What is Leaky Gut
What is gut permeability or leaky gut?
The gut lining acts as a barrier to prevent entry of larger damaging molecules, foreign particles and bacteria. Gut Permeability or a healthy gut lining allows some molecules to pass into the bloodstream such as vitamins, minerals and digested foods. Your gastrointestinal tract (gut) is equipped to absorb most of the food we eat. A healthy GI tract is necessary for optimal digestion, absorption and nutrient delivery. Not only do you absorb nutrients through your gut but it also contains 70% of your immune system, has a strong effect on mood and anxiety. In fact, there is now research to suggest that a poor functioning gut may be a factor in depression. Gut is known to most doctors as the second brain.
Which foods and nutrients help to promote a healthy gut?
Probiotic food is the best for a healthy gut. Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health, especially your digestive system. Probiotics help move food through your gut. Yogurt is the most famous probiotic food. With the added bonus of being very versatile and tasty, yogurt should be incorporated in your diet regularly. Other of the most potent prebiotic foods include: almonds, asparagus, bananas, garlic, mushrooms, oats, and onions. Sourdough bread, made with a lactic acid starter that contains strains of lactobacillus, a friendly type of bacteria that adds good microbes. Sourdough may be the healthiest bread choice if diabetes is a concern for you.
Citrus fruit, fibre-rich foods, leafy greens and yellow vegetable are excellent for a healthy gut. Foods like: black beans, caraway, nutmeg, cinnamon and cardamom; are called ‘carminatives’. They prevent or relieve gas, and are used to help the digestive system with the digestion which is why they’re often found in recipes together.
How the leaky gut test is done?
Our gut permeability test is carried out via a urine sample. A urine test looks at the bacterial levels in the gut especially the good ones, the state of the immune system in the stomach, overall intestinal health and the inflammation markers of the gut. Furthermore, faecal matter can reveal microbes and probiotic levels present in the gut, both the good kind and the bad kind. It also reveals information about any pathogenic micro-organisms, for example, yeast, parasites and bacteria that might cause the walls of the gut to leak, and even chronic illness and neurological dysfunction (like disorders and depression). After all, gut is known as a second brain.
Samples are collected at home in private, and then mailed to our labs. Before collecting the sample, you must stop consuming most supplements (digestive enzymes, antacids, iron supplements, supplements of Vitamins, aspirin etc.) and remove or limit the amount of meat that you consume prior to the test.