Leaky gut can also be caused by medications including antibiotics, steroids or over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin and acetaminophen, which can irritate the intestinal lining and damage protective mucus layers. ![]() When I ate these foods, my body went to war, producing antibodies, which triggered an immune response that included diarrhea, headaches, fatigue and joint pain. For me, certain foods that I was consuming every day, including gluten, soy and dairy, were being treated by my body as foreign invaders that had to be fought off. In many cases, leaky gut is caused by your diet. ![]() As a result, your body cannot absorb essential nutrients, which can lead to hormone imbalances and a weakened immune system. With leaky gut, damaged cells in your intestines don't produce the enzymes needed for proper digestion. The foreign substances entering the blood can cause an autoimmune response in the body including inflammatory and allergic reactions such as migraines, irritable bowel, eczema, chronic fatigue, food allergies, rheumatoid arthritis and more. Robynne Chutkan, assistant professor of medicine at Georgetown University Hospital, says leaky gut "is likely to emerge as one of the most significant medical concepts of our time."Īs Victor explained, is a condition in which the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged, causing undigested food particles, toxic waste products and bacteria to "leak" through the intestines and flood the blood stream. She told me that I had "leaky gut syndrome," a condition that is not typically diagnosed but could be affecting the health of many people. It turns out I was "highly sensitive" (not quite allergic, but almost) to a number of foods that had been a regular part of my daily diet-dairy, soy, sugar, caffeine and gluten. She asked me to keep a food diary and take a blood test for food allergies and sensitivities. I found an answer four months ago when I went to see Willie Victor, a nutritionist in Mill Valley, California, whose practice is based on the healing properties of food. "You just need to sleep more and manage your stress better," he told me. ![]() My health care provider tested me over the years for various medical conditions-from anemia and thyroid disorders to mononucleosis and Lyme disease. They'll subside at some point, I told myself. Many moms I know suffer the same ailments, or worse. I've told myself that my symptoms were part of being a busy mom: fatigue, digestive problems, joint pain, insomnia, low libido, even mild-grade depression. My body never completely bounced back after I had my first child-15 years ago. For our most up-to-date information, please visit our digestive health information here.
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