5-Step Healthy Gut Formula: Heal Leaky Gut Naturally
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› Unlabelled › 5-Step Healthy Gut Formula: Heal Leaky Gut Naturally

A healthy gut is a healthy person…..“All disease begins in the gut.” –Hippocrates

During the last fifty years, the average person’s health has been significantly challenged and weakened due to unhealthy food choices, poor food quality, depleted soils, antibiotic overuse, GMOs, NSAIDs, sleep deprivation, chronic stress and altered gut bacteria. Many individuals are completely unaware that intestinal permeability, Candida, underlying bacterial, fungal or parasite infections, an altered microbiota, dysbiosis and an unhealthy gut is the root cause of their health problems.  

Symptoms of Leaky Gut. Intestinal permeability aka leaky gut syndrome can be the very reason why you’re feeling fatigued, anxious, depressed, have so many food sensitivities, Candida, struggling to get rid of excess belly fat, experiencing weight loss resistance, skin problems (eczema, acne, hives), bloating and digestion problems, joint pain, malabsorption issues, nutrient deficiencies, thyroid dysfunction, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, autoimmune disorders, and many other chronic health complaints and complicated diseases. 

What is Leaky Gut? Leaky gut is a modern epidemic and a major cause of disease and dysfunction. The intestinal lining has tight junctions and acts as a barrier to prevent foreign particles from passing into the bloodstream. The health and integrity of this mucosal lining is crucial to immune function and overall health. 

Leaky gut is a condition where microscopic holes occur in the lining of the small intestine, which results in undigested food, gluten, bacterial by-products, microbes (fungus, Candida, parasites, viruses), waste and toxins to weaken the tight junctions and actually “leak” into the bloodstream. Over time, these items accumulate and damage the intestinal lining. The immune system views this as a foreign invasion creating antibodies against its own tissues resulting in chronic inflammation and is linked to several diseases including diabetes, IBS, IBD, eczema, chronic fatigue, autism, Alzheimer’s, asthma, heart disease and autoimmune disorders. If the resulting antibodies are attracted to the thyroid, we call it Hashimoto's thyroiditis. If antibodies are attracted to connective tissue, we call it Lupus; to skin tissue, psoriasis; to nerve tissue, MS.

The gut is considered the second brain also known as the enteric nervous system that is located in sheaths of tissue lining the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon. Many GI disorders like colitis, leaky gut and irritable bowel syndrome originate from problems within the gut's brain. In fact, most ulcers are caused by a bacterium.

Keep in mind that the brain in the gut has a mind of its own that guides our feelings, moods, certain behaviors and reactions, and plays a major role in our happiness and misery. Approximately 90-95 percent of serotonin made in the gut. When the gut’s inflamed, infected with pathogens, not functioning optimally or there’s a leaky gut, production of serotonin and other neurotransmitters will be impaired leading to depression, anxiety, mood disorders and neurological manifestations because the gut has lost the ability to effectively absorb nutrients or convert them into these vital brain chemicals.

Leaky gut syndrome affects the brain too, and has been linked to psychological disorders such as anxiety, bi-polar and depression. Bear in mind that an inflamed gut or leaky gut equals an inflamed, leaky brain, and an inflamed, leaky brain increases risk of depression and dementia. In a study published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, approximately 35 percent of those who were depressed showed signs of leaky gut syndrome. 

The mechanisms that cause leaky gut are the same that cause leaky brain. The brain communicates with the gut via the enteric nervous system. The intestinal nervous system is wired back to your brain and cellular communication occurs between the two. When there’s communication problems from the gut to the brain or from the brain to the gut, health is compromised – no question.

David Perlmutter, MD, Board-Certified Neurologist and author of Grain Brain says if his patients have brain problems, he always looks to the gut first. He believes no organ is more susceptible to the damaging effects of inflammation than the brain. Although the blood brain barrier protects it to some degree, if you have a leaky gut, you probably have a leaky blood brain barrier, which increases oxidation, chronic inflammation and an overactive immune system (three main killer insults) according to Mark Houston, MD.

