Leaky Gut Diet

Let's get to know the ailment before discussing the curative diet. What is leaky gut syndrome? Leaky gut syndrome is a condition of the lower alimentary canal in which the bowel lining gets compromised when the biological barriers that separate pathways between the epithelial cells of the intestine (that line the digestive tract), get disrupted, causing the intestinal walls to become hyper permeable. Such a condition may be a result of various other acute, as well as chronic digestive system conditions and bowel problems such as Type 1 Diabetes, allergies, Inflammatory Response Syndrome, asthma, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and autism. This condition can also occur as a reaction to parasitic infestation, ingestion of toxins, reaction to medication and poor diet. Before proceeding towards discussing leaky gut diet, let's take a brief look at the various symptoms of leaky gut syndrome to avoid misdiagnosis and chalk out a proper diet plan.

Symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome

The physical signs and symptoms that indicate towards a leaky gut necessarily includes stomach problems like excessive bloating, abdominal pain and gluten intolerance(may or may not occur initially). Besides these, any combination of the following leaky gut syndrome symptoms may also occur simultaneously:-

• Insomnia
• Anxiety Disorder
• Difficulty in breathing
• Frequent fever, for no apparent reason
• Hemorrhoids
• Heartburn
• Multiple chemical sensitivity
• Muscle cramps
• Malnutrition
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Anal irritations
• Lowered immune defenses
• Fatigue
• Flatulence
• Sluggishness
• Appetite Loss
• Hair Loss
• Brittle Nails
• Dull skin
• Frequent infections of the bladder and urinary tract
• Abdominal spasms
• Mood Swings
• Depression Symptoms
• Difficulty in remembering and recalling information
• Anaphylactoid reactions

A combination of the compulsory and other possible symptoms enlisted above definitely indicate towards leaky gut syndrome. Leaky gut syndrome is not an independent disease or disorder. Rather, this condition is brought about as a side effect and is a symptom of any of the following underlying diseases or physical conditions:-

• Autism
• HIV/AIDS
• Food Allergies
• Malnutrition
• Giardiasis
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Celiac Disease
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Asthma
• Crohn's Disease
• Colon Cancer
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Alcoholism
• Liver dysfunction

People who undergo chemotherapy or any treatment involving harsh medications may also develop this condition.

Leaky Gut Syndrome Diet

Since leaky gut syndrome is a stomach condition, and because it renders the digestive system weak, one should be very careful about what to eat in order to avoid aggravating the situation further. Besides being gentle on the weakened digestive system, a proper leaky gut treatment diet also helps naturally, but gradually kick-start the gut healing process. Such a diet includes those food items that have a simple nutritional composition which makes them easy to digest, as well as those food items which have microbicidal properties and excludes complex and heavy food items that may further aggravate the intestinal lining. Given below is a list of food and edible items that serve as beneficial inclusions in a leaky gut diet, followed by another list of foods and food items that should be avoided at all costs, at least till the condition persists.

What to Eat

• Onions
• Leeks
• Mustard
• Garlic
• Hot Chillies
• Fresh leafy vegetables like cabbages, broccoli and cauliflower
• Fresh unprocessed meat (preferably lean cuts)
• Limited whole grains and complex carbohydrates (avoid wheat and wheat based foods if you have gluten intolerance)
• Nuts and seeds
• Fresh fruits
• Poultry
• Plain low-fat yogurt
• Skim milk
• Fatty fish like salmon and natural fish oil supplements

To elaborate a little on the preceding list, the detoxifying effect of fresh leafy vegetables help wash out the toxins from the stomach and the microbicidal properties of onions, garlic, leeks and chili kill the harmful bacteria and microbes of the intestines. Meat, poultry and fish are recommended so that the animal proteins along with Omega 3 essential fatty acids help accelerate the healing process. Whole grains may be included if you are not gluten intolerant. Drinking lots of water and fresh fruit and vegetable juices also help a lot.

What Not to Eat

• Cheese
• Wines or any alcoholic beverage
• Monosodium Glutamate (MSG, ajino moto)
• Mushrooms or any other fungi
• Processed meat
• Refined carbohydrates like white bread, refined sugar, white pasta, junk food, etc.
• Shellfish
• Trans fatty foods
• Pickles and pickled foods
• Caffeine based food or beverages

Fermented foods such as cheese and alcoholic beverages increase the bacteria in your stomach which your weakened gut may not be able to handle. Caffeine intake increases the stomach acid level which will worsen heartburn conditions. It is advisable to completely avoid refined carbohydrates and trans fats from this diet as the digestive system is ill-equipped to break these down properly.

That gives you a brief tour of what should comprise a diet fit for a leaky gut, complete with precise details on leaky gut syndrome, its causes and symptoms. Besides consulting your doctor and following the prescribed treatment, implementing the above mentioned diet plan would additionally benefit you by quickening the healing process naturally. Watch what you eat to get well soon!