A leaky gut is when the gut system can’t properly digest nutrients. The term a “leaky gut” is used because it results in particles literally leaking into the bloodstream.
A healthy gut is the key to having a strong immune system. Why? Because the intestinal lining is the first mechanism of defense for our immune system. The outer layers of intestinal cells (epithelial) are connected by structures called tight junctions. At the tips of these cells are the microvilli, which absorb properly digested nutrients and transport them through the epithelial cell and into the bloodstream. During the normal digestion process the tight junctions stay closed forcing all molecules to be “screened” and only pass into the blood stream through the mucosa cells. These tight junctions can become “open” or permeable allowing un-screened molecules to flow directly into the bloodstream.
Your body then has to go into fighting mode to deal with these foreign particles in your bloodstream. The liver is called to action to work and try to screen out all the particles that your intestinal lining was supposed to take care of. But usually this is too much for the liver so all the toxins, undigested food molecules, yeast, and other pathogens start to accumulate in your body. In the end the majority of these foreign bodies absorb into tissues throughout the body… causing them to inflame.
Inflammation is also an immune response and causes even more stress on your system. Now that your body is focused on fighting the large war, the little battles are starting to be ignored, like filtering out the blood, calming inflamed areas of the body, fighting bacteria, regulating the gut, etc. This process flow can lead to your body fighting itself and an array of autoimmune diseases such as Chronic Fatigue, MS, IBS, Ulcerative Colitis, and Fibromyalgia.
The foods that you’re eating are not the root of the problem; it’s the leaky gut letting the food molecules into your bloodstream. Of course, the caveat is severe food allergies such as gluten to a Celiac or deadly peanut allergies.
Read further to do a quiz to see if you may have a leaky gut?
What are the causes of a leaky gut?
What can be done about a leaky gut?
http://scdlifestyle.com/2010/03/the-scd-diet-and-leaky-gut-syndrome/
The benefits of raw milk and kefir for a leaky gut… Milk is good IF ITS RAW…
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