Symptoms Of Leaky Gut Syndrome: Don’t let Bad Gut take control!

The leaky gut syndrome is a condition that is based on the concept of increased permeability of the intestinal membrane. When a person has a leaky gut, the tight links between the intestinal cells (enterocytes) weaken, causing the gut lining to be more permeable than it should be. This means that harmful toxins and pathogens can enter the bloodstream directly. Leaky gut is not a recognized medical diagnosis currently as there is limited data about the condition. But people still experience its debilitating and frustrating symptoms. Having a leaky gut can cause issues with your digestive health, weight, immune system, skin, brain, joints, and more. Dysbiosis is one of the major causes of a leaky gut. Dysbiosis occurs when there is an imbalance between the beneficial gut bacteria and the harmful bacteria in the gut. This may happen due to several factors, such as a poor diet, lifestyle, sleeping habits, and lack of physical activity.

How to recognize Leaky Gut Syndrome

Here are some signs to look out for that may indicate you have a Leaky Gut.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is characterized by loose, watery stools occurring more often than normal. It is caused when a virus or pathogenic bacteria gets into your gut. It is usually a sign of a leaky gut. Other causes of diarrhea include certain medications, laxative abuse, allergies, and excessive drinking.

• Acute diarrhea lasts for about 2 to 3 days and stops on its own.
• Persistent diarrhea lasts for 2 to 4 weeks,
• While chronic diarrhea may last for a couple of weeks.

Short-term diarrhea is generally not serious but chronic diarrhea can become a problem if left untreated.

Fatigue

Your gut health and energy levels are closely linked. When you have a leaky gut, there are more bad bacteria and less anti-inflammatory bacteria in your gut. This causes your body to produce more inflammatory compounds known as cytokines that are directly associated with fatigue. In the case of chronic fatigue, your body has to work harder and produce high levels of immune cells to fight off the toxins released by an unhealthy gut, leading to exhaustion.

Headache and Brain Fog

Brain fog is a term used to describe a lack of mental clarity, forgetfulness, and confusion. Food allergies and sensitivities play an important role in causing oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain which results in cognitive and emotional impairment. Brain fog, headache, and migraine are one of the most common symptoms of food sensitivities. Identifying and avoiding the foods you are sensitive to can improve or eliminate these symptoms and thus heal leaky gut and associated symptoms.

Lack of Focus

Gut bacteria produce certain neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and GABA. These neurotransmitters help to pass signals between the nerve cells to communicate. They affect our motivation, mood, focus, and reward. Even the slightest drop in these neurotransmitters can contribute to sub-optimal brain function. Most of the serotonin is produced in the gut. Chemicals produced by gut bacteria also influence depression symptoms.

Skin problems

The skin is the body’s largest organ. It is the first line of defense against pathogens and it helps to expel toxins and waste from our bodies through perspiration. It is clinically proven that when the gut balance is off, bad bacteria in the gut increase and lead to aggravating skin inflammation. Just like gut walls which experience an increased intestinal permeability, the skin also becomes highly permeable and manifests symptoms of toxicity on its surface. This can cause acne, sensitivity, and redness, and cause collagen to break down, resulting in wrinkles.

Joint pain

Studies suggest that dysbiosis could be the underlying cause behind joint pain and arthritis which is a common side effect of obesity and plagues millions of people worldwide. A highly permeable intestinal lining allows large, undigested food particles to enter the bloodstream. The immune system views these food particles as foreign invaders and triggers an immune system reaction. It produces antibodies that go into the bloodstream, creating an inflammatory response in various parts of the body, such as joints, and causes swelling and pain. Inflammation can also be caused due to pathogenic microbes that escape into the bloodstream. These microbes are usually gram-negative gut bacteria whose cell membranes contain lipopolysaccharides (LPS), which trigger the immune system.

Nutritional Deficiency

A leaky gut contributes to nutrient deficiencies because of the damage to carrier proteins and chronic inflammation. This leads to malabsorption syndrome, which is probably the biggest reason for nutrient deficiencies among people with gut issues. Excessive consumption of alcohol, tea, and coffee can further affect nutrient absorption negatively.

