The problem with leaky gut syndrome is that it isn’t one of those conditions that is self-limiting. Self-limiting means that over time it will correct itself. An example of a self-limiting problem is a cut on your lip. Even if you need a stitch or two it tends to heal up very quickly without any special measures. Once the zonulin production pathway is activated and fragments of food or other particles find their way to the blood stream, they start an antibody cascade that further increases zonulin production and activation. Some of these products will also find their way to your brain and attach to opiate receptors and increase your cravings for the very foods that are causing you problems.
How are you going to fix leaky gut syndrome? The first steps are discovering and eliminating the foods that are causing the problem. Several labs have antibody panels for this, including Alcat and Cyrex. We also like the Cyrex Labs Array 2 that checks for zonulin and related gut permeability molecules. Common offender foods are gluten-containing grains, dairy, soy and sugar.
Supplements can speed the healing process. The key with your supplement program is to be very patient. We recommend starting with the NeuroScience NEI Barrier Repair Kit. We recommend this because it is gentle as well as effective. The NEI Barrier Repair Kit consists of a bottle of Barrier Repair herbal formula and probiotics. We recommend using this starter kit for a few months. Many people find that this approach is so effective that they just stay on it. NeuroScience: NEI GI Repair Kit has been excellent.
Other complementary factors such as turmeric, glutathione, vitamin D and fish oil will help provide an environment favorable for healthy changes. Health Resources: Probiotic Basics.
Once the barrier begins to repair, other factors that have been known to help barrier repair might be appropriate. This would include things like L-glutamine, Proper fish hydrolyzed proteins, NAG (N-Acetyl D-Glucosamine, gamma-linolenic acid, gamma-oryzanol and maybe some phosphatidylcholine. I don’t recommend starting here, however. Use the prickly pear, guar gum seed and marshmallow root formula from the NEI product first.
How do you deal with leaky gut syndrome? Share your story with us in the comments!
I had a terrible fungus/candida infection and have worked hard to knock it out. But my lower colon is not healed. Whenever I have waste there, I get very sick till it is emptied. I believe it is hard for herbs and probiotics, etc, to reach down there. I am looking for new ways to heal leaky gut. Perfect timing with this article.
Grain-free/dairy-free/sugar-free keeps my gut happy!
My naturopath thought I might have leaky gut. He had me eliminate gluten, dairy, sugar, and eventually soy, and treated me with supplements from Standard Process and Apex Energetics, which included vitamin D and fish oils, and other supplements that he determined by using muscle testing. At this point, I can have some dairy products occasionally without noticing any ill effects. I was never tested for the markers that you mention above, however, or given the barrier repair kit. Your article has expanded my mind on the treatment of this condition. Thanks!
I have leaky gut and seem to have found a good doctor of the treatment. From another doctor I had allergy testing (Genova Lab) and they didn’t find many things that were allergenic except corn and a bit to a few spices! I don’t eat gluten but as your article stated sometimes I really am overwhelmed and eat a cookie or something like that. I try to avoid dairy but again cheese is hard to stop. I also love plain unsweetened Kefir.
He has me on similar products but the company is often out of stock. I will try to copy this article and maybe he will agree with your products. The good thing is that because h gets the products for you they are much less expensive and when you have this (plus Hashimoto’s) there is not way to work.
I have an inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis), which is much more severe than leaky gut, but they have their similarities. I would like to heal my gut lining too and I have been taking several natural supplements in hope that they are helping me somehow. I am taking dragon’s blood to help internal healing, vitamin D, astaxanthin, salmon oil, evening primerose oil, turmeric with black pepper, folic acid with b12, and l-glutamine. I don’t know if they are helping because I’m still in a flare, but I am hoping that they are diminishing whatever damage may occur.
I am interested in your new supplement and am thinking of giving it a try!
I’ve dealt with having a leaky gut by becoming educated about intestinal permeability and its causes. Through a very reliable poop test recommended by a jewel of a doctor, I learned that I did not tolerate gluten or casein (cow’s milk protein). I eliminated grains and dairy from my diet and quickly noticed how much better I felt. As my gut began to be repaired by the Apex Energetics products I took to soothe and heal my gut, I tested other foods to see if they created any gut wrenching reactions. Continuing to test more and more foods, I really got in tune with my body and noticed how I reacted to certain foods. Keys to my journey to wholeness were a knowledgeable doctor, targeted medical tests, excellent supplements, a willingness to discover what ailed me and to be patient with a process that took a few years to heal my gut. What was once a curse has become a blessing because I am a much healthier person having gone through the journey to restore my health.
I have Hoshimoto’s thyroid disease. Three different endocrinologist had been unable to get my meds dialed in over a seven year period. Two and a quarter years ago, a local chiropractor, (trained and referred by Dr. Kharrazian who wrote the Thyroid Book), diagnosed the connection between my leaky-gut syndrome and thyroid imbalance. (The tests he used to determine what was actually going on are the same ones offered by oVitaminPro). The chiropractor diagnosed me with gluten intolerance and I was advised to use Apex Energetics supplementation to support my gut repair. Three months and many hundreds of dollars later, I discovered oVitaminPro carried the same products, at a less expensive price with basically free shipping, and they offered FREE nutritional testing and counseling. Thus began my relationship with Mary. She assisted me for the past two years to heal my gut with supplementaion. I am hugely relieved to be gluten free and to get rid of a plethora of problems; dramatic moods swings, agitation, depression, fibromyalgia-type aches and pains, post nasal drip, low blood sugar, digestive issues and trouble sleeping. I now have a foundation under me for the first time in my life. Thank you oVitaminPro!
I have suffered for several years from this condition. I would like to try out your new supplement. Will this help in curing it completely or do I need to take this for a long time?
Healing a leaky gut takes time. Everyone is different and what works for one person does not work for the other.