5 Steps I Took To Heal Leaky Gut

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If you want better health now and in the future, you want to heal leaky gut.

Intestinal Permeability may be the key to autoimmune disorders which some say most ALL of us have. Repairing the gut wall may help resolve pain, bloating, allergies, headaches, rashes and more.

Define Leaky Gut Syndrome

As I wrote in my “Leaky Gut Symptoms, Causes & Tests” the thin mucus lining of the intestine is the barrier between what is IN the gut and what is outside the gut – blood, organs, muscles.

If this fragile barrier is inflamed, infected or damaged, undigested food fragments and gut toxins can pass through the barrier.

These can cause an inflammatory immune response throughout the body. 

Benefits of Healing Leaky Gut

The surface area of the intestine is huge – about the size of a football field! That’s a lot of territory to be infected, damaged or undernourished. We have to address multiple causes to heal leaky gut and they are different for different people.

This can take time and work. Benefits of healing Leaky Gut include reduced autoimmune antibodies, less pain and reduced inflammation overall.

Top Causes of Leaky Gut

For most of us, the key causes include inflammatory/allergenic foods such as gluten and dairy; medications such as antacids and NSAID’s; chronic infection; stress; and disrupted gut flora.

Like all Functional Health work, we first remove the cause, then treat the damage.

Testing for Leaky Gut

Here’s my specialized Cyrex Labs test showing my repaired Gut! I run this test with Clients struggling with Autoimmune Disorders needing extra encouragement to work on diet and lifestyle.

5 Steps I Took to Heal My Leaky Gut

1. Accept I had work to do
2. Eliminate gluten, grains and most dairy
3. Run gut lab tests
4. Handle my stress levels
5. Supplement for gut infection and damage

Committing to Self-Care

First, I had to admit I had not been well for a long time. I made a new commitment to my future.

I began investing in higher-quality food and support from functional health practitioners. I was determined to feel better, and to have my 80 year old future self say “Thank You” for the effort.

Eliminating Leaky Gut Foods

 I accepted I would never eat or drink anything with gluten or corn again. Ever. Not one bite.

That’s what I needed – maybe you won’t need to be so strict.

I found gluten hiding in my body and hair care.

I ran Cyrex Labs Array #3 for gluten antibodies and flunked it! And I supposedly had been gluten-free for years. I doubled down to find the last sneaky bit elevating my antibodies and harming my immune system. 

In my Functional Health clinic, the Diet & Health Center, I run this extensive and unique test for Clients with autoimmune disorders, fibromyalgia and other difficult health issues. 

Then I ran Cyrex Labs Array #4 for Gluten Cross-Reactive Foods. Yikes! DAIRY! I eliminated all dairy but ghee and that test was perfect 6 months later.

Gut Tests for Digestion and Infection 

I ran labs for bacteria, yeast and parasites and found Candida infection. I had been off sweets a long time but my gut was so inflamed by gluten, grains and dairy that Candida moved in.

I treated the Candida with Morinda Supreme anti-infective and #4 FungDX Anti-Fungal plus a low dose Diflucan for two weeks. I tried fermented Sauerkraut and Fermented Beet juice but didn’t handle them well. I used Premier Research Labs Probiotic.

Fortunately, I had few bad bacteria and no parasites.

Chronic Stress and Leaky Gut

Cortisol, epinephrine and other stress metabolites damage our mucus cells if chronically high. 

I had to take stock of what’s really important and eliminate the rest… I took herbs including this Passion Flower (in my online store), plus California Poppy, Melissa and Pharma GABA to help me sleep and stay calm running my businesses.

Supplements to Heal Leaky Gut

Gut infections must be thoroughly treated – herbs in the immune category of my Online Store worked well for me.

A variety of probiotics is essential.

Glutamine is mandatory. It is the main amino acid food for the mucosal layer of the gut. I took 500 – 1000 mg. Glutamine arising and at bed for over a year. (Always take amino acids on an empty stomach. They don’t work if you take them with food. That includes Lysine for Herpes too).

I took Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides daily – it’s here on Amazon. It dissolves easily in fluids. Collagen and Gelatin are key nutrients for leaky gut repair.

Handle Gut Inflammation First

Plan on taking LGUT or Glutamine for several months AFTER you’ve gotten the diet right and stopped the inflammation.

Inflammatory blood markers such as autoimmune antibodies, SED Rate, and allergies will be reduced. 

Stop NSAIDS to Help Heal Leaky Gut

 NSAID’s are well known to damage your gut wall. 

This Pub Med article explains more. 

Want more help?

Here’s my other Primal Diet – Modern Health podcast on Leaky Gut symptoms. Check it out on my website or on iTunes.

My DVD/Video “The Diet For Human Beings” will explain what to eat and why. I emphasize grain free foods with plenty of fats, and talk about why Insulin cycles are so dangerous to your health. You can download it or stream.

Consider making fresh Bone Broth (the kind that gels up in your refrigerator) or buying it from Vital Proteins. I like their products better than Great Lakes. Here’s why.

Avoid these high-Arginine foods if you struggle with Herpes. Read this!