Culprits that Weaken the GI System & Increase Intestinal Permeability

1. Gluten is a major cause of leaky gut. Gluten activates zonulin, a protein that opens up the spaces between the cells of the intestinal lining. Gliadin, the protein found in wheat causes zonulin levels to increase, which results in leaky gut and leaky brain. The more zonulin in the blood, the more permeable the tight junctions of the GI lining become.

Other pro-inflammatory foods that are especially problematic and trigger leaky gut include wheat, unsprouted grains, sugar, processed foods, genetically modified foods, conventional factory-farmed animal protein and dairy, casein, and any particular food an individual may be sensitive to. Alessio Fasano, MD, a GI specialist and one of the world’s leading researchers in gluten and celiac disease says, “every time you eat wheat, you get a leaky gut…..EVERY TIME!”

2. Glyphosate, GMOs, genetically-engineered foods, and pesticides

3. Infections (Candida, bacterial, fungal, parasites, viruses, mold, H. pylori, SIBO)

4. Environmental toxins, heavy metal toxicity, fluoride, chlorine

5. Dysbiosis, an altered microbiome and bacterial imbalances. Physical and mental health problems including depression, anxiety, diabetes, autism, Parkinson’s, IBS, Crohn’s, rheumatoid arthritis and many other autoimmune disorders are linked to imbalances and abnormalities of gut bacteria. 

6. Chronic physical, emotional & mental stress (adrenal insufficiency, dysfunction & exhaustion)

7. Medications, OTC & Rx drugs (overuse of antibiotics, antacids, PPIs, NSAIDs, aspirin, ibuprofen, pain meds, statin drugs, steroids). Birth control pills.

8. Hydrochloric acid (HCL), bile and digestive enzyme insufficiency

9. Disruption of circadian rhythms and sleep problems

10. Poor liver function

11. Hormone deficiencies such as testosterone, thyroid, progesterone or estradiol

12. Underlying causes that drive low level chronic inflammation

13. Heavy drinking, alcohol abuse and alcoholism

14. Essential fatty acid, zinc, magnesium, B12 and other nutrient deficiencies

15. The Standard American Diet (SAD) and poor lifestyle choices

As a functional nutritionist, my philosophy is to determine the root cause of any health complaint or disorder and design a healing protocol with lifestyle modifications unique to each individual and slowly “peel the layers of the onion” to restore vibrant health. Oftentimes, there are many deep layers that must slowly be peeled away one by one for optimal and vibrant health restoration.

5-Step Formula for a Healthy Gut: How to Heal Leaky Gut

    1. Remove
    2. Repair
    3. Restore
    4. Replace
    5. Revolutionize

1. Remove inflammatory items that irritate and damage the gut and contribute to leaky gut syndrome. These include gluten, wheat, grains, fructose, sugar, conventional factory-farmed animal protein, artificial sweeteners, dairy, soy, alcohol, pesticides and GMOs, carrageenan, lectins, antibiotics, NSAIDs, food sensitivities, contraceptives, antacids, vegetable oils, chronic stressors and heavy metal body burdens. Permanently avoiding these items as part of a healthier lifestyle works best for gut restoration and long-term health, especially for those with autoimmune disorders.  

Of primary importance is identifying the root cause so that healing and repair can occur. Rule out Candida, SIBO, fungal, parasite, bacterial and viral infections, H. pylori, heavy metal toxicity, and removing these infections from the body is crucial for the healing process to occur.

In my practice, that starts with a Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis and Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA) with Parasitology. The CDSA is a test that provides an extensive look at the health and function of your gut. It evaluates microbiota, levels of healthy gut flora (bacteria balance & imbalances), detects underlying pathogens and infections, parasites, fungi, Candida, bacterial, maldigestion and malabsorption, inflammation, immune function (sIgA), short chain fatty acid status & other biomarkers of GI health. Order your stool kit here!

2. Repair. Critical to the success of healing leaky gut is repairing the intestinal mucosa. Omit the irritating and inflammatory factors (see list above under “Remove”). 

