Leaky gut is when the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged and develops tiny holes or cracks. This lets undigested food particles, bacteria and toxins “leak out” of the intestines and enter the bloodstream. The intestinal lining usually only allows properly digested nutrients to be absorbed while keeping out harmful substances. When this barrier function is compromised, it causes inflammation and a range of problems.
What Causes Leaky Gut?
There are several potential causes of leaky gut, including:
- Poor Diet – Eating a diet high in processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats can damage the intestinal lining over time. Not getting enough fibre can also impair gut function.
- Food Intolerances – Being intolerant to certain foods like gluten, dairy, or soy can trigger an immune reaction that damages the gut.
- Infections – Bacterial infections, parasites, and candida overgrowth can irritate the intestinal lining and cause increased permeability.
- Medications – Some medications like NSAIDs and antibiotics can harm the gut lining.
- Chronic Stress – High levels of stress hormones slow gut motility and circulation, reducing the ability to repair gut damage.
The Problems Leaky Gut Can Cause
Increased intestinal permeability allows harmful substances into the bloodstream that would normally be blocked. This can lead to widespread inflammation and a number of issues:
- Nutrient Deficiencies – Key minerals and vitamins may not be properly absorbed. Deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12, magnesium, and zinc are common.
- Chronic Diarrhoea or Constipation – Leaky gut can significantly impact bowel function and digestive health.
- Autoimmune Diseases – Leaky gut allows proteins to enter the bloodstream that the immune system reacts to, potentially triggering autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or thyroid disorders.
- Skin Conditions – Leaky gut has been linked to several skin problems like eczema, acne, and psoriasis.
- Mental Health Issues – Allowing bacteria and toxins into the bloodstream can cause neuroinflammation that contributes to anxiety, depression, and brain fog.
- Chronic Fatigue – Inflammation caused by a leaky gut is thought to play a role in chronic fatigue syndrome.
Getting Tested and Treated
If you suspect you may have a leaky gut, getting tested is important to determine if increased intestinal permeability is present so proper treatment can begin. Treatment focuses on removing triggers, healing the gut lining, and reducing inflammation through diet changes, stress management, gut-healing supplements, and medications if necessary. Additional testing such as taking a candida test if you have candida symptoms is also recommended.
The Benefits of Functional Medicine
Functional medicine is an approach that focuses on finding the root causes of disease. This makes it well-suited for addressing leaky gut syndrome. Functional medicine practitioners use dietary changes, supplements, and lifestyle interventions to heal leaky gut. They look beyond symptoms to identify food sensitivities, infections, and contributing factors like stress or medication use. Functional medicine aims to get to the source of gastrointestinal imbalances.
This holistic approach helps repair damaged intestinal lining, restore beneficial gut flora, and resolve inflammation. Many patients find functional medicine to be more effective for resolving leaky gut compared to conventional treatments alone.
With the proper treatment plan, a leaky gut can be healed and the problems it causes can be reversed.