[Colon Cleansing] [Future Nutrition Range] [Health Blog] [Health Information] [Organic Supplements] [Slimming Information] [Slimming and Nutrition] [Organic food supplements] © Specialist Supplements Ltd 2011 Leaky Gut Syndrome What is a leaky gut? The answer to this question (rather unhelpfully) depends on who you ask - to some people it is a wide-spread ailment that afflicts millions of people; to others it's a dubious condition at best. For practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine, it is a generally accepted condition. Vitamins and minerals are assimilated from our food through the intestinal tract - that's fact. Under ordinary circumstances, only particular molecules are absorbed by the body and the left-over waste is then eradicated through bowel motions. Leaky Gut Syndrome is thought to involve excessive permeability in the human digestive tract - put simply, toxic substances are also allowed to “leak” through the digestive tract into the bloodstream and the rest of the body, because of a change in the mucosal intestinal lining. It is thought that big spaces develop between the cells of the gut wall and this facilitates bacteria, toxins, partially digested proteins and food to leak in. Potential causes are theorised to be, for example, toxins, food sensitivities, infections, bacteria, fungi, antibiotic use (by killing the friendly bacteria in the gut, enabling harmful bacteria and fungi to prosper), poor diet, radiation, yeast (such as candida) and parasites. What are the signs and symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome? Perhaps surprisingly, Leaky Gut Syndrome is not commonly considered to be a disease of itself, but rather an intestinal malfunction that underlies many other illnesses, including arthritis, coeliac disease, eczema, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and fibromyalgia. The indicators are consequently often unclear and varied, making it incredibly tricky to diagnose. For example, gas, bloating, abdominal pain, indigestion, alternating constipation and diarrhea. Increased intestinal permeability (a “leaky” gut) can potentially have many pathological repercussions, because of the highly complex role of the intestinal barrier in coordinating digestive, absorption, motility, neuro-endocrine and immunological/protective functions. The small intestine is the largest organ in your body and two-thirds of your immune system lies within its walls.  Leaky gut syndrome diet and supporting health supplements If you, like many others, believe that you are afflicted with Leaky Gut Syndrome, a good start could be to make sure you are eating a healthy and sensible diet. Similarly, due to the assumed connection between symptoms and certain foods, gluten and lactose free diets are also regularly suggested. Many people also find that supporting their body (and in particular their digestive systems) with health supplements and tailored supplement programmes can be beneficial. Some examples include digestive enzymes, herbal and oxygenated colon cleansers, cleanse and detox supplements, gluten and lactose free meal replacements and protein powders. * Before changing your diet or taking health supplements, always be sure to consult your doctor or qualified health practitioner (particularly if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medications).   Top tip! Stick to whole foods on your Leaky Gut diet   Try to reduce the strain on your digestive system as much as possible, by eating fewer refined and processed foods that contain lots of fillers and other unhealthy ingredients that may be aggravating your symptoms. Instead, eat primarily lean meats and plenty of fresh, organic vegetables. Also try to add into your diet limited whole grains, nuts, seeds, and organic fresh fruits. Top tip! Keep an eye out for food allergies   If you suffer from intestinal permeability then it is highly likely that you also suffer from food allergies. They are often overlooked in Leaky Gut Syndrome treatment, but often, simply avoiding particular foods can significantly alleviate symptoms. A few of the most common Leaky Gut food allergies are to gluten, dairy products, soy and sugar. [Health product links] [Health articles] [Own brand supplements] [Trade supplements] [Wholesale vitamins and minerals] [Own label products] [Practitioner supplements] [Sitemap.html] Logically, if the 'leaks' in the intestinal wall don't repair or, worse yet, grow to be larger, after a while the continual onslaught of these damaging substances has the potential to overwork our immune system, overburden our liver and place extra stress on the many related systems of our body. There is therefore thought to be an important link with autoimmunity. On the assumption that Leaky Gut Syndrome makes it possible for hazardous material to enter the bloodstream, and therefore to reach other parts of the body, in theory this could cause a release of antibodies, and a autoimmune response - since these substances do not belong in the blood. These antibodies are thought to then be carried to the liver where they are metabolised. A number of alternative medical professionals strongly believe that this process contributes to autoimmune disorders, such as lupus.  Those who believe themselves to have Leaky Gut Syndrome often report that symptoms can be brought on or aggravated by eating particular foods and it is thought that this is caused by a microscopic inflammation that takes place in the lining of the gut (intestines). In this way, the syndrome has been associated with food allergies. 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