Gut Health

Looking after our gut health is an essential part of our overall health. Please remember if you are concerned about your Gut health it is advisable to make an appointment with your preferred GP or homeopath. I hope that this article will give you insight, helpful tips and information to assist with any areas of gut health that you might be dealing with…

What is leaky gut? 

Leaky gut, or “intestinal permeability,” is a condition in which the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged, causing undigested food particles, toxic waste products and bacteria to “leak” through the intestines and flood the blood stream. The foreign substances entering the blood can cause an autoimmune response in the body including, inflammatory and allergic reactions such as migraines, irritable bowel, eczema, chronic fatigue, food allergies, rheumatoid arthritis and more. With leaky gut, damaged cells in your intestines don’t produce the enzymes needed for proper digestion. As a result, your body cannot absorb essential nutrients, which can lead to hormone imbalances and a weakened immune system.

What causes leaky gut? 
In most cases, leaky gut is caused by your diet and also often stress. Certain foods can trigger an immune response that included diarrhea, headaches, fatigue and joint pain.
Leaky gut can also be caused by medications including antibiotics, steroids or over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin and acetaminophen, which can irritate the intestinal lining and damage protective mucus layers. This irritation can start or continue the inflammation cycle that leads to intestinal permeability.
10 signs you have a leaky gut:

  1. Chronic diarrhea, constipation, gas or bloating
  2. Nutritional deficiencies
  3. Poor immune system
  4. Headaches, brain fog, memory loss
  5. Excessive fatigue
  6. Skin rashes and problems such as acne, eczema
  7. Cravings for sugar or carbs
  8. Arthritis or joint pain
  9. Depression, anxiety, ADD, ADHD
  10. Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, celiac disease or Crohn’s.
How to heal a leaky gut
The key to healing a leaky gut is changing your diet and eliminating the foods that your body treats as toxic. In addition to eliminating certain foods, you can add a few things to help repair leaky gut. These included healthy fats such as omega supplements, coconut and olive oils; avocados and flax; probiotics to restore the healthy bacteria in my gastrointestinal tract; and L-glutamine, an amino acid that rejuvenates the lining of the intestinal wall.
Other important notes to remember for your gut health as well as your overall health and desired “natural organic state” include:
1) Regular gentle exercise, I highly recommend Yoga as I have personally seen and felt the benefits of including Yoga in my own lifestyle.
2) Drink enough filtered (clean) water daily. Try and avoid plastic bottles and rather opt for glass instead.
3) Get enough sleep- rest is the time that our bodies repair cells and rejuvenate.
4) Include healthy organic fruits and vegetables in your daily diet.
5) Doing daily deep breathing exercises for a minimum (you can do these for longer) of  3-5 minutes (or up to 10 minutes or more if you feel comfortable), this will assist your body with any potential stress levels that you might be dealing with.
6) Drink a cup of hot water with lemon and ginger (optional to add honey) daily.
7) Ensure that your supplements are natural and always read the labels on food produce, supplements and skin care so that you start to become aware of what you are putting into and onto your body.
For additional natural health tips, advice, weight loss, 30 day Yoga challenge and more email me.
Wishing you health abundance.