Leaky Gut: What Is It, and What Does It Mean for You

If you read medical or health blogs regularly, the probability is high that you must have heard of the terms leaky gut or increased intestinal permeability. But did you understand it? If not, here is a simple explanation. You should know that our bellies have an intestinal lining that forms a tight barrier and controls what goes for absorption into the bloodstream. In some cases, the gut lining gas holes or cracks and hence, there is some lack of control over what goes in the belly. The result, toxins, bugs and partially digested food might penetrate the lining and lead to inflammation or digestive tract issues. 

The Risks and the Reasons

Research has also discovered that if you have leaky gut syndrome, you are at the risk of being a victim of several chronic diseases due to inflammation and changes in the intestinal bacteria. The reasons for the leaky gut vary a lot. Some people have a genetic predisposition for it while many people become its victims because they live an unhealthy lifestyle and have habits like having a diet that has high sugar and saturated fats while being low in fiber. Some people also become its victims because they consume a lot of alcohol or are stressed at all times.

If you suspect that you might also be a victim of leaky gut syndrome, then you need to contact a gastroenterologist to help you out. You can also opt for Great Lakes gelatin supplements as they might help you. Make sure that you choose supplements only on the advice of an expert or medical practitioner.

Other Risks

By now, you must know that leaky gut syndrome can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as the dreaded celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn’s disease. Unfortunately, that’s not the worst of it. Several studies have found that a leaky gut syndrome can be associated with other health conditions like acne, asthma, allergies, fibromyalgia, arthritis, obesity, chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, type 1 diabetes, and many mental health issues as well. It must be noted that these studies were not conducted on humans, so there is no substantial proof of these risks to date. 

How to Heal a Leaky Gut?

Ø  Lifestyle Changes

The first and simplest step you can take to heal a leaky gut is to change your lifestyle. You should start with changing your diet and eliminate those foods that cause inflammation or trigger changes in your gut flora. You should learn to eliminate processed foods, alcohol, allergy-causing foods and some specific medications that may worsen your condition.

You should also learn some mental health promoting habits like yoga and meditation or seek therapy if needed to remove stress from your life. Switching to a healthier diet will not only help rebuild gut lining and make sure that the gut flora is balanced, but it will also allow you to be a healthier version of yourself.

Ø  Gelatin

Another option worth is a try is to include gelatin in your diet. It is a collagen powder manufactured by using beef bones and connective tissue that works as a quick source of protein. It has all the essential amino acids and hence can help you complete your diet. Gelatin can enhance secretion of gastric acid and help in restoring a healthy mucosal lining in your stomach. It is also worth a try because it seals the colon so that your body can absorb all the nutrients.

It also helps food gel within the stomach to ensure that you have consistent digestion and fewer chances of ulcers, heartburn, etc. Gelatin can also play a key role in helping the food gel present in your stomach to ensure that fats and proteins can be broken down perfectly and your body can easily absorb the same. Apart from helping with the leaky gut, gelatin can also help you to heal bone and joints, improve metabolism, and build lean muscle. 

How to Have Gelatin?

You should make sure that you stop eating food at least three hours before going to bed and have two tablespoons of pure gelatin powder twice a day. In case you don’t like the idea of having raw gelatin, you can also have jelly, panna cotta and fruity gummy snacks that are loaded with gelatin. You can also mix it with shakes or other beverages without changing their taste as this supplement has no flavor of its own and hence, won’t make your drinks taste like medicine.