For years, I am always hungry, wake up tired after sleeping 9 hours, and feel gassy and bloated along with a long list of other complaints. Honestly, I feel like I am dragging through life. My integrative doctor, found that I wasn’t absorbing my food through a culmination of tests. She diagnosed my symptoms as leaky gut. I was dumbfounded. How the heck was I going to cure my gut? You can simply plug it up like a dam. But always being tired and bloated and gassy isn’t an option anymore. So I started learning about this condition. You might have leaky gut too.
What is Leaky Gut
Bear in mind, I am not a doctor. Dr Weil explains:
“Leaky gut syndrome is not generally recognized by conventional physicians, but evidence is accumulating that it is a real condition that affects the lining of the intestines. The theory is that leaky gut syndrome (also called increased intestinal permeability), is the result of damage to the intestinal lining, making it less able to protect the internal environment as well as to filter needed nutrients and other biological substances. As a consequence, some bacteria and their toxins, incompletely digested proteins and fats, and waste not normally absorbed may “leak” out of the intestines into the blood stream.”
As Dr Weil further explains, leaky gut can trigger an autoimmune reaction which leads to gastrointestinal issues such as excessive gas, food sensitivities, joint pains, and skin rashes.
Dr. Robyn Chutkan, MD, FASGE Assistant Professor of Medicine, Georgetown University Hospital, Founder and Medical Director, Digestive Center for Women states that multiple food sensitivities are the hallmark of leaky gut and that this condition could cause or worsen Celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), arthritis, psoriasis, eczema and asthma. Diet, chronic stress, certain medications and bacterial imbalances play a role in this condition. She explains:
“There’s still much to be learned, but diet, chronic stress, certain medications and bacterial imbalance seem to play important roles. Eating a diet high in refined sugar can lead to overgrowth of yeast species, which has been associated with leaky gut. Preservatives and chemicals in processed foods can damage the lining, and so can consumption of gluten – a protein found in wheat, rye and barley.”
Not knowing What Was Wrong with Me.
To understand how I was finally diagnosed with leaky gut is a long tortuous road. In the past, I have tried to self-remedy my symptoms. Since a teenager, I have struggled with a spastic colon alternating between constipation, a few serious bouts of diarrhea, and too much gas to talk about. Over the years, I have removed certain foods form my diet like soy protein isolate, dairy, whey, carbohydrate only meals, and now gluten.
I even went vegetarian for animal welfare purposes. I figured giving up meat couldn’t hurt and maybe I would feel better. You can’t imagine how gassy I became during my first couple of months of my vegetarian journey.
At first, I felt great but into a year I would start to fall asleep more and more after most meals. Realize, I wasn’t eating simple carbohydrates like white bread. I was eating good carbohydrates.
During that year, my doctor tested me for hypoglycemia. From my blood test, I was diagnoised reactive hypoglycemia which would cause my blood sugar to plummet after eating sugar. My lowest blood sugar was in the low fifties. This discovery was a revelation for me since falling asleep within the hour of eating or shaking after a carbohydrate meal was a common occurrence. As I got older, it was happening all the time. So, the doctor told me I had to eat protein with every carbohydrate. I tried.
But, I still didn’t feel better. I was hungry all the time even though I ate a good meal. Nuts became my best friend and the pounds started to pack on. I was tired, getting fatter, hungry and miserable.
Finally a Diagnosis
When I was diagnosed with leaky gut, I was told I had to stop eating dairy, gluten, nuts, corn and sugar for 3 months. You can’t imagine how many foods contain sugar in them–ketchup, tomato sauce, salad dressings, etc. Here is a list I compiled of products without processed sugar. (I note products that contain agave in them.)
My doctor urged me to stop being a vegetarian since it was making my hypoglycemia worse. It was a very hard decision to make. Until I got my gut in order, reluctantly I took her advice.
From a stool test, the doctor found out that not only was I not digesting my food, I had strep and other harmful bacteria in my gut that were killing all my other good bacteria. No wonder I was exhausted–a war was going on in my gut. So, I was put on a regime of supplements to kill the bad bacteria and help my digestion. After several months and stool tests, I am happy to say I am starting to win the war. My digestion is looking better and I have fewer bad bacteria.
