Condition Spotlight

The typical Western diet of high fat, high carbohydrate, highly processed foods with many additives and preservatives is the root cause of many digestive disorders. Lack of fiber in such a diet makes the digestive system sluggish and leads to improper elimination and constipation. This, in turn, causes a buildup of toxins in the body and may lead to “leaky gut syndrome,” in which food particles cross the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream, inducing an overactive immune response. Nutritional deficiencies can also lead to poor digestion and malabsorption of food, as can deficiencies in digestive enzymes.

Complete Guide to Leaky Gut Syndrome

Are you not feeling like yourself? Perhaps you have bloating or cramps, are always tired, have sensitivities to certain foods, or suffer from headaches and overall body pain. Any combination of these symptoms can get Read More

Leaky Gut Syndrome: Five Tips to Cure Leaky Gut

Leaky gut, otherwise known as intestinal permeability, is a major underlying cause of many health issues including IBS, headaches, weight gain, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, anxiety, depression, autoimmune conditions, and allergies. These tips will help demystify leaky Read More

The latest research shows that “leaky gut syndrome” has been associated with many disorders and may be the focus from which autoimmune disorders originate. Leaky gut syndrome occurs when the intestinal mucosa is damaged and large food molecules, bacteria, and microorganisms pass across the intestinal wall to circulate through the body. Antibodies are made against these molecules. If the molecules look like normal body components, the antibody cannot distinguish between the two and may attack that body component (autoimmune reaction). This phenomenon can also occur with bacteria and certain drugs. Bacterial antigens have been associated with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, as well as parasites, can be harmful to the digestive system. Bacteria, fungi, and viruses can cause gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the digestive system often referred to as the stomach flu. They can also release toxins into the system, which result in leaky gut syndrome and cause autoimmune reactions if they enter the circulation. Viruses and bacteria such as Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, Pseudomonas, Chlamydia, and Yersinia enterocolitica have all been associated with Crohn’s disease. Parasites also liberate toxins and rob the body of essential nutrients.

An abnormal growth of organisms in the gut is known as dysbiosis. It occurs when pathogenic (disease-causing) organisms in the gut cause the normal flora to be imbalanced. Dysbiosis is a major factor in malabsorption, inflammatory bowel disease, and leaky gut syndrome.