Leaky Gut Syndrome: Symptoms & Treatment

What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?

Leaky gut syndrome is a digestive condition in which the intestinal lining permits harmful bacteria and toxins into the bloodstream. Its common symptoms are diarrhoea, bloating, gas formation, and fatigue. This condition has no specific treatment protocol, but dietary and lifestyle changes can help improve it.

Your gut is semi-permeable, allowing certain substances while blocking others. The mucous lining of your intestines absorbs water and nutrients from food into the bloodstream. However, some people may have increased intestinal permeability or hyperpermeability, where their gut lets in more substances than it used to.

When your intestinal lining becomes weakened for specific reasons, its permeability increases. This causes it to let substances that usually wouldn’t enter the bloodstream. This type of leakage of substances through your gut or intestines is called leaky gut syndrome.

Modern medical practitioners do not accept this condition, although they do accept the concept of increased intestinal permeability. They say a leaky gut is a non-existent concept, symptom, or disease. It is hypothetical and not a real disease or symptom.

“‘Stress disorders such as endurance exercise, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs administration, pregnancy and surfactants (such as bile acids and dietary factors such as emulsifiers) increase permeability. 

Dietary factors can reverse intestinal leakiness and mucosal damage in the ‘stress’ disorders. 

Symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome

Some medical professionals deny its existence, and it is not considered a diagnosis. We cannot associate any symptoms directly with a leaky gut. But usually, when a leaky gut manifests from injury to your intestinal lining, you may develop a few symptoms. Symptoms of leaky gut syndrome are as follows:

• Chronic diarrhoea, constipation, or bloating
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Low energy and fatigue
• Headaches
• A burning sensation in your gut
• Painful indigestion
• Gas and bloating
• Mental confusion
• Lack of concentration
• Skin problems, such as eczema
• Joint pain
• General inflammation

Potential Causes of Leaky Gut Syndrome

When you think about the possible causes of leaky gut syndrome, it is essential to understand that it is a mysterious condition, and experts have not identified specific causes so far. However, the following factors are the possible causes of leaky gut syndrome:

• Certain foods cause an allergy, leading to an immune response.
• Zonulin, a known regulator of intestinal permeability, can lead to a leaky gut when activated.
• Gluten, a unique protein found in wheat, barley, etc., can cause a leaky gut.
• Chronic inflammatory conditions such as IBD and celiac disease can also cause a leaky gut.
• Other conditions causing intestinal injury, such as HIV/AIDS.
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapies that harm the intestinal mucosa.
• Excessive consumption of alcohol or NSAIDs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, can disrupt gut health.
• Excessive sugar intake, particularly fructose, harms the barrier function of the intestinal wall.
• Vitamin A, vitamin D and zinc deficiency can lead to increased intestinal permeability.
• Chronic stress is a contributing factor to a leaky gut.
• The imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria in the gut can affect the permeability.
• Overgrowth of yeast may contribute to a leaky gut.

Treatment Options for Leaky Gut Syndrome

We can not treat leaky gut syndrome according to a standard protocol because it doesn’t exist. That means, according to the conventional medicine system, a leaky gut is not a legitimate medical condition. However, certain dietary and lifestyle changes may help people improve the strength of their intestinal barrier. Leaky gut treatment options include several factors. So, treatment includes improving general gut health and treating underlying conditions that cause leaky gut.

Adapting following therapies may not be able to cure a disease completely. Still, they may help mitigate the ill effects of everyday factors such as diet, stress and bacterial overgrowth that can harm your intestinal lining. Such remedies include:

• Use of Prebiotics and Probiotics. Both prebiotics and probiotics for the leaky gut help restore gut barrier function. They work synergistically to balance the gut.
• Low intake of dietary fats and sugars can decrease the growth of harmful gut bacteria, which may lead to inflammation of the gut. 
• A nutritious and balanced diet containing all the necessary macronutrients and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) can help stabilise your gut.
• Low FODMAP Diet. This diet systematically eliminates the most common food triggers, which may give your gut the rest it needs to repair.
• Managing stress is always beneficial for your gut health. Avoiding stress can enhance beneficial bacteria in your gut and prevent inflammation.
• Treating underlying diseases which might be the possible causes of your leaky gut. Getting proper treatment for chronic inflammation and conditions like IBD, celiac disease, and IBS will definitely help improve your leaky gut.

