Leaky Gut Syndrome

Leaky gut syndrome, which is intestinal permeability, is becoming more common. It occurs when the lining of your intestines develops microscopic holes that allow toxins, microbes, and undigested food particles to pass through into your bloodstream. This may increase chronic inflammation, which in turn can result in a chronic immune response. This is a critical issue since leaky gut syndrome may cause chronic symptoms, histamine intolerance, autoimmunity, and other chronic health conditions.

Let’s take a deeper look at what leaky gut syndrome is, the symptoms, its link to histamine intolerance, and lab markers to help determine if you have a leaky gut.

What is leaky gut syndrome?

A healthy gut lining is naturally semi-permeable. It allows key micronutrients to pass through microscopic holes into your bloodstream. These holes are too small for toxins, microbes, or undigested food particles to pass through. This helps to keep your gut and the rest of your body healthy. Pathogens that can’t pass through will eventually get eliminated through urine or stool.

A leaky gut can develop when inflammatory foods, toxins, infections, chronic stress, or other harmful factors cause serious damage to the gut lining. They cause the tiny holes to grow bigger making your gut lining more permeable than it should be. The holes are big enough for undigested food particles, toxins, microbes, and pathogens to easily move through.

When this happens, it can cause serious damage, chronic inflammation, and a compromised immune system. It can lead to an ongoing chronic immune response to these foreign substances, which increases the risk of chronic symptoms, autoimmunity, and other health problems.