Signs You Have Leaky Gut & How to Fix It

I suffered for many years with leaky gut.

When I look back, I can pinpoint it back to when I was in college. Take in mind a poor diet (hi college campus food!), alcohol, multiple uses of antibiotics for sinus infections, and anxiety.

My health was a mess and my gut was paying the price for it.

At the peak of my gut issues I was barely having a bowel movement more than once or twice a week. I was constantly bloated. I had severe abdominal cramps to the point that there were times I would double over in pain and felt like I was going to blackout from the pain. I had eczema all over my arms and legs. My anxiety was through the roof. I felt like I could barely eat anything without my stomach crying out in pain.

It wasn’t until I was in naturopathic medical school when I started to learn about really healing the body that I finally understood what was going on with me.

And once I did, I finally had the tools I needed to heal myself.

So let’s dive into what leaky gut is, signs and symptoms, labs indicated, and what to do if you suspect you have it.

What is leaky gut?

Leaky gut happens when the mucous lining of your gut gets damaged over time (see the sequence of events above that caused mine).The tight junctions of your gut lining that keep things sealed in tight start to loosen up which can lead to macromolecules escaping during the digestive process. These tight junctions regulate what goes in and out, but when these macromolecules escape they can activate our immune system and cause inflammation.

A key player in leaky gut is zonulin. Zonulin is a protein synthesized in intestinal and liver cells that regulates gut permeability through the tight junctions. Zonulin can cause the breakdown of these tight junctions and allow for particles from the GI tract to edit and pass through the bloodstream, causing inflammation throughout the body and mounting the immune response. High levels of zonulin have been associated with leaky gut.

What causes leaky gut?

While this area still needs more extensive research, we know that some factors that can lead to increased intestinal permeability include food sensitivities, alcohol, NSAIDs, stress, antibiotics, imbalanced gut microbiome, and genetic susceptibility.

What are the signs and symptoms of leaky gut?

• GI issues like constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, heartburn

• Headaches or migraines

• Hormonal imbalances

• Joint pain

• Chronic inflammation

• Brain fog

• Skin rashes

• Acne

• Anxiety or depression

• Lowered immune function

• Nutritional deficiencies

Labs for leaky gut

One of my favorite labs to do for leaky gut is GI Maps with Zonulin added on. As we talked about earlier, high zonulin can trigger leaky gut.

The GI Maps itself will give us a good understanding of the breakdown of the gut microbiome and important intestinal markers like pancreatic function and calprotectin.

What to do for leaky gut

When it comes to leaky gut, some important steps I take in my practice include:

• Removing food sensitivities and sticking to an anti-inflammatory diet during the process of healing to lessen the stress on the gut

• Rebalance the gut microbiome using anti-microbial herbs, probiotics, biofilm disruptors, and binders as needed

• Support the digestive process with bitters and digestive enzymes

• Heal the gut lining with herbal and micronutrient support such as glutamine, slippery elm, aloe, marshmallow, zinc, etc.

These steps can take anywhere between 3-9 months depending on the severity of the gut issues!

Alongside these, it’s important to make lifestyle changes that are supportive of an overall healthy physiology. This includes:

• Understanding WHAT caused your leaky gut to begin with so that you don’t end up in the same position

• Reducing processed foods and inflammatory foods and opting instead for a diet rich in complex carbohydrates, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and good protein

• Practicing daily stress management

• Staying well hydrated

• Daily movement/exercise

• Getting restful sleep

• Supporting drainage pathways

• Reducing exposure to environmental toxins

The gut can be complex but it’s also very resilient! With the proper guidance and tools, you can heal your gut & find long term relief from your symptoms.

Disclaimer: This is not medical advice, do not attempt self diagnose and treat. Always consult with your doctor before making any health changes.