Friday, August 26, 2011

The Symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome

It is difficult for many health care practitioners to diagnose increased intestinal permeability, aka. leaky gut syndrome, since it can manifest itself in a variety of different ways in your system. Many clinicians dispute the validity of leaky gut syndrome. Most of the time the symptoms are treated individually instead of seeing them as the result of one problem.

The small intestine contains billions of cells, which are packed tightly together to keep bacteria, viruses, and other toxins out of the body's tissues. Many people are allergic to or have an intolerance for some of the common foods that we eat such as wheat gluten. What happens is indigestible gliaden molecules combine with the cells of the small intestine which are then attacked by our immune system causing inflammation.

This then causes an increase in a protein called zonulin which appears to be responsible for maintaining the protective barrier in the small intestine, and that high levels of this protein are associated with disruptions in the barrier that allow foreign substances into the body's tissues. The intestinal lining starts to "leak," which allows bacteria, fungi, parasites and other toxins, undigested protein, fat, and waste to escape into your bloodstream.

This usually leads to a host of gastrointestinal problems such as bloating, excess gas, and cramping. Other gastrointestinal complaints can include constipation, diarrhea, candida, indigestion, and heartburn.

Once these toxins are in the bloodstream, they can take up residence in any organ or tissue where they find room. Chronic inflammation begins and eventually degeneration of that organ could occur. One of the first organs affected by leaky gut syndrome is your liver. The more toxins enter your bloodstream, the more your liver has to work to excrete them.

If left untreated, your liver will eventually become overloaded and no longer do its job properly. As a result, the toxins are returned into the blood to re-circulate. If too many toxins accumulate within the body, your immune system exhausts itself working fighting them, which leads to a portion of the toxins inevitably entering the body. Bacteria can accumulate to unhealthy levels leaving you vulnerable to other infections.

The adrenal glands are small glands that sit on top of your kidneys and are vital in resisting infection. With the prolonged presence of leaky gut syndrome, the adrenalin supply is slowly reduced, resulting in adrenal fatigue. Symptoms of adrenal fatigue include exhaustion, sleep that doesn't refresh you, inability to cope with stress, difficulty concentrating, and poor digestion.

It is important for you to understand your body and what it is telling you. Once you have a diagnosis in hand, then leaky gut becomes far less troublesome and menacing. An accurate diagnosis can also provide you with an effective treatment. Treating your symptoms as they develop individually is not the answer. If your present health care provider is unable or unwilling to consider the possibility of leaky gut you may want to consult a holistic practitioner.

Visit http://www.curemyleakygut.com for more information about leaky gut syndrome.

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