Why is a healthy gut so important?
Are you experiencing gut health issues which effect your daily life? Do you feel bloated or just uncomfortable after each meal? Are you feeling sluggish of fatigue throughout the day? Then you may have a compromised gut which may be referred to leaky gut syndrome.
Quick Answer
Leaky gut syndrome (intestinal hyper-permeability) is when the gut lining becomes compromised, allowing toxins and undigested particles to affect your immune, nervous, and endocrine systems. It’s linked to bloating, fatigue, mood changes, and almost every known autoimmune condition — but it can be identified and corrected with the right diet, lifestyle changes, and naturopathic support.
Key Takeaways
- ✔ Leaky gut affects everyone to some degree, according to Harvard Medical School.
- ✔ It’s linked to digestive issues, autoimmune disease, mood disorders, and chronic fatigue.
- ✔ Common causes include gluten, processed sugar, alcohol, certain medications, and chronic stress.
- ✔ Up to 80 autoimmune conditions have been associated with a compromised gut.
- ✔ Hydration, fibre, organic whole foods, and prebiotics/probiotics all support gut repair.
- ✔ A naturopath can help identify your triggers and build a gut-repair plan suited to you.
The Root Issue
Leaky gut syndrome
“Leaky gut, aka intestinal hyper-permeability, is a very common gut health issue which affects everyone to some degree.”
— Harvard Medical School
Leaky gut doesn’t just affect the gastro-intestinal system — it also impacts the immune system, the nervous system, and the endocrine system. In other words, leaky gut can:
- Compromise digestion and absorption of food — affecting distribution of nutrients within the body.
- Weaken your immune system and act as a main driver of autoimmune disease, causing systemic inflammation.
- Cause mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.
- Result in low energy, fatigue, or chronic fatigue syndrome.
- Act as a main driver of almost every known disease in the world today, due to gut inflammation.
Watch for: abdominal discomfort, bloating, burping, flatulence, nausea, reflux, vomiting, uncontrollable weight gain or weight loss, irregular bowel movements, constipation, and diarrhoea — all possible signs of leaky gut syndrome.
What’s Driving It
Causes of leaky gut syndrome
- Gluten — packaged foods, grains, sauces, medications, supplements, cosmetics.
- GMOs — wheat, corn, and soy (also non-GMO versions).
- Processed sugars/carbs — bread, pasta, cereal, sauces, sweets.
- Excessive alcohol — especially beer.
- Medication — particularly NSAIDs and antibiotics.
- Stress and inflammation.
- Poor dietary choices — nutrient deficiencies, fast food.
- Artificial additives — colours, sweeteners, MSG.
- Herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, germicides.
- Smoking and recreational drugs.
- Heavy metals and synthetic chemicals.
The Bigger Picture
Other diseases associated with leaky gut
- Crohn’s disease
- Ulcerative colitis, ulcers
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
- Dysbiosis (imbalance of microbes/bacteria)
- Compromised microbiome (gut environment)
- Celiac disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Food allergies
- Pain and inflammation
- Lectins and lipo-polysaccharides
All autoimmune disease — up to 80 conditions, including psoriasis, hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s disease), hyperthyroidism (Graves’ disease), metabolic syndrome, diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), and rheumatoid arthritis.
Take Action
Ways to improve gut health
💧 Stay Hydrated
Aim for 30ml × your weight in kg daily to support cellular hydration and healthy bowel movements.
🌾 Get 25–30g Fibre Daily
Leafy greens, fruits, nuts, seeds, and legumes all help improve bowel movements.
🌱 Eat Organic
Glyphosate in non-organic produce can damage your gut microbiome’s healthy bacteria.
🥬 Eat Bitter Foods
Broccoli, kale, apple cider vinegar, and dandelion greens stimulate digestive acids and enzymes.
🥒 Prebiotics & Probiotics
Prebiotics like garlic and onion feed the good bacteria found in kefir and kombucha.
🚫 Avoid Gluten
Gluten can damage the gut lining and lead to leaky gut syndrome over time.
⚠️ Avoid the Causes Above
Every item in the causes section above works against your gut’s repair.
🧘 Rest & Digest
Never eat on the run or under stress — sit down and eat mindfully instead.
🍲 Bone Broth Regularly
Bone broths provide essential nutrients to help rebuild a compromised gut lining.
⚖️ Balance Your Diet
Aim for a low-carbohydrate, moderate-protein, high-fat diet to support gut healing, metabolic balance, and long-term digestive health.
Ready to fix your gut?
If you are experiencing gut issues, inflammation or any type of autoimmune disease, call our office and find out how we can help you.