Leaky Gut? Here Are The Probiotics For You
Published April 28th, 2021
Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS) is often an unrecognizable condition for healthcare professionals. Since there is no clear answer as to whether a leaky gut is a symptom or a cause for diseases, there is no standard treatment for it.
However, there are many ways you can improve your gut health and lessen the symptoms. This article will elaborate more on how taking probiotics can help you and the best probiotic for leaky gut syndromes.
What Is A Leaky Gut?
Leaky Gut Syndrome, or what is simply known as a leaky gut, is a health condition that directly affects the inner linings of your intestines. Let’s break down the different areas in your body that contribute to developing a leaky gut.
The GI or the gastrointestinal tract is a tube containing different organs that run from your mouth to your anus. The GI consists of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. A leaky gut primarily affects your digestive health. The digestive enzymes in your stomach and small intestines are in charge of breaking down the nutrients in the food you consume for energy, growth, and repair. Your intestines are also in charge of fighting off any bad bacteria and toxins from entering your body.
The compact gaps in the walls of your intestines enable water to pass through the bloodstream without letting toxic substances pass through. Once you develop a leaky gut, these gaps become more prominent, making it easier for the harmful substances to enter your bloodstream. Once inside, you may experience immune system responses leading to digestive issues, fatigue, joint pain, food sensitivities, and allergies. Not to mention, your intestines contain several beneficial bacteria known as gut microbiota that protect your intestine wall, digestion and support normal immune function.
What Causes Leaky Guts and Who Has It?
There are many possible reasons you may acquire disruption in your gut microbiota. So far, experts and professionals have yet to find out what exactly is the cause for leaky gut syndromes. The symptoms of an LGS share many similarities to other health conditions, making it difficult for doctors to determine what the diagnosis is.
The symptoms include:
- Chronic diarrhea or constipation
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Confusion
- Difficulty concentrating
- Skin problems (acne and eczema)
- Joint pain
- Widespread inflammation
You may have a leaky gut due to:
- Having poor nutrition
- Alcohol consumption
- Pathogenic infections
- Autoimmune disorders, such as lupus, diabetes
- Stress
- Prescription medication use (Antibiotic, etc.)
There are also numerous health conditions and diseases that experts associate with a leaky gut. If you acquire either one of these diseases, the chances are that you will develop a leaky gut syndrome.
These health conditions could be:
- General digestive symptoms (Bloating, diarrhea, gut pain, or constipation)
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS
- Autoimmune diseases (Rheumatoid Arthritis and Type 1 Diabetes)
- Celiac disease
- Crohn’s Disease
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Chronic liver disease
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Probiotics To Heal Leaky Gut
Over the years, results from several clinical research done by scientists and professionals prove that a specific dose of probiotics can help heal your leaky gut.
- One specific study on placebo-controlled trials was conducted to test the positive effects of probiotics in treating symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome. The study results reveal that the intestinal permeability of individuals with consistent intake of probiotics became significantly lower after a 14-week course of treatment.
- Another study that specifically made use of oral spore-based probiotic species also showed a decrease in intestinal markers for permeability after consuming the probiotics.
As time passes by, many researchers, healthcare experts, and scientists continue to prove how well probiotics work in reducing intestinal permeability from having a leaky gut. Now, let’s discuss briefly what probiotics do to reduce leaky guts.
Probiotics work well in assisting the secretion of inflammatory mediators. Think of it as a calming agent that prevents your digestive system from wreaking havoc during secretion. They can also act as gatekeepers of your gut as they are in charge of controlling what passes into your bloodstream and what doesn’t. These good bacteria can also eliminate any bad bacteria and yeast with plans of lingering in your system. Since a leaky gut can result from poor nutrition, probiotics help break down food and turn them into nutrients that your body needs.
The Right Probiotics for Leaky Gut
You can take probiotics in more than one way. There is a leaky gut diet you should try with a wide variety of food containing quality probiotics. These include Kombucha drinks, fermented vegetables, kimchi, yogurt, pickles, Kvass, and Kefir.
Probiotic food is beneficial for your body as it is packed with a billion CFUs. Also, they are unlike other medicines and consumable products as they are better-tasting than other forms of treatment. It is easy to enjoy food with a high amount of probiotics as you can think of them as snacks rather than medicine for your symptoms. There are three types of probiotics that work well in treating leaky gut syndrome:
Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium Blends
Lacto-Bifido blends are a high-potency, hypoallergenic formula that consists of 12 different probiotic species. This blend helps support a healthy inflammatory response, healthy and balanced microbiota, and exerts anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, and anti-biofilm activity.
Saccharomyces Boulardii
This non-pathogenic, transient probiotic is excellent at increasing the activities of intestinal brush border enzymes. This probiotic supplement increases stool concentrations that can nourish mucosal cells.
Bacillus Coagulans and Bacillus Subtilis
The hypoallergenic blend of Bacillus Coagulans and Bacillus Subtilis species offers unique support for healthy GI and immune function probiotics. Professionals highly recommend taking this probiotic supplement as a support for healthy and stimulated microbiota.
Other Options As Leaky Gut Support
Probiotics are not the only gut healing solution. There are many other supplements you can consider taking to help alleviate the symptoms. These alternatives include:
- L-glutamine – It can help repair the intestinal lining, decrease intestinal permeability, and reduce inflammation go faster.
- Vitamin D – Having low Vitamin D levels is proven to cause increased intestinal permeability.
- DGL or Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice – DGL or Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice can help soothe the irritated inner linings of your gut, which can help lessen its permeability.
When you combine DGL with L-glutamine, it can heal your gut as they work excellently in reducing intestinal permeability.
Taking care of your internal organs is just as important as taking care of any part of your body. Although Leaky Gut Syndrome has yet to be taken as seriously as other alarming health conditions, there is no reason for you to take it lightly. Having a leaky gut can lead to several health conditions and diseases that can be hard to manage once you acquire them. You must always be cautious with the foods you eat and keep in mind the different risk factors that come with not taking care of your body.
Finding the best probiotic for leaky gut syndromes is not easy as not all people have the same reaction to particular food and supplements. Some people may be allergic to what works best for others and vice versa. If you are not sure how to treat your symptoms and what food is ideal for you, you can quickly consult a healthcare professional to ensure that you are making the right decisions for your body and not putting your health at any more risks.
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About The Author
Krizzia Paolyn has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She started her career as a content writer for various digital magazines and renowned publications. It has always been her passion to share her voice, and at the same time, to encourage other people to speak up.