Just as much as it doesn’t sound too pretty, leaky gut is no fun to have. Its namesake is pretty accurate as well. As you may already know, leaky gut refers to a condition in which the lining of the digestive tract begins to wear down, allowing unwanted substances and toxins to enter your bloodstream.
The thing is, your digestive tract is only one cell layer thick, and this layer is responsible for preventing toxins, bacteria, food, drink, and other substances from reaching your internal organs and bloodstream. When this cell layer’s protective barrier is compromised, leaky gut––or increased intestinal permeability––is the result.
Not only is leaky gut dangerous and linked to poor health, but it is downright uncomfortable as well. Luckily, there are some steps you can take almost immediately to begin the process of healing your leaky gut sooner than later. These actions are safe and have been proven to help in most cases. Let’s take a look at five things to do if you suffer from leaky gut syndrome.
#1: Start eating more produce.
If you eat anything remotely similar to a Western diet, then chances are that you don’t eat nearly enough fruits, vegetables, and plant-based foods. Especially if you suffer from leaky gut, eating more plant-based carbohydrate matter will help to rebuild your gut lining as well as your microflora.
As a general rule, try to eat at least a handful of fruits and/or vegetables with every meal.
#2: Stop eating processed foods.
Leaky gut is a rather new condition, thanks to the many unhealthy processed foods that people eat in today’s society. So to help heal your leaky gut, one of the best things you can do is to stop eating foods that are processed and start eating more whole and unprocessed foods, much like your grandparents would’ve eaten.
Many of today’s foods are contaminated with preservatives, artificial flavors, food coloring, artificial sweeteners, hormones, and other food additives that negatively impact your gut health. Instead of these foods, opt for organic or minimally processed foods whenever possible.
#3: Eat more probiotics.
Probiotics are extremely beneficial strains of bacteria that not only help to support the digestion of your food, but also help with strengthening the intestinal lining. If you don’t do so already, starting consuming more probiotics in your diet. Some great resources include Greek yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, or a supplement such as Nutrii Organic Super Greens + Digestion, which contains 12mg (2 billion CFU’s) of probiotics.
#4: Reduce stress levels.
When you’re stressed in excess, your digestive system often suffers in the process, including the lining of the gut. Whenever you can, try to avoid stressful situations and/or people. If you can’t manage to do so, try practicing some stress-relieving activities, such as walking, meditating, reading, slow breathing exercises.
