you haven't already read my post on the human microbiome I suggest you do so to help in understanding this topic more.
Our gut really holds the keys to our overall health. I highly suggest starting with a probiotic supplement for a quick hit to address gut issues, but you will eventually need to take more drastic measure if you truly want to get healthy. Following the Specific Carbohydrate Diet will give your gut the nutrients it needs to heal itself and function properly. It was truly life changing for me.
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