Food Restrictions:
My recent food sensitivity test showed I was highly sensitive to brewer’s yeast and baker’s yeast. Oranges were also on the top of the list. So, my newest mountain is to remove foods with those ingredients in them. When I cut out these items the inflammation in my body should be reduced. Hopefully, this is the final key to a life of not being exhausted.
But First Thing First…
- Does my story sound a lot like yours?
- Are you not feeling great but not sure why?
Take the TEST to find out if you might have leaky gut and start your journey to feeling better.
I became an affiliate of this amazing program called “How to Solve Leaky Gut and Reverse Chronic Illness” by two survivors of Leaky Gut Syndrome. They worked with renown doctors to create the 10 hour long program that is easy to understand and follow.
Click on the link below to grab your spot for a FREE presentation.
Alternatively, you can sign up HERE if this topic is of interest to you.
Your health is precious. Why waste any moment feeling lousy?
Disclaimer: I am not a medical practitioner. These are my opinions and should not be used in lieu of medical advise. Also, I am an affiliate of SCDLifestyle’ s Leaky Gut Program since I strongly believe in curing your leaky gut.
John O'Neill says
Any possibility of reverse leakage? Instead of outward leakage from the gut to the bloodstream how about inward leakage of blood into the gut? I have a low level of ‘internal bleeding’ which is controlled by intake of iron tablets. Thanks for the info.
Anna@Green Talk says
John, do you have this problem? Anna
Jonatha Johnson says
Regarding Leaking Gut:
It is being diagnosed in children, who haven’t lived long enough to destroy their innards via bad habits. In the literature on GMO wheat and corn, there is evidence that there is a link with Leaky Gut. I don’t have the link right now. The proteins that were changed by the process of being genetically modified, made them capable of inter-penetrating the stomach wall, rather than going into the intestines first, where they would be digested in the normal way. GMO foods that are bound up with herbicides will affect the flora of the intestines, disrupting their function in digestion.
Anna@Green Talk says
Jonatha, wheat isn’t GMO yet but I do also wonder the impact of the mother’s diet which is may have full of GMOs on children’s leaky gut. Anna
Nico Morris says
Hi:
I have had similar problems ,We do not eat all organic because it is still prohibitively expensive..
I suspect GMO’s especially GMO CORN for my system malfunctions my best solution so far KIM CHEE (I make my own,the oriental stores carry a great one) ($4) OR Sourkrout ,best to make your own.the hippy stores carry it but charge too much,watch out for preservatives .
Do not eat any food with preservatives or other additives you do not understand the value of.
‘ Do not WORRY yourself to death over a little sugar,wheat,meat etc..they will not kill you or the planet.worrying all the time WILL kill you
( all farming operations require the death of hundreds of animals (Gophers,mice ,rats,bugs,bacteria,worms etc) there is no escaping the wheel of life. try to EAT LOCAL IN SEASON if you are worried about environmental impact.
I am adamantly opposed to cruelty in slaughter house practices etc,but tired of young folks who think they are some kind of angels because of what they eat.
Blessing good Luck Kim Chee twice a week CURED me
Nico ( kim cheeeser saled ,and try kinchitzza) YUM!
Anna@Green Talk says
Nico, my friend Karen who is also a chiropractor makes an amazing kimchee. She told me that I need to eat more fermented foods. I was recently told that I can’t eat brewers yeast or baker’s yeast.
Here is her recipe if you want to try a variation. She is Korean. http://www.ecokaren.com/kimchi-recipe-demystified/
clancy says
Hi, l was wondering about fermented foods. I make and drink water and milk kefir almost daily… they provide a beverage and protein for my daily needs… do you recommend them?
Anna@Green Talk says
Clancy, good for you! Anna
Raghu Pillai says
I got lot of relief from my leaky gut situation when I did food restriction.. I found out I was allergic to wheat and oats(gluten sensitivity) and diary (lactose sensitivity)