The Warning Signs of Leaky Gut Syndrome

Leaky gut syndrome is not something that is yet recognized by the conventional medical society, but there is an increasingly strong body of evidence to suggest that it does exist, and that is it is responsible for several unwanted conditions. The alternative medicine school does however recognize it, as it does with many other conditions that conventional medicine seems to choose to ignore, such as Candida overgrowth.

Feeling fit and healthy – The holistic way

Many people who follow a holistic health lifestyle have faith in alternative medicine and why not? By dealing with and treating these seemingly "unrecognized" conditions, "hollies" (my made up name for those of the holistic health persuasion) maintain and improve their health and overall well-being. If it's all in the head – which I say quite emphatically, it isn't – as long as you feel fit and healthy – go for it!

Okay, now I've had my little rant, I'll get down off my soapbox.

What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?

Leaky gut syndrome is a condition that affects the lining of the intestines. It's also known in the alternative medicine fraternity as intestinal permeability. The theory is that the damage to the intestinal lining reduces the intestines ability to protect your body system. The result is that certain bacteria, and some toxins, along with only partly-digested proteins and fats, leak from the intestines into the bloodstream.

The many probable Causes of Leaky Gut Syndrome

There are many possible causes of Leaky Gut syndrome, but in reality the condition is probably brought about by a combination of several of the following:

• Chronic inflammation
• Sensitivity to certain foods
• Damage from consistently taking NSAIDS
• Reaction to certain antibiotics.
• A compromised immunity system
• Excessive alcohol consumption

 Gluten – The Number 1 Cause of Leaky Gut Syndrome

Because many people believe that Gluten is the number one cause of Leaky Gut Syndrome, I'm giving it a little paragraph all too itself. It is thought that as many as one in every two people have some form of sensitivity to foods containing gluten. If you check out the symptoms for gluten sensitivity, you will note that many of them coincide with some of the symptoms of Leaky Gut syndrome, which is hardly surprising of course given that gluten is one of the main causes of a Leaky Gut.

Avoiding supposed Gluten Alterrnatives

If Gluten is indeed the cause of your leaky gut, avoiding it will cure the problem. You may be tempted to start using Gluten free products, but as many supposed substitutes still contain small amounts of Gluten, (which can build up an accumulate), this is not the way to go. Its far better to get the energy you would normally get from your gluten foods, by eating fresh organic fruit and vegetables, and certain low fat, organic products such as organic free range eggs, and low fat organic fish and poultry.

Knowing what causes leaky gut is one thing; now we need to be thinking about finding out if you've got it in the first place.

Leaky gut doesn't result in having a wet tummy that results a tell-tale damp patch on the front of your pants our skirt. Not that easy I'm afraid! It's a little trickier to spot because it describes a leak inside the body that stays inside, not one that leaks through to the outside. So how do you know that you might have it? – Let's find out.

What to Look-out for

The "leakage" of the substances from the intestines into the bloodstream causes the auto immune system to kick in, which leads various gastrointestinal and other problems and conditions. These are the things to look out for that could indicate you've acquired the condition.

• Bloated abdomen
• Painful stomach cramps
• An excess of gas resulting in flatulence
• Sensitivity to certain foods (IBS)
• The appearance of seasonal allergies including asthma
• Hormonal conditions like PMS or PCOS.
• Mood swings, anxiety, and bouts of depression
• Candid overgrowth
• Pain in the joints
• Skin inflammations manifesting as acne, eczema, or rosacea
• Fibromyalgia – follow this link for more information
• Fatigue

 Getting Back on Track

Many people aren't even remotely aware of the existence of Leaky Gut syndrome. They spend much of their time running down blind alleys, by trying to eliminate some of the conditions, which they believe to be manifested by other causes. If you're one of these people, then this article may lighten you darkness and could lead you to finding a cure for several irksome symptoms that have been troubling you for years. You could get you holistic health right back on track.

Original source: Healthy Holistic Living