Leaky Gut Syndrome



Hippocrates, a physician from ancient Greece, stated about twenty five hundred years ago that all disease begins in the gut. For the past 30 years, current scientific research has now caught up to the idea. Dr. Alessio Fasano, a clinical scientist from Harvard University, supports the idea that all disease starts in the leaky gut.

The digestive system, or simply, the gut, processes food and allows nutrients essential for life to travel through the bloodstream to all cells in the body. Another function of the gut is to filter out toxins, pathogens, and incompletely digested foods.

The small intestine is formed from a single layer of epithelial cells that can be compared with a cheesecloth. While small particles can fit through, larger molecules are prevented to pass through the small openings between cells, also known as tight junctions. Unfortunately, when the cheesecloth is torn, the tight junctions are affected, leading to an increase in intestinal permeability where larger, unbroken down molecules will go through into the bloodstream creating a state of constant inflammation and disruption of normal function.

Increase in intestinal permeability, or leaky gut, is the result of many environmental triggers of modern society that produce a constant inflammatory state:
  • pollution
  • processed foods
  • genetically modified foods
  • bad fats
  • gluten
  • empty carbohydrates devoid of the essential nutrients
  • artificial sweeteners
  • constant rushing due to a lack of work-life balance
  • mental and physical stress
  • alcohol consumption
  • over-administration of antibiotics
  • administration of NDSAIDs and opioids
  • genetic predispositions
The intestinal barrier can be positively or negatively affected by the composition of the intestinal microbiome (the good bacteria found in the large intestine), the bond between the epithelial cells forming the tight junctions, and literally, by what you eat.

Dysbiosis, or the imbalance between the good versus the bad bacteria composing the microbiome will usually lead to leaky gut.

Symptoms like bloating, gas, fatigue, and unexplained skin rashes can be a sign of leaky gut.

Many autoimmune, inflammatory diseases like the ones listed below begin with a leaky gut:
  • diabetes
  • inflammatory bowel disease
  • Crohn’s disease
  • celiac disease
  • fibromyalgia
  • lupus
  • multiple sclerosis
  • Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • Guillain-Barre syndrome
  • psoriasis/eczema
  • acne
A study coauthored by Dr. Alessio Fasano found that alterations in the intestinal epithelial barrier lead to alterations in the blood-brain barrier resulting in a 37% increase in child autism if the pregnant mom has leaky gut.

Laboratory tests are now available to assess the level of Zonulin, an enteric protein found by Dr. Fasano to promote intestinal permeability, especially in the presence of a wheat protein, Gliadin, found in gluten. Other blood and fecal tests assess for various markers of dysbiosis, inflammation, and immune reactivity.

Some of the ways to help prevent, alleviate, and even eliminate leaky gut symptoms are:
  • Reduce stress. Remember it is not what comes across to you but how you respond to it.
  • Step away from a toxic work environment, or an unhealthy relationship.
  • Balance work-personal life.
  • Develop good sleep hygiene.
  • Unclutter, and plan ahead.
  • Practice time-restricted eating. Schedule 14-16 hours between your last meal of the day and the first meal of the next day to allow your body to promote an internal self-healing environment known as autophagy.
  • Savor your food and enjoy good company while eating.
  • Avoid foods treated with or exposed to Glyphosate and other herbicides.
  • Thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables prior to consumption.
  • Avoid highly processed foods.
  • Consume organic foods as much as possible.
  • Consume limited amounts of carbohydrates but do not eliminate them altogether.
  • Create an ideal food plate that includes a ratio of 50 percent vegetables, 25 percent high-quality fats and 25 percent of animal and plan proteins, along with a limited amount of low glycemic fresh fruits.
  • Whenever possible choose grass-fed, grass -finished beef over corn finished beef. It is known to be a better source of proteins, healthy fats, along with needed vitamins and minerals. With a higher available amount of antioxidant nutrients, grass-fed and finished meat helps decrease inflammation, and with it, an improved intestinal barrier.
  • Consume two to three servings of high quality fish tested against the presence of mercury. Tuna, anchovies, sardines, salmon, mackerel, and trout contain high amounts of omega-3 EPA/DHA fatty acids that are essential for mitochondrial growth and function.
  • Consume cruciferous greens like broccoli, and Brussel sprouts along with leafy greens like Kale, spinach, and arugula, and starchy vegetables such yams, sweet potatoes, or squash known to reduce inflammation and promote healing at cellular, even mitochondrial level.
  • Choose oils like olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil that are high in antioxidant polyphenols. These fatty acids are conducive to healthy cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation, and the lauric acid found in coconut oil helps against viral and bacterial infections.
  • Nuts provide a variety of vitamins and minerals. However caution needs to be exercised to people’s predilection to allergic reactions, including fatal anaphylaxis.
  • Apples, pears, peaches, apricots, cherries, and oranges can provide a delicious and nutritious dessert or a quick munch in-between meal for a quick pick-me up. These low-glycemic fruits are full of nutritious vitamins and minerals essential to optimal healing. And don’t forget about avocados.
  • Supplements like L-glutamine, Vitamin C, N-acetyl-Cystreine, alpha-lipoic acid, along with a variety of probiotics are an essential part in the healing of leaky gut syndrome, especially in the beginning phase of treatment.
The autoimmune process can be derailed or even prevented by re-establishing the optimal intestinal barrier function, and it all begins in the gut. Will it be a healthy gut, or a leaky gut?

If you want to find out if your symptoms are the result of a leaky gut, and if you desire personal attention with an individualized treatment plan designed just for you, reach out to Dr. Stauceanu at For more information and if you desire personal attention with an individualized treatment plan designed just for you, reach out to Dr. Stauceanu at www.4truehealth.com.

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References:
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