Leaky Gut Syndrome or LGS, as we commonly call it, is an extremely common problem but is rarely tested for. It happens when the cell wall of the intestinal lining becomes too thin, causing bacteria, partially digested foods as well as toxins to enter the blood stream as they pass through the intestinal wall.

When the intestinal lining gets damaged because of LGS, the damaged cells, which are called microvilli, are not able to manufacture the enzymes that are important for digestion. If you have LGS, your digestion is hindered, and your body cannot absorb valuable vitamins and minerals. This in turn leads to swelling, and other kinds of reactions that are similar to food allergies. You can have trouble processing foods like dairy products, wheat and eggs, which can lead to further health complications like irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, Crohn’s disease, diabetes and arthritis, to name a few.

Leaky Gut Syndrome can be caused by many things. Many times suspect that not eating enough fiber can contribute to developing Leaky Gut Syndrome. Also if your body is deficient in zinc; you consume more than the recommend amount of alcoholic beverages; frequently use antibiotics, aspirin and ibuprofen and if you happen to have poor digestion you will develop excess of the yeast, Candida which is a common contributor to LGS .

If you are wondering “do I have leaky gut syndrome?” you can look out for the following symptoms:

Leaky Gut Syndrome has many symptoms, and ultimately causes deficiency of minerals and vitamins in the body. When the gut gets inflamed we feel tired and bloated we experience symptoms similar to many food allergies, as well as a strong craving for carbohydrates. When all these happen we may have Candidiasis.

This means that that fungus that lives in our digestive system called candida has outnumbered the other friendly bacteria. Candida also makes a person feel moody and irritable and produces anxiety for no reason at all and also gives rise to all sorts of skin rashes. The memory is also impaired. The concentration level also becomes very poor which is followed by headaches and fatigue. Due to LGS the colon also gets irritated which in turn leads to constipation and diarrhea.

In our intestinal tracts we have lots of bacteria which are good and friendly as well as those which create problems. The friendly ones help to build the immunity of the body and heal any sort of infection in our intestine. They work as our defence system.

Lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidus are the two most important friendly bacteria in our diet. The Lactobacilli is usually found in the upper portion of our small intestine while the lower portion of the small intestine is the favorite sport of the bifida bacteria. When the friendly bacteria attach themselves to the walls of the intestine, the unfriendly ones cannot move in. Their activities throughout produce enzymes like lactase, and vitamins like B12 and Folic acid.

Leaky Gut Syndrome should not be treated just according to the superficial symptoms but we should focus on healing the gut or the intestine. There are many ways of treating a leaky intestine but the main ones have to do with removing the Candida yeast and parasites which can be done by using a Candida cleanse. Usually a short period (a week to ten days) of consuming a special diet and taking a combination of supplements helps to cleanse the body of Candida. Seek out an expert at your local health food or supplement store for more information about the various Candida cleanses that they offer. An old fashioned remedy includes consuming several fresh cloves of garlic daily, to help destroy both the parasites as well as Candida that may be present in the gut.

Diet restriction is also a very important factor in cases of Leaky Gut Syndrome. We should see to it that the food we eat is high in fiber, including lots of raw vegetables, wheat bran, whole grains, and legumes. The fiber really helps clean the layers of debris in the colon. Foods such as sugar in any form like fructose, honey, potatoes, cakes, chips, cookies, sodas, fruit juices, ice-cream, white starches as well as white bread, pastas, refined flours, fermented food, soy sauce, mushrooms, whole-fat cheese, fried food etc. should be eliminated from our diet. As they help the Candida to thrive in our intestine, and contribute to a broader midsection overall. For more in-depth ideas on the ideal diet, check out “Firm and Flatten Your Abs,” which includes sample menus, tasty ideas and the foods you should always keep on hand.

You should also include supplements into your diet that provide Omega 3 fats, like flax seed or fish oils. To ensure that your intestines do not remain backed up, consider taking Psyllium seed and its husk. It is so good that it can bind double its capacity of its weight in toxic materials and will help remove toxins from your colon. Digestive enzymes containing supplements help to reduce some of the symptoms that are associated with the leaky gut syndrome.

Supplements available in the market are usually made from animal sources and are helpful in improving the absorption of basic nutrients from the intestine and it also prevents partially digested proteins from being absorbed and making the liver overwork as observed by Gloria Gilbere.

But the best treatment you have for leaky gut syndrome is something which is very effective and does not cost a bit. It’s your old friend, water and eating frequently and in small amounts. Food should be eaten slowly and chewed properly which ensures proper digestion, a careful cardio program which can be found in my book, “Firm and Flatten Your Abs.” Whatever you do, make sure you work up a sweat. Sweating helps the body to release lots of toxins. Exercise also encourages regular healthy bowel movement. Walking daily early in the morning helps digestive system function more properly.