Leaky Gut: What IS it?

Leaky Gut: What IS It?

by Rochelle Griffin

In the perfect world, our body works just as it was designed to…flawlessly. Unfortunately we live in an imperfect world, and our body often breaks down…showing signs before we even realize it. Sometimes this happens in the form of what’s called “leaky gut.”

Leaky WHAT?!?!?

Yep, leaky gut. Sounds weird, huh?

You know a garden hose? Picture it with several small holes in it, so water comes out where it shouldn’t. Leaky gut works in a similar way. It’s when your intestines allow particles to filter through to your bloodstream before they should…IF they should at all.

This can happen when your mucosal barrier that lines the intestines becomes weakened and breaks down, allowing things into your blood that it typically wouldn’t.

Your mucosal barrier is like your second skin. The skin on the outside of your body prevents invaders from entering your body…and if there’s a break in the skin, you have to be careful to not get an infection. Likewise your intestinal mucosal barrier prevents invaders from entering your body from the inside.

When food particles “leak” into the blood before they are fully broken down, your body perceives them as invaders that shouldn’t be there. Your immune system kicks in & attacks them, causing inflammation…along with a host of other issues over time.

When other things that normally aren’t leaked into the blood are allowed to pass through…like yeast or bacteria for example, they can cause significant immune system activity and problems.

Interestingly enough many people can have leaky gut and not know it. I was one of those people. Be the time I discovered it, I already had a host of food sensitivities and a gut in the state of shutting down.

Have no fear though. It is possible to heal from this, but it will take time. Leaky gut doesn’t happen overnight and it won’t heal overnight.

So first how do you know if you even have leaky gut?

Signs that you may have leaky gut include:

1. Bloating
2. Gas
3. Fatigue
4. Diagnosis of Chronic fatigue or Fibromyalgia
5. Depression
6. Food sensitivities
7. Skin rashes
8. Joint pain
9. Diarrhea
10. Seasonal allergies
11. Hormonal imbalance

As you can see, gastrointestinal symptoms are only a few of the diverse signs of leaky gut. Often this surprises people…it sure did me.

If you have any of the signs or are in the throws of adrenal fatigue, it’s important to have a mucosal barrier test…a simple saliva test that you can do in your own home. (This is something that I’m able to provide to my clients.)

How do you heal leaky gut?

1. You have to remove the invaders. Remember these may be specific foods, bacteria, parasites, and/or yeast that are causing the damage as they are leaked through. (A stool test can reveal pathogens and a blood test can reveal food sensitivities. Again, these are tests that I can provide to my clients.)

2. Once you’ve removed the offenders, you then have to repair the gut lining with a healing gut protocol involving a healthy diet, probiotics, enzymes, glutamine, supplements, and sometimes prescription medications. Yep, there’s definitely a time and place for a medical physician.

Look…would you cut yourself and not tend to the cut? Of course not! That just sounds silly. Neosporin and a bandaid to the rescue. Likewise, why would you allow a leaky gut to continue to cause health problems, which can worsen over time? Get to the root cause of what’s going on and start to heal yourself. Your health is worth it. YOU, my friend, are worth it.

To Living Your Best Life,

Rochelle Griffin, RN BSN FDN-P

Rochelle Griffin, The Wellness Detective™, is a Registered Nurse (with over 22 years experience) & a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition™ Practitioner who has transitioned her love for fitness, health, & freedom into a 7-figure International company that now helps others live Their Best Life.

She founded Your Best Life, Inc with her husband Keith after stepping onto the edge of physical ruin with her health & the health of their young son. Having experienced a complete turn-around, they now desire to give hope & support to those who are dissatisfied with their current situation.

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