A leaky gut often results in a loss of appetite so you eat less and are not able to get enough nutrients from your diet. Moreover, many key nutrients are produced by healthy bacteria in the gut. Nutritional deficiencies can set you up for other health problems. For instance, if your body is not absorbing enough vitamin B12, it can lead to heart palpitations. Similarly, a lack of calcium in your diet can cause osteoporosis.

How long does it take for symptoms of leaky gut syndrome to show?

You need to have the symptoms over a period of time to identify them as symptoms of leaky gut syndrome. Most doctors suggest observing these symptoms between 3 to 6 months. Your body responds to the constant ups and downs of life, which may cause these symptoms. For example, chronic stress levels may cause intestinal distress. Women’s menstrual cycles can cause digestive problems. Notice if there are other causes in your life that may trigger these symptoms.

How to test for leaky gut?

There are many tests that can help you figure out signs of a leaky gut. However, no single test can provide an absolute answer. Healthcare providers should conduct the appropriate tests, taking into account a patient’s experiences and medical history.

1. Mannitol/lactulose test is the only direct test of a leaky gut and the most common one. In this test, two types of sugars, lactulose, and mannitol are ingested. Lactulose has large molecules while mannitol has small molecules. If the person has a healthy gut, small sugar molecules will enter the blood stream and be excreted out, while larger molecules would remain in the gut. Large molecules in the urine are an indicator of a leaky gut.
   
   
2. The hydrogen methane breath test is useful for determining bacterial overgrowth in the gut. Most bacteria produce hydrogen and methane, which are expelled out in a person’s breath. Detection of these gases in the breath can determine serious bacterial overgrowth. Bad breath might be an indication of a leaky gut, although it’s not a sure sign.
   
   
3. Comprehensive digestive stool analysis is a measure of your digestive health. It detects the presence of bacterial growth in the gut as well as candida levels. The practitioner can tell from the results whether your gut is producing enough enzymes to break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats for assimilation into the body. The drawback of this test is that it is only an approximation of your gut health and not the complete picture. This is because certain bacteria adhere to the gut lining and don’t appear in a stool test.
   
   
4. Parasitology testing detects parasites in your gut that may have traveled from food, water, and waste. Symptoms of parasitic infections include gas, bloating, itching, abdominal pain, constipation, and joint pain. Parasites can appear in a stool test but you might have to repeat this test a few times.
   
   
5. Provocation/elimination testing is a special diet that helps you feel how your body responds to a particular food by first eliminating and then reintroducing foods one at a time. The idea is to identify and eliminate the food (or food groups) that trigger your food sensitivities, such as soy, gluten, and dairy. Eliminate the foods from your diet that trigger such sensitivities for about 2 to 3 weeks and then add a new food once every three days. This way, you will have a clear reaction when you eat food that irritates your gut.
   
   
6. A blood test for food allergies and sensitivities allows you to measure the response of your immune system to a particular food by measuring levels of allergy-related antibodies in the blood. High levels of antibodies mean your immune system has to work extra hard. Common antibody tests include IgA, IgG, and IgM.

Conclusion

Many factors can improve the number and diversity of good bacteria in your gut to support normal immune function, overall digestive health, and more. To ensure the proper functioning of your gut, include fruits and vegetables of different colors in your diet along with complex carbohydrates and healthy fats in your diet.
Physical activity increases the blood flow to your digestive system and enhances the microbial species in the gut. While moderate exercise is important for a healthy lifestyle, studies have shown that over-exercising can damage the intestinal cells and cause acute and chronic gut issues, especially if you already have a gut-related medical problem. Finally, some people may benefit from gut health supplements, such as probiotics, L-glutamine, butyrate, and digestive enzymes. These supplements can improve your existing gut problems as well as help you maintain your gut health. And if you use it in addition to a healthy leaky gut diet plan then the results will benefit you sooner than you know.

Also Read:

• Gut health starts with what you eat: Foods to Avoid Right Now if you have a Leaky Gut!
• The 5 Best Prebiotic Foods that Boost Beneficial Microbes!
• The Top 10 Superfoods for Gut Health: Eat your way to a healthy gut!
• Microbiome Enhancing Diet: The gut-healthiest diet around!