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About Leaky Gut Syndrome

by Michelle Nesbit

Overview

Since the digestive system is responsible for breaking down the things we eat, and processing the nutrients into our system, it is responsible for 70 percent of the strength that your immune system has. The intestinal tract and the digestive system are what send the nourishment you get from the foods you eat into every cell of your body. The intestinal walls are naturally selective of which nutrients they allow to pass through, as part of a self-defense mechanism to protect your body from toxins. Your body becomes vulnerable to infection if this process stops working properly. Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS) is what this disorder is commonly called.
How Leaky Gut Syndrome Happens

The intestinal lining becomes inflamed when the nutrients don't pass through properly and the toxins permeate the intestinal walls. As a result, large spaces develop between the cells of the gut wall, allowing toxins and certain forms of pathogens to pass through your intestinal walls and enter your system. This also interferes with the normal process of absorbing the nutrients from the food you eat. Once the cells of the intestinal walls become damaged and altered, there is a "leakage" of some beneficial, as well as harmful, bacteria from the gut.

Common Symptoms

The common symptoms associated with LGS include chronic abdominal pain, heartburn, insomnia, bloating, anxiety, gluten intolerance, malnutrition, muscle cramps, stomach pains and food allergies. Excessive flatulence, fevers of unknown origin, hemorrhoids, migraines and fatigue may also be experienced. Since LGS is linked with many other conditions, such as celiac disease, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, autism, irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis, it is usually difficult to diagnose.
Causes

The intestinal inflammation that causes LGS can sometimes start when there is an imbalance between the good and bad bacteria in your intestines, although other things can also cause the junctions between the cells in the intestinal lining to widen. Once the toxins enter your gut, partially digested food particles are sent into the system and they are both attacked by your antibodies. As part of your natural response, the immune system starts fighting the invaders, which can cause you to experience low-grade fever, gut pain and poor absorption of nutrients from the food you eat. Alcohol and caffeine can also cause gut wall irritation, as can other environmental contaminants and poor liver function.
Effects on the Body

Besides gastrointestinal symptoms, LGS may lead to a weakened immune system. The effects of LGS are comparable to food allergy reactions, which may lead to autoimmune diseases, conditions where the immune system attacks your body's own cells. This can cause nutritional deficiencies and cause your immune system to be weakened to the point that your body absorbs more toxins.
Implications

The effects of LGS can lead to a number of unrelated symptoms and other illnesses. They have been known to cause autoimmune diseases. In addition, LGS is also linked to environmental illnesses, allergies and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Treatment

In truth, there are no wonder drugs that can cure LGS. Proper nutrition and dietary supplements are the best remedies. Once your digestive system and immune system start functioning properly, your health will improve and allergic reactions to food will decrease. A balanced diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables, along with vitamin B12 and probiotic supplements, will help heal your intestinal walls and digestive system so they can function properly again.