Leaky gut sounds like the end result of a murderous rampage in a slasher movie. Sadly, it’s a fairly common digestive disorder. Leaky gut syndrome is a condition that causes toxins and bacteria to “leak” through the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream. The toxic flow can lead to chronic fatigue, migraines, slow metabolism, autoimmune disorders, food sensitivities, thyroid abnormalities, mood swings, and worse.

But what causes the barrier to break? Can the leak be prevented? And why do so many medical professionals deny that the syndrome even exists?  

A Medical Phenomenon

Leaky gut remains a bit of a medical mystery. While many see it as the source of a variety of modern health problems, it has yet to be proven by science, prompting physicians to doubt its legitimacy. The problem lies in the terminology. Leaky gut syndrome has essentially become a marketing term for increased intestinal permeability, a condition that’s been studied for years and is connected with multiple chronic diseases. For instance, studies  have found that people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are likely to have increased intestinal permeability. There’s also evidence that the condition may support the formation of type 1 diabetes.

Many doctors see increased intestinal permeability as a mere symptom of these ailments, rather than the cause. But as more and more stressed-out Americans make poor diet choices, the prevalence of the syndrome has reached epidemic proportions – and conventional doctors are finally starting to take note.

What’s the Cause?

Because this condition is still in its infancy in terms of research and understanding, causes can be difficult to identify and confirm. Contributing factors believed to play a role include:

• Poor food choices
  

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• Nutrient deficiencies
• Excessive sugar intake
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Lack of sleep
• Stress
• High cortisol levels

Think You Have Leaky Gut? As Always, Don’t Guess …Test!

The good news is a simple test can diagnose the condition. Used for over 40 years, the Lactulose/Mannitol test is the gold standard: you drink a sugar solution, then give a urine sample. If the solution ends up in your urine, BINGO! You’ve got leaky gut syndrome. Yes, it really is that easy.

Best of all, if you do have the condition, odds are in your favor that you’ll beat it. Metabolism doctors find that removing all the “junk” from your diet and adding the amino acid L-glutamine can have a profound effect. Like fertilizing your lawn to help it grow, L-glutamine (often used on burn victims) essentially fills in those holes in your intestinal walls to quickly return your intestinal permeability to the normal range.

If you’ve been dealing with unexplained health issues or struggling with a sluggish metabolism, you may have a leaky gut that requires a plumber … err … metabolism doctor! Waiting can turn that leak into a flood of health problems.