In This Article
In This Article
Is it possible that your arthritis pain or autoimmune disease is linked to your gut? Many healthcare practitioners believe so.
A condition called leaky gut may be causing inflammation throughout your body and contributing to chronic diseases.
Following the leaky gut diet may help heal your gut and reduce inflammation.
Let’s take a look at what’s causing your leaky gut. With the help of Dr. Rizza Mira, we'll also guide you on how to restore your gut health with this special diet.
Dr. Mira is a general practitioner who also specializes in nutrition and dietetics.
Leaky gut syndrome is a condition where the lining of your intestine becomes porous. As a result, there is increased intestinal permeability.
This allows harmful substances to “leak” into your blood. Normally, the gut lining is a sealed barrier that prevents most things from crossing over.
When the gut becomes leaky, undigested food particles and bacteria enter the bloodstream. The immune system doesn’t recognize these foreign objects and attacks them.
In turn, the immune response causes inflammation throughout the body. It can lead to digestive symptoms and many chronic health conditions.
Know Your DNA Reviews
Our review of the best at-home Microbiome Tests.
Leaky gut syndrome occurs when the bonds between the cells that line the intestinal wall break down.
These bonds (called tight junctions) help keep the gut barrier intact and prevent large molecules from passing through.1
Tight junctions can break down due to many factors. Some of which are stress, poor diet, infections, and certain digestive disorders.
Let’s take a closer look at what causes leaky gut.
Leaky gut is often triggered by gut disorders, such as:
Unsurprisingly, these diseases are all characterized by high levels of inflammation.2
In people with Celiac disease, eating gluten activates a compound called zonulin. Zonulin breaks down tight junctions and creates holes in the gut.2
Those with Crohn’s disease often have gut barriers that are sensitive to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).3 Genetics seem to be partly responsible for this.
It’s unclear how ulcerative colitis and IBS cause leaky gut. But in both conditions, the proteins that maintain healthy tight junctions are greatly reduced.2
Other diseases are also linked to a leaky gut. Certain autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis are often associated with increased intestinal permeability.3
Evidence strongly suggests that leaky gut plays a role in these diseases.
Bacterial and viral infections that cause stomach flu are common causes of leaky gut. In most people, the gut heals itself after the infection is cleared.
However, some people continue to experience leaky gut long after they’ve recovered.3
H. pylori is another common culprit for a leaky gut. This bad bacteria can take over your gut and cause ulcers.
It causes inflammation that damages the intestinal lining and makes it porous. Early studies have also linked H. pylori to various skin problems.4
While genetics play a role in your digestive health, your lifestyle also has an enormous impact.
For example, the standard American diet (which is low in fiber and high in sugar and saturated fats) contributes to a leaky gut.5
Similar diets cause gut inflammation and increased permeability.
Drinking too much alcohol can also affect your gut health. Alcohol damages the cells that line the intestines and break down the gut barrier.6
Chronic stress is another leaky gut trigger. Stress raises your cortisol levels, which weakens the gut barrier.7
Studies have found that married couples who have more arguments and conflict are more likely to have a leaky gut than couples with more peaceful marriages.7
Bacteria play an important role in keeping your gut healthy. Having lots of diversity, as well as a balance of good and bad bacteria helps protect the gut barrier and keeps it sealed.
When your gut flora loses balance, it can cause intestinal inflammation and leaky gut. Factors that can disrupt your gut bacteria are:
Because leaky gut has many causes and creates inflammation throughout the body, symptoms may vary. Common symptoms include1:
People with leaky gut may also have food sensitivities, such as gluten and lactose intolerance.
These symptoms can be frustrating as they can be unpredictable. They can also make daily activities like eating and exercising uncomfortable and stressful.
More serious issues that can arise from a leaky gut include:1
Food is an excellent tool to help heal a leaky gut. Certain foods can feed beneficial gut bacteria, reduce gut inflammation, and improve leaky gut symptoms.
However, others can actually make a leaky gut worse. Below are some foods that you should eat and avoid.
Here are leaky gut diet foods that you may want to eat:
Foods rich in omega-3 (like salmon) help reduce inflammation and allow the gut to heal.
Fermented foods contain beneficial bacteria that can restore balance in your gut.
Eggs are an excellent source of vitamin A, which is needed for a healthy gut barrier.8
Taking probiotic supplements is also a great way to heal a leaky gut and promote the health of your microbiome. They keep harmful bacteria in check and reduce inflammation.
Other supplements that may improve leaky gut include:
Foods that you should avoid on a leaky gut diet include:
Generally, these foods damage the gut barrier and cause chronic inflammation.
Omega-6 fatty acids can increase the production of inflammatory compounds and worsen leaky gut symptoms. However, Dr. Rizza Mira says that not all sources are pro-inflammatory.
“In fact, some sources of omega-6 fatty acids like evening primrose and spirulina have anti-inflammatory properties that promote healing,” she says.
High-sugar and high-fat foods feed bad bacteria in the gut, disrupt the gut microbiome, and trigger inflammation.12
Avoiding any food intolerances and limiting alcohol intake are also important.
You don’t need to stop eating these foods completely or forever. You can limit your consumption of them until your gut recovers.
Leaky gut is a potential underlying factor for many chronic diseases.
It turns out, there may be some truth to the Hippocrates’ statement. The “Father of Medicine” believed that all disease begins in the gut.
While a leaky gut can be caused by many things, the good news is the gut is incredibly resilient and can heal quickly.
The best way to heal a leaky gut is with an anti-inflammatory diet that incorporates healthy foods rich in fiber and probiotics.
Diet and lifestyle changes can also help you improve gut health. Some of them are:
Combining these healthy habits will improve leaky gut symptoms. They can also keep your gut microbiome healthy and heal your leaky gut.
Know Your DNA Reviews
Looking for the best microbiome kit on the market? Look no further! Our review round-up page has all the information you need to make an informed decision.
