Do you struggle with anxiety, depression, or brain fog? If so, you may check your gut. “All disease begins in the Gut,” -Hippocrates, the father of medicine, says. A leaky gut is a”. A leaky gut is a condition where the lining of the gut becomes porous, allowing inflammatory molecules to enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation. After eating, food and bacteria, viruses, and toxins pass through our body. Inside our guts is a single-cell thick lining that forms a protective barrier to separate the gut's contents from the bloodstream. These little gaps allow nutrients into the bloodstream and keep potentially harmful substances out. The gut microbiome comprises billions of beneficial bacteria that play a crucial role in protecting the gut barrier and maintaining the health of tight junctions. Due to stress, medications, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, food additives, gluten, sugar, dairy, processed foods and chemicals, the healthy balance of good and bad bugs in our guts changes and increases intestinal permeability, which may lead to inflammation. When your gut is leaky, it may cause body-wide inflammation. Your brain may experience inflammation because of gut-brain-connection. The brain is protected from harmful substances in the bloodstream by a fence-like structure called the Blood-Brain Barrier-BBB, a single-layered lattice of cells joined together by tight junctions that keep most substances out and allow few into the brain. If the tight junctions become loose or broken, the BBB becomes more permeable and harmful substances can leak in. Toxins from your intestines may leak into your bloodstream and cause an inflammatory response. Chronic low-grade inflammation can lead to various metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma, fibromyalgia, celiac, stomach pain, irregular bowel syndrome, bloating, gas, cramps, acne, eczema, and joint pain. A leaky brain may cause depression, anxiety, migraine, headache, ADHD, ADD, memory loss, brain fog, muscular sclerosis, and seizures and may lead to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Here are some ways to improve a leaky gut -
1. Avoid gluten, dairy, and sugar and follow a Low FODMAP diet.
2. Eat anti-inflammatory foods-green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and collard.
3. Omega-3 fatty acids can help support your mitochondria, the powerhouses of your cells, and increase your levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), essential for brain function and cognitive health.
4. Try fasting, which gives your gut a rest to decrease inflammation and allow healing.
5. Eat more fibre, which may lead to a diverse microbiota.
6. B vitamins have been demonstrated to support the integrity of the blood-brain barrier and may help with leaky brain.
7. Take probiotics and collagen.
8. L-glutamine and Vitamin D help repair the gut's mucosal lining.
9. Slippery elm, turmeric, and aloe vera help to reduce inflammation.
10. Detoxifying the body of pesticides, heavy metals and mycotoxin.
11. Improve sleep and find Time to Relax.
12. Reducing psychological and emotional stress through exercise, meditation, and chanting/song.
