Leaky Gut Syndrome – Symptoms, Causes, And Natural Treatment Methods
Shaheen holds a postgraduate degree in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology from Bharathiar University. She is a Geneticist with proficiency in Biotechnology, Immunology, Medical Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Genetic Counseling.
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Do you experience varying symptoms of allergies, migraine, fatigue, and digestive disorders of late? Any of these symptoms or even a combination of them could be hinting at poor gut health. The cause of multiple medical disorders could be a leaky gut that needs prompt treatment. Which is what we will discuss in this post – how to treat your leaky gut naturally. Keep reading to find out more.
In This Article
What Is The Leaky Gut Syndrome?
The leaky gut syndrome is a condition which is the major cause of many long-term medical conditions. It is caused by the reaction of the immune system to germs, toxins, or other substances that may have entered your bloodstream via a leaky or porous gut. Proteins like gluten can break apart the tight junctions in the intestinal lining, allowing microbes and toxins and undigested food to enter the bloodstream, causing a leaky gut.
A leaky gut can easily be characterized by the following symptoms.
Signs And Symptoms Of A Leaky Gut
- Digestive issues, such as impaired digestion, diarrhea, constipation, food allergies, etc.
- Immune responses like skin rashes, asthma, rosacea, and joint pain
- Serotonin deficiency that can lead to:
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Migraine
- Memory impairment
- Reduced blood coagulating ability
- Heart diseases
But what causes this condition? Well, there are a number of factors that could be responsible. Let’s find out!
What Causes A Leaky Gut?
- An imbalance in the gut bacteria
- A diet deficient in protein
- Toxins, such as pesticides, food preservatives, microbes, and other harmful chemicals
- Chronic mental or physical stress
- Medications, such as antibiotics, painkillers, antacids, etc.
If you think that you may have developed this condition due to one or more of the above factors, please get yourself tested by a medical professional. Your doctor may advise the following tests to determine if you are suffering from the leaky gut syndrome.
How Do You Test For A Leaky Gut?
There are 3 tests that you may need to take for a leaky gut syndrome:
- Zonulin Or Lactulose Test: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test (ELISA) can be conducted to test for high levels of a compound called zonulin. High levels of zonulin indicate a leaky gut.
- IgG Food Intolerance Test: When you are exposed to toxins or microbes internally, it may cause your immune system to go on an overdrive and produce excess antibodies. Excess antibodies can react negatively to foods like gluten and dairy.
- Stool Tests: A stool test is conducted to analyze your gut flora levels. It can also determine your immune function and intestinal health.
If you have tested positive for the leaky gut syndrome, do not fret yet. Listed below are some wonderful home remedies that can help you better deal with this problem.
Natural Remedies To Heal A Leaky Gut
1. Bone Broth
You Will Need
A small portion of freshly prepared bone broth
What You Have To Do
Consume a small portion of freshly made bone broth.
How Often You Should Do This
You must do this on a daily basis.
Why This Works
Bone broth is a rich source of collagen. It helps nourish your gut lining and reduces inflammation. It also helps in restoring your lost gut microbiome (1).
2. Essential Oils
a. Peppermint Oil
You Will Need
- 1 drop of peppermint oil
- 1 glass of water
What You Have To Do
- Add a drop of peppermint oil to a glass of water.
- Mix well and drink it up.
How Often You Should Do This
You must do this once daily.
Why This Works
Peppermint oil soothes the inflamed gut linings and also promotes your overall abdominal health (2).
b. Caraway Essential Oil
You Will Need
- 1 drop of caraway oil
- 1 glass of water
What You Have To Do
- Add a drop of caraway essential oil to a glass of water.
- Mix well and drink.
How Often You Should Do This
You must do this 1 to 2 times daily.
Why This Works
Caraway oil not only relieves abdominal discomfort but also helps in curing symptoms of a leaky gut, including pain and inflammation (3), (4).
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
You Will Need
- 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar
- 1 glass of warm water
What You Have To Do
- Add two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water.
- Mix well and drink immediately.
How Often You Should Do This
You must drink this once daily.
Why This Works
Apple cider vinegar helps restore the pH of your gut as well as the gut flora. Its antimicrobial properties also help fight the infectious microbes that may be causing the leaky gut (5).
4. Vitamin Deficiency
Deficiencies in nutrients like vitamins A and D can make your gut weak and vulnerable to damage (6), (7). While vitamin A ensures optimal functioning of the intestinal lining, vitamin D reduces inflammation and holds the intestinal cells together.
Consume foods rich in these vitamins like carrots, turnips, broccoli, milk, cheese, and eggs.
5. Ashwagandha
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon of ashwagandha powder
- 1 glass of hot water
What You Have To Do
- Add a teaspoon of ashwagandha powder to a glass of hot water.
- Mix well and consume.
How Often You Should Do This
You must drink this solution once daily.
Why This Works
Ashwagandha is a natural adaptogen that helps regulate the activity of HPA, a hormone known to relieve symptoms of a leaky gut (8). It is especially useful in relieving a leaky gut caused due to stress.
6. Aloe Vera
You Will Need
½ cup of aloe juice
What You Have To Do
Drink freshly extracted aloe juice.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this 1 to 2 times daily.
Why This Works
The anti-inflammatory and healing properties of aloe vera help in healing the damaged gut lining. It can also flush out toxic and undigested substances from your gut wall and protect it from further damage.
7. Ginger Tea
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon of minced ginger
- 1 cup of hot water
What You Have To Do
- Add a teaspoon of minced ginger to a cup of steaming hot water.
- Steep for about 7 minutes and strain.
- Drink immediately.
