{"id":2663,"date":"2013-09-23T19:00:06","date_gmt":"2013-09-23T23:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.allergy-details.com\/?p=2663"},"modified":"2013-09-23T23:12:01","modified_gmt":"2013-09-24T03:12:01","slug":"leaky-gut-diet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allergy-details.com\/food-allergy\/leaky-gut-diet\/","title":{"rendered":"Leaky Gut Diet"},"content":{"rendered":"

A “leaky gut diet” is a way to cure leaky gut, a condition blamed for a variety of health concerns. Here is what you should and should not eat.<\/p>\n

Health practitioners and scientific papers promote diet as a way to cure leaky gut.<\/p>\n

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What Is a Leaky Gut?<\/h2>\n

A leaky gut is a condition where the intestine allows large molecules to pass through into the bloodstream.\u00a0 This includes undigested food, toxins and possibly bacteria.\u00a0 This can cause many symptoms and ailments, including allergies, asthma and autism.<\/p>\n

For more information see the leaky gut syndrome article on this website.<\/p>\n

What to Avoid on a Leaky Gut Diet<\/h2>\n

Processed foods should definitely be avoided if you have leaky gut symptoms.\u00a0 Processed foods are one suspected cause for this problem, although by no means the only cause.<\/p>\n

A gluten-free diet<\/strong> is recommended if you have leaky gut problems.\u00a0 Gluten may be another cause for leaky gut for some people, and may inflame the gut further if you are already experiencing problems.\u00a0 You may also have a higher chance of developing a gluten allergy, since gluten could be directly absorbed through the gut into the bloodstream and seen as a foreign substance by the immune system.\u00a0 The immune system will then learn to attack gluten, causing a wide range of gluten allergy symptoms.\u00a0 The gluten allergy may persist even after the leaky gut itself is cured.<\/p>\n

Avoid milk and dairy products<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Avoid large amounts of alcohol<\/strong>.\u00a0 Chronic alcoholic disease can be another cause of leaky gut syndrome.\u00a0 I don’t currently have information on small amounts of alcohol, but it probably won’t do your gut any good.\u00a0 This is also part of a yeast-free diet, see below.<\/p>\n

Antibiotics.<\/strong>\u00a0 Antibiotics are over-used, often prescribed for the flu or a cold and other viruses.\u00a0 Viruses are not affected by antibiotics, but antibiotics are another possible cause for leaky gut syndrome and may make it worse.\u00a0 Use antibiotics only for serious illness\/surgery.<\/p>\n

Ibuprofen<\/strong> can harm the gut and cause leaky gut syndrome if over-used.\u00a0 Best avoided when healing.<\/p>\n

Yeast and yeast-promoting foods.<\/strong> Yeasts wreak havoc with the body, especially candida.\u00a0 Avoid sugar and highly refined carbohydrates.\u00a0 Also avoid aged cheeses, chocolate, alcohol, dried fruit, fermented foods, bakers yeast.<\/p>\n

AGEs and ALEs.<\/strong>\u00a0 What that stands for may not help you: Advanced Glycation End-products and and Advanced glycated Lipid End-products. \u00a0In plain English:<\/strong> overheated sugars and overheated fats.\u00a0 This is a bit of a simplification, but suffice it to say that processed foods, be they from a factory or cooked in your own home, can produce byproducts due to high heat which can cause leaky gut syndrome, and should be avoided if you want to heat your gut.\u00a0 For example, if you fry meat at high temperatures, to the point that it is very brown, almost black, it is less healthy than meat baked at low temperature for a longer time.<\/p>\n

Foods that Promote Leaky Gut Healing<\/h2>\n

Eliminate all foods that you are allergic too, especially the foods that may have caused the problem, such as wheat and gluten.\u00a0 Avoid these foods for at least four, and ideally six months, to give a chance for your intestines to heal.<\/p>\n

Chew your food well, and make sure there is lots of fiber in your diet.<\/p>\n

Generally speaking,\u00a0raw foods<\/strong> and\u00a0lightly cooked foods<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The “cave man diet<\/strong>” or “paleolithic<\/strong> <\/a>diet<\/a>“<\/strong>, which avoids food additives and includes “natural” foods such as fruits, nuts, seeds, vegetables, wild game and grass-feed beef, etc.<\/p>\n

Zinc<\/strong>, a mineral supplement that can reverse a zinc deficiency that may have been responsible for this condition, and helpful to reverse a leaky gut.<\/p>\n

Glutamine<\/strong>, a supplement you can buy at a health food store, is probably the most powerful addition to your diet for reversing a leaky gut.\u00a0 1000mg of Glutamine three times a day is recommended.<\/p>\n

Curcumin (turmeric)<\/strong> is also powerful, but there is only so much you can consume, and it is rapidly eliminated from the body.<\/p>\n

Digestive enzymes<\/strong> help the body to better digest your food (as does thorough chewing), making it easier for a damaged gut to process and reducing allergic reactions.<\/p>\n

Probiotics<\/strong>, including acidophilus and live yogurt (organic yogurt is a good bet) is extremely helpful.<\/p>\n

Minerals and vitamins<\/strong>. Multi-vitamins are one approach, but you are better to take individual vitamins if appropriate potency.\u00a0 I recommend Earl Mindell’s New Vitamin Bible<\/a> for details, and\/or see a dietitian.<\/p>\n

Alka Seltzer Gold<\/strong> is recommended to neutralize a food reaction.\u00a0 Presently, I don’t have a generic name for this product.<\/p>\n

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Note that healing the gut takes time.\u00a0 Stick to your diet.\u00a0 It may take four to six months for healing to take place.<\/p>\n

What is your experience with following a leaky gut diet?\u00a0 What did you avoid, what did you eat, what supplements did you take, and how did it affect your health?\u00a0 Please leave a comment with your questions, comments and wisdom.<\/p>\n

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References<\/h3>\n