Leaky gut refers to the condition when the digestive system becomes too permeable and we start absorbing things that we should not.

There are a variety of triggers that could be behind leaky gut, including stress, bacteria, parasites, viruses, fungus or other factors. Unfortunately, once the gut is leaky, you can actually be absorbing these negative factors into the blood stream.

Leaky gut is also related to the diet. Foods such as gluten, corn and substances like oxalate (or oxalic acid, which is present in all plant food to some degree) can irritate the digestive tract and cause leaky gut. Absorbing gluten or corn proteins can then go on to damage the entire bodily system through immune system affects. Oxalic acid acts like a low level poison throughout the body: researchers are finding more and more detrimental affects of this organic acid.

What could be behind the increase in leaky gut? Researchers hypothesize that modern life is the culprit, including antibiotics, pain killers (such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen) processed foods, unfriendly bacteria and alcohol consumption, to name a few. Infections of bacteria like C. dificile, Salmonella, H.pylori and Giardia are just some of the intruders that can inflame the gut and cause increased permeability. Yeast and certain molds can also be a problem.

Once the gut is inflamed, food intolerance may follow. Food intolerance can develop once the gut is leaky and undigested or incompletely digested food particles enter the blood stream. The body may then treat these particles as foreign invaders and attack this food when it next enters the body.

While this is widely accepted in alternative medical circles, traditional western medicine does not yet fully recognize leaky gut – although it reluctantly admits food intolerance.

Symptoms of leaky gut can be similar to other gastrointestinal ailments:

weight gain
unexplained digestive problems
food “allergies”
migraine headaches
gas
muscle and joint pains
cravings
constipation
and other digestive symptoms

For more information on leaky gut and oxalates, visit the Low Oxalate Info site. The website is run by a medical researcher who understands the diet and is up-to-date on the latest developments.

Source: Journey With Crohns Disease; reporting from BeAllergyWise