Read more about How to Heal Leaky Gut Syndrome Naturally.

Preventing Leaky Gut Syndrome

There is no standard treatment protocol for leaky gut, so prevention would be the best option to fix this problem. Here are some tips to prevent leaky gut syndrome:

• Consuming a gut-healing diet will be highly beneficial. Fermented foods such as plain yoghurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, tempeh, kefir, natto, miso, and kombucha contain probiotics that can improve gut health.
• Eat fibre-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and legumes. Fibre is suitable for the beneficial bacteria in your gut.
• Avoid unnecessary use of NSAIDs and antibiotics, which can directly help in preventing leaky gut.
• Regular exercise can improve overall gut health and prevent inflammation.
• Sleeping for sufficient periods can also prevent inflammation and regulate stress hormones linked to gut health.
• Avoid smoking to reduce intestinal inflammation and prevent increased intestinal permeability.

Read more on A Comprehensive Guide to Healing Leaky Gut Through Diet

Leaky Gut Syndrome: An Ayurvedic Perspective

According to Ayurveda, Agni, or weakened digestive power, is the root cause of all diseases. When Agni is weakened, the body’s ability to absorb nutrients and eliminate waste is impaired. This causes impurities or toxins to accumulate in the body, a condition called aam.

Bloating, indigestion, allergies, skin problems and feelings of overwhelming heaviness are common symptoms of aam. If you don’t treat the condition, your immune system can weaken and lead to several physical and mental health problems. This highlights the deep connection between gut health and the immune system.

So, what can be done through Ayurveda to maintain gut health? Gut health depends on agni or digestive power, so improving agni is the way to go. For this, the following strategies can be beneficial:

• Instead of eating large amounts of food at once, eat smaller meals more often.
• Eat food slowly and thoroughly.
• Avoid spicy foods, fried, excessively oily/greasy, caffeine, processed foods, and carbonated beverages.
• Practice meditation and yoga, and manage stress through relaxation and biofeedback techniques.
• Quit smoking and alcohol.

Home Remedies for Indigestion

Simple home remedies with authentic Ayurvedic herbs can help improve your Agni (Digestion Strength) and gut health. Here are some of them:

• Cinnamon paste with honey can be very beneficial for indigestion. Both Cinnamon and honey have an ‘amanashana’ action, which means they can eliminate toxins from the body.
• Take a teaspoon of fresh ginger gratings, add a few drops of lemon juice and a pinch of rock salt, and consume this mixture before meals.
• Take two pinches of each black pepper, long pepper, and ginger powder and mix well with one teaspoon of honey. Consume this mixture and drink warm water.
• Roast half a teaspoon of Ajwain seeds and a pinch of rock salt to it. Chew this mixture after meals.
• Take ½ cup of fresh buttermilk, a pinch of roasted cumin powder, and a pinch of rock salt. Consume this after lunch.

Wrapping Up

Leaky gut syndrome remains a topic of debate in the medical community. After reading this entire blog, you may have changed your perspective on leaky gut syndrome. Although conventional medical science does not recognise it as a legitimate medical condition, you may be aware of its importance in your healthcare.

As mentioned in this blog, try to maintain your gut health by eating a nutritious diet, following a healthy lifestyle, managing stress, and avoiding triggers. This will also help you prevent leaky gut syndrome.

Are you suffering from any gut-related issues? Do your symptoms resemble those of leaky gut syndrome? Contact Nirva today to confirm this and get the best solutions. At Nirva, we can suggest solutions to your problems through Holistic approaches. Join us on the journey to your top-notch gut health!!