- You can also include ginger in your daily diet.
How Often You Should Do This
You must do this 1 to 2 times daily.
Why This Works
The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger (which can be attributed to gingerol) can help relieve pain and inflammation in the gut (9).
8. Green Tea
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon of green tea extract
- 1 cup of hot water
- Honey
What You Have To Do
- Add a teaspoon of green tea extract to a cup of hot water.
- Steep for 5 to 7 minutes and strain.
- Once the tea cools down a bit, add some honey to it.
- Mix well and drink.
How Often You Should Do This
You must drink this at least twice daily.
Why This Works
Green tea polyphenols exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, thus helping relieve the symptoms of a leaky gut while also protecting your gut from further stress and damage (10).
9. Garlic
You Will Need
1 garlic clove
What You Have To Do
- Chew on a garlic clove every morning.
- Alternatively, add garlic to your favorite salads and other dishes.
How Often You Should Do This
You must do this daily.
Why This Works
The allicin in garlic offers anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial protection, which restores gut health and prevents further infections (11), (12).
10. Kombucha Tea
You Will Need
- 1 kombucha tea bag
- 1 cup of hot water
- Honey
What You Have To Do
- Put a kombucha tea bag into a cup of hot water.
- Steep for 5 to 7 minutes and strain.
- When the tea becomes warm enough to drink, add some honey to it.
- Mix well and drink.
How Often You Should Do This
You must drink this 1 to 2 times daily.
Why This Works
Kombucha is packed with many probiotics and enzymes that help prevent digestive issues and even heal them – including a leaky gut. It achieves these by restoring healthy gut flora levels (13).
11. Oatmeal
You Will Need
1 bowl of cooked oats
What You Have To Do
- Consume a bowl of cooked oats daily.
- You can also add oats to your favorite smoothies and milkshakes.
How Often You Should Do This
You must do this daily.
Why This Works
Oats contain beta-glucan, a soluble fiber that forms a thick gel-like layer in your gut and restores the lost gut flora (14).
12. Omega-3 Fatty Acids
You Will Need
500-1000 mg omega 3 supplements
What You Have To Do
- Consume 500-1000 mg omega-3 supplementsy.
- You can also increase your intake of omega-3 naturally by consuming fish like mackerel, sardines, salmon, tuna, etc.
How Often You Should Do This
You must take this once daily.
Why This Works
Omega-3 fatty acids increase the diversity and number of healthy gut microbes, and this accelerates gut healing (15).
13. Yogurt
You Will Need
1 bowl of plain yogurt
What You Have To Do
Consume a bowl of plain yogurt.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this once daily.
Why This Works
The probiotics in yogurt not only promote healthy gut microbes but also help relieve the symptoms of a leaky gut (16).
14. Manuka Honey
You Will Need
2 teaspoons of manuka honey
What You Have To Do
Consume two teaspoons of manuka honey.
How Often You Should Do This
You must do this 1 to 2 times daily.
Why This Works
Manuka honey possesses anti-inflammatory properties that can help in reducing the pain associated with a leaky gut. Its mild antimicrobial properties can also help in promoting gut flora (17).
15. Neem
You Will Need
- A handful of neem leaves
- Honey
What You Have To Do
- Blend a handful of washed neem leaves.
- Take half a teaspoon of minced neem with enough honey daily.
How Often You Should Do This
You must do this 1 to 2 times daily.
Why This Works
Neem is a natural detoxifier, and it encourages the growth of the healthy gut microbes. Its anti-inflammatory properties can accelerate healing (18).
16. Papaya
You Will Need
A bowl of cut papaya
What You Have To Do
Consume a bowl of freshly cut papaya daily.
How Often You Should Do This
You must do this daily.
Why This Works
The antioxidant and immunostimulant properties of papaya can help in alleviating the symptoms of a leaky gut and also speed up your recovery (19).
17. Turmeric
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
- 1 glass of hot milk
What You Have To Do
- Mix a teaspoon of turmeric powder in a glass of water.
- Mix well and drink immediately.
How Often You Should Do This
You must drink this concoction at least once daily.
Why This Works
The curcumin in turmeric possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, which reduce the inflammation in the damaged gut and relieve the painful symptoms (20), (21).
To successfully combat leaky gut syndrome, in addition to following these remedies, you also need to take certain preventive measures.
Prevention Tips
Make changes to your diet by
- consuming clarifed butter instead of butter
- adding bone broth to your diet
- having cultured or fermented foods like kimchi, apple cider vinegar, and pickles
- avoiding dairy
You must also
- manage your stress
- avoid drinking alcohol
- practice yoga poses like the Cow-Cat Pose, Supine Twist, Bridge Pose, etc.
Some factors may put you at an increased risk of a leaky gut. They are as follows.
Risk Factors For A Leaky Gut
- A poor diet
- Chronic stress
- Medications like painkillers
- Exposure to excess toxins
- Zinc deficiency
- Candida overgrowth
- Alcohol consumption
Many factors can worsen an existing leaky gut and care must be taken to manage them.
A leaky gut could be the cause of several other underlying health issues, which is why prompt treatment is a must. In case you notice any of the symptoms, use the home remedies along with conservative treatment.
And tell us if this post was helpful. Just leave a comment in the box below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get rid of a leaky gut?
Once you begin treatment, your gut should be back to its optimal functioning in 30 to 60 days.
Are treatments for a leaky gut available?
Since a leaky gut is most often caused by a poor diet, it is highly recommended that you follow a nutrient-rich diet and avoid foods that can worsen your gut health. Following any of the above treatments will also give you beneficial results.
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Read full bio of Shaheen Naser
