Episode 3 - Leaky Gut: Fact or Conspiracy?
In this episode, Liz and Michelle discuss Leaky Gut Syndrome and how this is a major underlying cause for many of the chronic disease and health challenges today, which they both have dealt with. They dive into what causes leaky gut, what the symptoms are, and how to reverse it. Some of the signs that you might have leaky gut include: food sensitivities, other allergies (like seasonal ones), IBS, Crohn’s, Colitis, autoimmune, thyroid, inflammatory skin conditions, mood issues, autism and autism spectrum disorders, hormone imbalances, chronic fatigue, acne, rosacea, eczema, you can’t lose weight despite an excellent diet, your joints ache and swell, brain fog, or you have a diagnosed gut infection.
Liz was particularly interested in recording this episode because she was called a Leaky Gut Conspiracy theorist last year! Liz and Michelle discuss how the intestinal lining is like a brick wall, and when the mortar is broken, bacteria, yeast or undigested food particles from the inside of the gut can “leak” out into the bloodstream. The immune system then attacks it as if it was a foreign invader, putting in on high alert constantly. Sugar can feed the bad bacteria in the gut which can open the tight junctions. Gluten is a chemical trigger that breaks the cell wall apart, it produces the zonulin protein that specifically opens the tight junctions. Fermented foods aren’t being used to preserve food anymore, so we are not getting the good inoculation that we used to. Healing a leaky gut includes removing the stressors, repairing, replacing, and reinoculating the gut. Michelle’s last thought – digestive dysfunction can look like symptoms that are not typically associated with digestion.