Supplemental nutrients to support, repair and heal the gut are unique to each individual and may include:

   • Digestive or pancreatic enzymes

• L-glutamine powder

   • Hydrochloric acid (HCL)

• Aloe vera

   • Zinc carnosine   

• Essential fatty acids

   • Curcumin

• Vitamin D

   • Gastrazyme      

• Beta-TCP or Beta Plus

   • Chlorophyll

• N-acetyl cysteine      

   • Bioflavonoids such as quercetin

• Licorice root (DGL),

   • Butyric Cal:Mag (butyric acid)

• Homemade bone broth

   • Slippery elm & marshmallow root tea

• Fermented veggies & foods

If an infection is identified, a specific diet and healing regimen must be followed for a specific length of time.

3. Restore. Choose organic foods as much as possible. This especially applies to all animal protein and the EWG’s “dirty dozen” fruits & veggies. Restore gut function with homemade bone broth, coconut products, grass-fed and pastured-raised meats, organic non-starchy veggies, cruciferous veggies and leafy greens, healing fats such as grass-fed butter and coconut oil, fermented veggies, probiotics, and nutrients specific to the individual, which are identified through a Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis. 

Minimizing stress is crucial in gut restoration. Some of my favorite ways to lower stress and activate the parasympathetic branch of the nervous sytem include yoga, dantian Qi gong, breathing exercises, meditation, music therapy, nature walks, biofeedback, spending time with animals, journaling, setting healthy boundaries, aromatherapy, or using the Inner Balance™ App, which helps you change your reaction to stress, gain insights into your shifting moods and create a more positive outlook on life. More of my favorite Stress-LESS Solutions

4. Replace. Eat nutrient-dense real foods and drink clean water. Supplement appropriately with Probiotics, hydrochloric acid (HCL), bile salts, pancreatic or digestive enzymes. Correct nutrient deficiencies or excesses (unique to each person), which can be identified through a functional blood chemistry analysis and functional health assessment.

Physical and mental health problems including depression, anxiety, diabetes, autism, Parkinson’s, IBS, Crohn’s, rheumatoid arthritis and many other autoimmune disorders are linked to imbalances and abnormalities of gut bacteria, gut pathogens and infections (Candida, parasites, fungi, bacterial, H.pylori, SIBO, etc). Once again, identify the root cause!

5. Revolutionize. Of primary importance, and often neglected in healing leaky gut is addressing the underlying causes, prioritizing a healthy gut as a lifestyle (and, not reverting back to unhealthy dietary and lifestyle habits), and managing and minimizing various sources of stress (emotional, physical, mental, lifestyle, environmental, spiritual and climate exposure). Making dietary and lifestyle changes that support a healthier gut must be an ongoing permanent lifestyle change. 

You can be eating the healthiest, organic foods, moving your body and meditating every day, and taking the best supplements in the world, but if you’re in a miserable, unfulfilling relationship, have a negative, doom-n-gloom, victim mindset, or there’s deep underlying emotional pain that has not been dealt with healing, inner peace, happiness, a healthy gut and vibrant health will evade you. “Doing your work” to heal, surrender and release the deeper components of underlying stress is a must for gut restoration, cellular healing, and optimal health.

The holistic and functional healing process for gut health can take as little as 6 weeks or as long as a few months or ongoing for life for those with an autoimmune disease or compromised immune system. As the layers of healing unfold, unhealthy diet and lifestyle choices are replaced with healthier options, and health is restored, the amount of toxins dumped into the bloodstream lessen, toxic load decreases, nutrient absorption improves, organ function improves, the integrity of the intestinal lining heals, energy levels increase, mood is light and lifted, and vibrant health and quality of life is inevitably experienced. Thumbs up

As a holistic nutritionist and functional health practitioner, my philosophy is to identify the root cause of any underlying health issues, slowly "peel away the layers of the onion," and design a healing protocol and comprehensive LIFESTYLE plan specific to your unique biochemistry so you can heal, experience vibrant health, balanced hormones, a healthy functioning gut, and look, think and feel better than ever for a lifetime. I consult with men and women around the world and with clients locally in the Phoenix area. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation!

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Sources provided upon request.

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