Leaky Gut: Not understanding this malady will destroy your chance of optimal health.
Assume you just received a phone call and were informed that your roof was leaking at your home. How soon would you address this issue with whatever remedy was appropriate? Most likely very quickly and the reason for your immediate action would be because you know that the purpose of your roof is to keep the outside world from entering the interior of your home. Not repairing it would, of course, result in severe damage to the inside of your house.
This simple analogy regarding your roof is quite similar to what is referred to as Leaky Gut. Your intestinal lining is made up of only a single cell thick protective barrier whose job it is to never allow anything to pass into the body unless it is broken down and safe for your system. However, leaky gut diagnosis indicates that the original “tight junction” that is normally present in the intestines has now loosened up and is unable to act as a gatekeeper for many harmful molecules.
What are the Risks of Leaky Gut?
Many health professionals now believe that the end result of this phenomenon is an increase in the following health conditions:
- Infectious diarrhea
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS and Gerd)
- Inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis)
- Celiac disease
- Esophageal and colorectal disease
- Allergies
- Respiratory infections
- Acute inflammation conditions (sepsis, SIRS, multiple organ failure)
- Chronic inflammatory conditions (such as arthritis)
- Obesity-related metabolic diseases (fatty liver, Type II diabetes, heart disease)
- Autoimmune disease (lupus, multiple sclerosis, Type I diabetes and more) (3)
- Parkinson’s disease
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Obesity
- Fatigue
You may wonder how all these conditions could be connected to something as simple as your gut lining. Hippocrates, 2000 years ago, said this, “All disease begins in the gut,” and research has now shown this to be incredibly true on every level. The brain neurotransmitters and the immune function of our bodies are produced by the bacteria within the gut lining along with a dozen other functions and when the gut lining is not healthy, neither are you.
Why is leaky gut so prominent?
However, something occurred in the late 1970’s that started the downward spiral of health that I have witnessed over my 40-year career in natural health. The invention of Roundup was the original event and secondly was the massive increase in utilizing antibiotics in animals to increase their weight before slaughter.
When the gut lining is exposed to either of these chemicals it induces damage that creates a large number of “leaky gut holes.” These openings within the intestines might seem innocuous except for the fact that when toxins and undigested proteins pass by them they slip through the opening and circulate throughout the body a health disaster is likely. These foreign molecules enter these holes and are often seen as invaders. And this causes the body to set up a constant defense to neutralize them.
A good leaky gut analogy
Just imagine if you had ants invade your house and all day and night you spent your entire energy crushing every ant you observed. These efforts would eventually drain your total reserves and consume every last bit of your time that is desperately needed for more important functions of your life. When your body fights 24 hours a day to neutralize something that should have never been present to begin with, poor health will be imminent. To watch an amazing interview with Dr. Bush on this subject of gut health and leaky gut click here.
Fast forward to this decade and we now all observe many of our friends and family suffering from a litany of chronic health ailments that decrease their quality of life significantly. These conditions were rarely seen in my younger years or if they were it was generally only aged individuals who were stricken with them. Today’s conditions that were reserved for 70 plus year people before are now common even in 40-year-olds and I am convinced leaky gut is the reason for a large percentage of these chronic illnesses.
At this point most readers want to know only one thing: How do I find out if I have leaky gut and if so what can I do to heal myself from it?
I believe individuals becoming educated on the subject of Leaky Gut through reliable sources is critical in order to make an informed decision on this subject. Connecting the dots of information may lead to a conclusion of possible Leaky Gut for the individual without testing. However, I do recommend a test for a substance called Zonulin for those who want verification of Leaky Gut. Zonulin is a protein substance whose purpose is to manage the tight junctions within the gut lining. Testing for elevated levels can be very informative for those who are willing to pay for this test. Click here to order the discounted test. (Make sure to click on the “Z” tab and select the Zonulin Doctor’s Data Kit as this is the blood work test.)
Hippocrates, 2000 years ago, said this, “All disease begins in the gut,” and research has now shown this to be incredibly true on every level. Share on XThe final part of the Leaky Gut story is the recommendations to stop further damage and initiate repair of the lining of the intestines. This protocol will allow for optimal health to return. I recommend an approach called the P3R program.
P represents protect:
Recent discoveries show that the ingredient Terrahydrite taken minutes before eating will tighten up the gut lining so that far less of the damaging molecules and toxins will be able to pass into the body. This ingredient is relatively quick acting an offers an effective method of repairing the leaky roof in the short run so that no more damaging rain is allowed in the house. (Similar to putting a tarp on the hole in your house roof)
R is the second part which represents Remove:
Pathogens of every type can infest the gut lining and remain intact for years. Foods, water, traveling, and drugs can allow virus, bacteria, and yeast to take up residence in our systems. These pathogens must be addressed because they add to the damage to the gut lining by altering the microbiome and produce toxins that further damage the gut lining. As long as they are present healing will be limited. The combination remedy would need to consist of the following: Thyme oil, Oregano oil, Sage and Lemon Balm. These would each be used for 2 to 3 weeks and then rotate with a second formula consisting of the following: Oregon Grape root, Berberine, and Coptis for another 2 to 3 weeks. These types of herbs have a strong affinity for eliminating pathogens. At this point, you would proceed to step 3.
R, the third part, focuses on repair.
The analogy of the house with the leaky roof applies again. We now have stopped any further damage. But now it is time to repair the damage from the leaks. Putting together a nutrient package that stimulates the new gut lining cells is critical to long-term rehabilitation of the colon. The ingredients that are vital for results would consist of the following: Pea Protein, MCT, pre-biotic fibers such as isomaltooligosaccharides and identical human oligosaccharides, HMO, Sustamine, and L-Glutamine.
These ingredients offer the gut lining cells the material you rebuild the damage that had ensued from years of leaky gut. Also Included in this step 3 is eliminating certain foods that can add further damage to the gut lining. For a list of these foods log onto click here and download the Free E-Book, “Are You Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired.” In this book is a list of the foods to include every day and to avoid and this is what you should be adhering to for the next months. However, everyone is an individual and this list may need to be further refined for best results.
R, the fourth and final part of the protocol is about Reinoculation:
Obviously, this focuses on replacing the microbiome, (generally utilizing Probiotics and cultured foods). This is critical to ensuring long-term results because without healthy bacteria the benefits of the previous work may be short-lived. The massive quantities needed of the microbiome are crucial to healing and with today’s toxic food we are slaughtering the good guys within us faster than we can rebuild unless we supplement with the proper product.
The untold story of this is the importance of feeding the microbiome with “prebiotics”. The combination I listed in step three includes ingredients that feed and sustain the health of the microbiome. Without nourishing these good bacteria they will perish and that is one reason supplementation can be limited with regard to benefits. Throw grass seed on concrete and you might see a few of the seeds sprouting if the proper water is applied but how long will they live do you suppose? This is why we must feed any seed with moisture, proper temperature and nourishment.
Probiotics to the Rescue
Lastly, the science of choosing the correct and proper probiotic is an emerging science. I recommend finding experienced individuals who have experience with the many brands now available because science is showing that a large percentage of products today may be worthless due to a variety of reasons. The new option in this conversation that I am seriously gaining faith in regard to is “spores”. These are a newer method of building up the microbiome. Stay tuned as we learn more about this potential breakthrough.