7 Signs You Have Leaky Gut Syndrome & How to Heal It

Leaky gut syndrome, also known as intestinal permeability, is a digestive condition that can drive inflammation and autoimmunity.

Leaky gut syndrome, as its name suggests, occurs when toxins and inflammatory agents “leak” through the intestinal walls and into the bloodstream.

In a healthy gut, when you digest food, your intestines break it down, allowing tiny healthy nutrients to pass through the walls into the bloodstream. 

But, "when the permeability of the gut lining has been altered, this allows toxins, bacteria, and foreign substances like undigested food particles to enter the blood stream along with the nutrients," explains family medicine physician Bindiya Gandhi, M.D.. "The connections between the cells that line the inside of the intestines (known as tight junctions) become looser," adds gut health expert Vincent Pedre, M.D..

Some practitioners believe that addressing leaky gut can help heal underlying conditions before they get worse, but this has yet to be medically proven1.

There isn’t a strong medical consensus on the root cause of leaky gut, but studies have shown that chronic conditions like celiac disease2 and type 1 diabetes3 can play a role in disrupting the gut microbiome (a collection of healthy bacteria that make up the gut).

Long-term use of some anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen and aspirin4 may also affect the gut.

“When the gut is unhealthy the intestinal lining can become worn and ‘broken,’ literally forming cracks or holes at the cellular level,” explains naturalistic nurse Audrey Christie, MSN, RN, CCMA.

According to a 2020 study by the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, leaky gut is most often experienced by people who are older, have chronic conditions, or high-stress lifestyles. 

The same study also found evidence of what may be the root cause of leaky gut—a molecular mechanism called the stress-polarity signaling pathway, which helps keep the gut lining functioning properly.

When this mechanism comes under stress, it can create chronic inflammation in the digestive tract, which can be a trigger for more gut damage and other issues.

And because the immune system is on high alert, it can result in body-wide inflammation.

Since leaky gut is not yet a medically recognized condition, there is no set diagnostic criteria.

As Pedre explains it, "Leaky gut is not a diagnosis but a process, a description of the underlying pathology of numerous diseases that we treat yet have failed to find a cure for."

If you experience gas, diarrhea, bloating, or other digestive issues this could be a sign of leaky gut.

The gut microbiome plays an important role in regulating estrogen levels in the body.

Autoimmune disorders occur when the body’s natural immune response is compromised, causing it to fight against itself.

These disorders are caused by a combination of genetic and biological factors, and according to multiple recent studies7, intestinal barrier dysfunction may also play a role in triggering them. 

Pedre explains, "Your immune system is constantly patrolling the gut border for anything it does not recognize in order to prevent an all-out invasion."

But, when an individual has a "leaky gut" the immune system finds and attacks all of the escaped particles.

Do you get extremely tired easily, or suffer from unidentifiable muscle pain?

Yes, surprisingly, your gut is also connected to the glowiness (or lack thereof) of your skin.

When your gut is inflamed, it can produce an immune reaction that extends to other areas of the body10, including your joints.

Doctors are still working on finding the best way to treat the condition, so if you suspect you have it, it's important to work with a skilled physician who understands the gut.

To combat your gut issues naturally, Christie recommends some lifestyle changes. “I start people with sleep and stress,” she says. “When you are getting good quality and quantity of sleep, and your stress is mitigated, not only are you actively healing your body, [but] you are also setting the stage for more challenging lifestyle behavior modification.” 

Once you’ve lowered your baseline of stress, you can work on rebuilding the good gut bacteria to support damaged tissue repairs.

Christie advises clients to eat a wide variety of plant foods in their diet.

“Shifting the food you are consuming away from processed and damaging foods to more organic, whole, plant foods is always beneficial,” she says.

She typically suggests cutting out gluten, dairy, and eggs to begin the healing process, and instead opting for fresh fruits and vegetables. 

Leaky gut syndrome may be tough to clinically diagnose, but science is showing that it’s likely tied to a wide range of physical ailments.

There’s the obvious connection to digestive issues, and then the more surprising links to skin irritation, fatigue, and chronic conditions. 

If you are experiencing these symptoms, consider talking to your health care provider and tweaking your lifestyle to start rebuilding your gut microbiome and intestinal walls.

With the right combination of a healthy diet, supplements, and adequate rest, you can work on healing from the inside out.*