Column #99 

Leaky Gut, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Crohn's, Colitis, and Candida Overgrowth were identified in the two previous columns as kissing cousins with overlapping symptoms. All are associated with inflammation, perforations in the lining of the digestive system, and autoimmune diseases.

As foreign material (toxins) enter the bloodstream through perforations in the digestive system, the body's immune system kicks in and attacks. Unless the perforations are healed, the flow of errant toxins can cause the immune system to run amuck and attack harmless virus and good bacteria as well as the toxins. Let’s discuss how to strengthen the immune system, reduce inflammation, and subdue leaky gut.

Causes of Leaky Gut include:

●    Fungal Infestations
●    Sugar and High Glycemic Foods
●    Nightshades (Natural Plant Pesticides)
●    Stress
●    Toxic Chemicals
●    Viruses and Bacteria
●    Genetic Predisposition
●    Drugs

Symptoms of Leaky Gut include:
●    Chronic Diarrhea
●    Gas
●    Headaches
●    Brain Fog
●    Excessive Fatigue
●    Skin Rashes
●    Arthritis or Joint Pain
●    Depression and Anxiety
●    Cardiovascular Disturbances
●    Autoimmune Disease

A strong immune system is a critical first line of defense for grappling with some leaky gut issues. It’s strengthened by lowering the balance between Omega-6 and Omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) to 1:1. Animal bodies cannot fully synthesize EFAs so the EFA balance is dependent on food. A high-ratio diet results in a body having a high ratio. Also, when EFAs are not in balance the dominate EFA restricts the other’s uptake and usually it’s the inflammation depressing Omega-3 EFAs.

For decades biologists and nutritionists reported that the ancestral EFA balance was approximately 1:1 by weight. Most Americans today have ratios that exceed 10:1 which exacerbates many autoimmune diseases including atherosclerosis, arthritis, asthma, bone loss, cancer growth, intestinal issues, and heart attacks. High ratios are also associated with longer hospital stays, depression, suicide, classroom disruptions, oppositional behavior, and unproductive workplace behaviors.

It’s unlikely that balancing the EFAs will be a quick solution for leaky gut. If one’s balance is 10:1 it may take over a year of disciplined eating plus fish oil supplements to lower the ratio to 1:1. Going from 10:1 to 8:1 can take several months to achieve yet some  improvement in leaky gut symptoms can be detected even with that small decline.

The overall answer for stopping leaky-gut symptoms is to address all causes. Protect against environmental assaults, cut out unhealthy living practices, lower stress levels with exercise and meditation, and change the diet. Usually the diet brings the fastest relief and sets the stage for long-term remission.

To learn which foods are problematic, follow a very restrictive, albeit temporary, Autoimmune Protocol Diet (AIP). The idea is to cut out more foods than is necessary and then slowly reintroduce selected foods back into the diet to see which ones cause issues. The foods to eliminate are nightshades, alcohol, eggs, coffee, dairy, grain, seeds, nuts, legumes, vegetable oils, processed foods, sugar, syrups, sweeteners, sugar substitutes, fruit, and spices from nightshades and seeds. Yes, it’s not much fun but it’s better than spending a fortune on exams, tests, drugs with side effects, and risky operations all of which won’t actually cure the disease.

The foods to continue eating are grass-fed meats, Omega-3 meats, broths from the meat bones, wild-caught seafood, squashes, and selected steamed vegetables. These low glycemic foods will provide all nutrients in the best balance for rebuilding the body.

Usually with this approach, leaky gut symptoms subside rather quickly with intestinal healing taking up to 30 days. Then, one at a time, foods that are low glycemic, nutrient diverse and dense, with balanced EFAs are reintroduced. Eventually coffee, wine, etc. can be reintroduced. If the leaky gut symptoms reappear, the newly introduced food is probably a food to avoid.

Since the basic recommended diet will lower the EFA ratio, the immune system should improve weekly. But don’t expect to eventually be totally free of suspected foods. When a reintroduced food causes a relapse, that food may always cause an issue. Some problematic foods may have to be given up forever or eaten sparingly.

The reward for this approach is feeling healthy every day.

To your health.

Ted Slanker

Ted Slanker has been reporting on the fundamentals of nutritional research in publications, television and radio appearances, and at conferences since 1999. He condenses complex studies into the basics required for health and well-being. His eBook, The Real Diet of Man, is available online.

Don't miss these links for additional reading:

The image in this report is from:
Dynamic Interactions of Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acid Nutrients by Lands, Bibus, Stark

Balancing Proportions of Competing Omega-3 and Omega-6 Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids (HUFA) in Tissue Lipids by Bibus, Lands

Omega-3 Test offer code slanker provides a discount

Ted Slanker’s Omega-3 Test

I Had Ulcerative Colitis by Steve Jones

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Stress-Induced Immune Dysregulation: Implications for Wound Healing by Kiecolt-Glaser, Ronald Glaser, Christian

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Basics by WebMD.com

Crohn’s Disease: Diet Dominates by Ted Slanker

Nightshade Pesticides by Ted Slanker

Curing Leaky Gutby Ted Slanker