Many of health issues will just go away on their own: headache, common cold, upset stomach, etc. That’s what most of us expect, as we wait for the problem to just disappear. Some health concerns can be treated as an on-need basis, or can be controlled so that you know what risk factors will start a migraine, allergy attack, or bloating. Unfortunately, Leaky Gut Syndrome left untreated often gets worse through time if lifestyle and diet goes unchanged.
I tried to ignore my health issues in high school, hoping desperately that they would just go away, and it was just a part of growing up. After a long period where my fatigue was getting worse, I slept a lot over the weekends, and even eating a little bit made it hard for me to concentrate on class, I was worried. My concerns just created more stress, and even depression. None of my friends had those issues, so I thought a quick doctor’s trip would diagnose the issue and fix me right away. While the symptoms were treated, the medication didn’t help at all. Meanwhile, the root cause (intestinal permeability) went unchecked. Even when I was told I was allergic to corn, I made mistakes because of tricky labeling practices, and my health didn’t return to normal after taking corn out.
If I’d known in high school what I’ve come to learn over the years, I wouldn’t have suffered with uncertainty for my future, constant bloating, unhealthy eating habits, lethargy, depression, and other symptoms that prevented me from living the full life I wanted. Had I been able to detect that I had leaky gut, or even had a moderate risk, I would’ve changed my diet and been aware of factors like stress to help prevent it. If you’re unsure on whether you have leaky gut, and are worried about digestive symptoms like bloating or fatigue after you eat, please take my short, but thorough quiz I’ve developed.
Left untreated, more problems can develop when the intestinal lining remains inflamed, and particles–whether or not they are pathogenic–are able to enter the bloodstream. Allergies, migraines, bloating, and bad moods are just the initial warnings that you may have leaky gut. IBS, Crohn’s, adrenal gland concerns like Hashimoto’s, and auto-immune diseases that include fibromyalgia, lupus, and multiple sclerosis may develop when increased intestinal permeability worsens. Even though people can have healthy, often normal lives with auto-immune diseases, they are on restricted diets, and flare ups seem inevitable.
The good news is that more sufferers and health care practitioners are recognizing increased intestinal permeability as the root cause for many symptoms, and taking steps to reduce inflammation, shrink the pores in the small intestinal lining, and reclaim their health. Everyone develops their own treatment protocol, as each case of the syndrome is unique in what foods and substances can and cannot be tolerated. While doctors, bloggers, and holistic practitioners have meant well in helping others and devising their own program, I have found that the recommendations can be contradictory. (Are certain grains and sweeteners allowed, or not? Will eating sweet potatoes heal or further harm my gut?) The information and conflicting ideas can be overwhelming, even to those who’ve already improved their condition.
Many people who have overcome their leaky gut will share their personal stories and acknowledge that their personal program worked for them, but every person is different. I take a closer approach to that: offer what I’ve found through years of research, trial and error, and success. I hope to offer more comprehensive information that will support different experiences and lifestyles, provide a general diet that can be adapted to your personal needs, and help you become in tune with your body so that you know what nutrients and foods it needs versus what it’s craving because of stress, Candida overgrowth, or unhealthy addictions to sugar and other detrimental substances.
With so much information available, where should you start? Whether you are in the beginning stages or have developed diseases that you are having trouble managing (or are only managing at the symptom, not the root, level), I have created a shopping eBook which is free to download, and have already mentioned my quiz to establish your risk factors based on symptoms and lifestyle. I don’t wish anyone to experience what I went through, and I want to help you understand opportunities to improve your lifestyle and reclaim your health.