leaky gut reading

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Leaky Gut Syndrome

by Myron Kenney

Every once in a while, one will hear the term " leaky gut " in relation to some

health condition. It conjures ugly images of the body's internal plumbing system

" leaking " inside secret and hidden body cavities or outside creating a public

nuisance or mess. Of course this is only a slang expression for a condition that

afflicts many people these days.

The " gut " refers to the entire alimentary canal which is a 33-foot passage or

tube where food enters and waste exits the body. This canal is really quite

complicated, delegating different tasks throughout the course of its journey.

The two major divisions of labor are: 1. digestion and absorption of nutrients

and 2. elimination of wastes. Leaky gut refers to a problem with the first

division of labor-digestion and absorption.

Basically what happens is the lining of the small intestines becomes damaged,

causing it to lose its inherent integrity. Consequently, " macromolecules " pass

through the lining and into the blood stream causing a host of problems in the

body. These foreign particles settle in joints and other areas creating pockets

of toxins throughout the body. The body recognizes these large particles to be

" alien " and attacks them, waging a territorial war. This war zone manifests as

inflammation in various parts of the body, one common area being the joints.

Another problem is the damage effects the villi in the small intestines which

are responsible for much of the digestion that happens in the small intestines.

This then creates a condition of malabsorption of proper nutrients, which

effectively starves the body, especially the immune system. A host of symptoms

and health issues can result from or be aggravated from this phenomenon.

The question, then, becomes, how does the small intestines become damaged in the

first place? There are a variety of explanations for this scenario. Any

circumstance that leads to an inflammatory condition in the lining of the canal

will create this damage -for example, candida. When the common unicellular

plant, " yeast, " grows out of control, it produces a rhizome state with

" stringers " that punch a hole in the lining of the small intestines. This hole

allows macromolecules to enter the blood stream before they can be fully

digested and broken down into usable particles for the body. One of the primary

suspects for leaky gut syndrome is always candida albicans.

Other conditions that can result in intestinal lining damage include fluoride in

water and tooth paste, intestinal parasites, food allergies, intestinal

dysbiosis in general (bad bacteria, etc.), use of certain prescription and

non-prescription drugs, alcoholism, stress, inadequate secretion of pancreatic

enzymes or HCL, lactose intolerance, gluten (wheat) intolerance, heredity,

chemical exposure, heavy metal exposure, chemotherapy, X-Rays, etc.

One other category that must be emphasized here is " junk " food. Junk food is

" fast " food, pastries, candy, pop, manufactured and highly processed foods like

TV dinners and other prepackaged and prepared foods. Junk food generally causes

inflammation in the alimentary canal by encouraging candida growth and by the

presence of so many food chemicals and preservatives. To add to the problem,

junk food does little to nourish the mucus membranes to create tissue integrity.

With so many possible causes, the problem is coming to a determination of what

one's own major underlying cause could be. This can be done with a good

naturopathic or homeopathic doctor. If one cannot afford a doctor, it may be

advisable to at least start the process of healing by eliminating many of the

above aggravating or causative factors and perhaps self-treating for parasites

and bacterial infections with herbs. There are herbal combinations that can be

used to help detox from heavy metals as well. Adopting a sound diet with proper

supplementation can do much to help one heal from the myriad health problems

that can be associated with leaky gut syndrome.

To restore your intestinal mucosa to health, it is important to minimize or

eliminate the things that can irritate your intestinal lining such as:

*

Food allergens

*

Candida albicans (yeast) over-growth and other dysbiosis

*

Parasites

*

Alcohol consumption

*

Unnecessary medications

*

Stress

*

Nutrient deficiencies

(recommend supplementation)

Digestive enzyme insufficiency

Consume nutrients that soothe and heal the cells lining the intestine.

*

Quercetin (an anti-inflammatory from herb)

*

L-glutamine

*

Vitamin A

*

Vitamin E

*

Slippery Elm tea/capsules

*

Aloe Vera

*

Licorice root

*

Golden Seal

This is certainly not an exhaustive list but can help start one on the road to

recovery. There will be instances when complete relief will only be realized

with professional help.

You can suspect leaky gut syndrome if you have the following symptoms:

*

Gastrointestinal symptoms (irritation, gas, bloating, etc.)

*

Arthritis

*

Skin problems (eczema or hives)

*

Lung problems (asthma, etc.)

*

Food allergies

*

Chronic fatigue

*

Fibromyalgia

*

Poor digestion

*

General weakness

*

Auto-immune problems

Many health problems can be concurrent. For example, the above list is a list

that can be written for chronic colon problems and a lack of proper elimination

that can cause or result from any of the foregoing. Usually when one has one

problem, the other problem exists as well.

When the body is properly cleansed and nourished, it will usually come into a

natural balance of health and well being without having to try to balance out a

multitude of factors as is usually the case when you go to a doctor. However,

there are times that we do need outside help to get us on the path to total

recovery.

Remember, an important key is to take responsibility for your health on all

levels.

Myron T. Kenney specializes in ozonated steams and colonics. He is a free-lance

writer and owner of, Angel Healing Center in Las Vegas. For more information:

call (702) 474-9998.