Leaky gut syndrome – the leaky gut

Leaky gut syndrome – the causes of many diseases

Leaky gut syndrome describes damaged (leaky, holey) intestinal mucosa. This means that microscopically small gaps in the intestinal mucosa allow substances to enter the bloodstream that do not belong there under any circumstances. The immune system reacts promptly by releasing inflammatory substances. The result is so-called silent inflammation. These silent inflammatory processes can be the trigger for many chronic complaints. Sooner or later, this leads to food intolerances, allergies and other symptoms.

Leaky gut – when the intestines become leaky

The causes of leaky gut syndrome can often be found in a generally unhealthy diet, constant stress or a diet that is heavy in wheat and therefore contains gluten. All of these influencing factors change the composition of the microbiome in favor of harmful bacteria. The result is chronic inflammation of the intestinal mucosa and its permeability, known as leaky gut syndrome. Through the suddenly permeable intestinal mucosa, substances enter the bloodstream that do not belong there under any circumstances. The immune system reacts by releasing inflammatory substances. The result is silent inflammation. This paves the way for a whole range of diseases. Examples include arteriosclerosis, chronic pain, autoimmune diseases (multiple sclerosis) and even tumor diseases.

Some clinical pictures associated with leaky gut syndrome

• Hashimoto

  People with autoimmune disorders have one thing in common: intestinal problems. This is because 80 % of the immune system is localized in the intestine, or more precisely in the small intestine. The more severe the autoimmune disease, the more pronounced the leaky gut syndrome – a permeable intestinal wall that allows incompatible food particles to pass unhindered from the digestive tract into the bloodstream.

• Allergies & food intolerances

  A healthy intestinal barrier has the task of protecting against external disruptive factors. However, this intestinal barrier is increasingly often disturbed. The intestine leaks (leaky gut syndrome). The immune system reacts. Allergies and food intolerances develop. Symptoms of food intolerances include cramp-like abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, headaches & migraines, fatigue, difficulty swallowing or palpitations.

• Irritable bowel syndrome

  Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder of the bowel. Symptoms include bloating and flatulence, constipation or diarrhea (with an overwhelming, sudden and barely restrained urge to defecate) and abdominal pain, which temporarily improves after a bowel movement. Irritable bowel syndrome is always diagnosed if no organic cause can be found for the existing chronic bowel complaints. This means that standard laboratory tests, gastroscopy and colonoscopy do not produce any findings – but the patient still suffers. For conventional medicine, the only remaining triggering factor is the psyche. In alternative medicine, we know of many other triggers. Very often, so-called irritable bowel syndrome patients actually suffer from one or more food intolerances or allergies, for example, or from the consequences of intestinal damage as a result of too frequent antibiotic therapies.

Functional medicine knows many ways to treat leaky gut syndrome and to get the microbiome back on track!

Intestinal cleansing – support for your health

If you are aware of these connections, then it is only logical and logical that functional medicine places a major focus on the gut and gut health. The aim is to strengthen gut health so that the gut can fulfill its complex tasks. Fortunately, the individual bacterial community in the gut is not set in stone.

Probiotics – adapting the microbiome

Just as it takes a turn for the worse through poor eating habits, antibiotics or constant stress, it can also be positively influenced. For example, by taking probiotics. They sustainably promote intestinal health. And this is exactly where functional medicine comes in when it comes to prevention. It has a targeted effect on the composition of the microbiome – e.g. by administering probiotic bacteria.

Micronutrients – supplement what’s missing!

In addition, functional medicine supports the function of the intestines with the appropriate micronutrients. For example, vitamins A, B2, B6, B12, C, D and folic acid as well as the trace elements zinc, selenium and copper help to strengthen the immune system. Vitamins A, B2, biotin and niacin help to rebuild the mucous membranes.

Lifestyle – live and eat gut-healthy!

No functional medicine without the cooperation of the patient. As part of intestinal rehabilitation, patients also always receive valuable tips on a healthy diet. They learn all about how to “feed” the right bacteria and what constitutes a healthy gut lifestyle. In this way, patients themselves can make an enormous contribution to their health and well-being.