The small intestine is composed of cells called enterocytes that make up the membrane and prevent food particles from being absorbed into the blood stream. When these cells become damaged, and gaps form allowing food particles to enter the blood stream, this is know as “leaky guy syndrome”. This is problematic because our bodies were not designed to have food particles floating around in our blood. When this happens, our immune system is alerted of something foreign in our system, and the inflammatory cascade kicks in in efforts to dispose of it. Over time, this leads to excessive inflammation in the body, and the immune system will often become “confused” and begin attacking our own tissues, thinking they are foreign. This is referred to as autoimmunity.
Did you know
that 80% of our immune system is in our gut?
Therefore, if our GI tract is not healthy, we are likely to have disease
or side effects that can manifest in various ways. Some examples include hypothyroidism,
Hashimotos, eczema, rosacea, arthritis, sinus issues, just to name a few. That being said, a lot of diseases can be
addressed through repairing the GI tract, and restoring its optimal
function.
It is
important to identify any food sensitivities and food triggers that may further
the damage to the intestinal damage.
Genetically modified organisms, antibiotics, gluten, processed sugar and
dairy are some of the key ones to avoid.
Other people will most likely have other food sensitivities that they
need to identify and eliminate from their diet as well. There is a growing body of scientific evidence
showing that grains contain anti-nutrients and other problem substances that
may increase intestinal permeability. This includes Gliadin, which is the
primary immunotoxic protein found in wheat gluten and is among the most
damaging to your health. Gliadin gives wheat bread its doughy texture and is
capable of increasing the production of the intestinal protein zonulin, which
in turn opens up gaps in the normally tight junctures between intestinal cells
(enterocytes).
In celiac disease the body will make antibodies to
gliadin after it is digested by the intestinal enzyme tissue transglutaminase,
resulting in severe autoimmune damage to the delicate, absorptive surfaces of
the intestines. It does not, however, require full-blown celiac disease to suffer
from the adverse effects of this protein. In fact, it is likely that our
intolerance to gliadin and related wheat proteins is a species-specific
intolerance, applicable to all humans, with the difference being a matter of
the degree to which it causes harm. (Mercola) This helps to explain why new research
clearly shows gliadin increases intestinal permeability in both those with, and
those without, celiac disease. (Drago) (Mercola)
Food is
medicine, so some super foods to incorporate into your diet in order to repair
“leaky gut syndrome” include bone broth, coconut oil, sauerkraut, fermented
vegetables, cabbage, blueberries and goats milk kefir. Bone broth contains key nutrients, such as
proline and L-glutamine, which helps to repair the gap junctions in the small
intestine. Sauerkraut and fermented
vegetables feed your GI tract with the healthy bacteria that it needs, or
probiotics. Cabbage contains a specific
type of sulfur that supports liver detoxification, and goat’s milk kefir
improves mineral absorption.
Works Cited:
Drago, Sandro.
"Gliadin causes intestinal permeability in both celiac and non-celiac
intestinal mucosa." Scand J Gastroenterology (2006).
Mercola, Joseph. Mercola.com. 21 Jan 2012. 14 May
2015 <http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/01/21/grains-causing-gut-leaks.aspx>.
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