Your intestinal lining is designed to function as a barrier keeping bacteria and other infectious agents from entering your gut. This barrier plays an integral role in your immune system.
This mucosal lining in our intestines is semi-permeable so it can absorb water and nutrients from the food and liquids we consume into our bloodstream, but when there is increased intestinal permeability or hyperpermeability, more than water and nutrients are “leaking” through.
Left untreated, a “leaky gut” can seriously derail your overall health and can even lead to serious chronic medical conditions. That’s why regular screening – accurate screening with a doctor experienced in treating gastrointestinal (GI) conditions like Leaky Gut Syndrome – is essential.
Leaky Gut can wreak havoc on your health – but you don’t have to let it. Compile your list of symptoms and contact Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto, CA, to discuss options for achieving a healthier, more balanced approach to restoring your gut integrity. Schedule a consultation today with us by contacting us online or calling us at (650) 240-4868!
A widespread digestive condition, Leaky Gut Syndrome is a disorder that develops when your intestinal lining becomes increasingly permeable, allowing larger molecules through — potentially toxic ones. Also known as Intestinal hyper-permeability, Leaky Gut is considered a surprisingly common phenomenon, with some estimates suggesting it may affect up to 80-90 percent of the population, particularly those with processed diets or certain medical conditions.
Currently, Leaky Gut is not recognized as a formal medical diagnosis. In alternative medicine, it is thought to be a distinct medical condition and sometimes a root cause for a variety of conditions. In conventional medicine, it is usually regarded simply as a symptom caused by conditions like IBS, Crohn’s disease, food allergies, IBD, celiac disease or various other autoimmune diseases.
Studies have shown that people who have certain chronic gastrointestinal diseases exhibit Leaky Gut symptomology, but the debate continues as to whether Leaky Gut was a root cause or is simply a symptom of those medical conditions.
The precise cause of Leaky Gut is not known, but researchers believe a combination of lifestyle, medical, environmental and genetic factors are at the root. Some possible risk factors/causes include:
Other factors are becoming evident as well, including:
Gender - Compared to men, women experience more gut health issues in general, including Leaky Gut and other conditions associated with increased intestinal permeability like IBS, IBD, and celiac disease. This higher prevalence is believed to be driven by hormonal fluctuations, slower fecal transit times and a longer colon in women.
Age - Incidence increases with age for most GI conditions, including Leaky Gut. In the general population and especially among the elderly, Leaky Gut is linked to a rise in chronic, low-grade inflammation (often called "inflamm-aging") which causes the gut lining to become more porous and allows toxins to enter the bloodstream. Aging weakens the gut barrier, degrading the intestinal lining and reducing the thickness of this protective mucus layer in the colon, making it more vulnerable. The diversity of healthy, beneficial gut bacteria decreases with age, reducing the production of protective compounds like butyrate and leading to gut dysbiosis. Diminished immune function as we age is another contributing factor.
Environmental Triggers: Exposure to environmental triggers like water, soil or air pollutants – even cigarette smoke – as well as radiation therapy, heavy metals and plastics are emerging risk factors that damage the intestinal barrier.
There are a wide range of symptoms that could signal the onset of Leaky Gut, and every individual differs in their experience and symptoms. Leaky Gut develops slowly and often causes no symptoms at all early on. Do you find you are experiencing digestive issues combined with neurological symptoms – maybe developing autoimmune conditions as well? It might not occur to you to link psoriasis, brain fog and constipation.
When symptoms do develop, they may range from common GI symptoms to full-blown conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, celiac disease or rosacea:
At Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto, we take not only your physical symptoms, but your emotional symptoms into consideration as we develop a treatment plan designed for you. Mental and emotional symptoms can include:
These symptoms are often linked to widespread, chronic inflammation caused by increased intestinal permeability.
At Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto, CA, we understand that your diagnosis of Leaky Gut is the first step in restoring your overall mental and physical health.
A healthcare provider can diagnose Leaky Gut through medical and family history reviews, medical exams and testing. At your first consultation, we will conduct a full assessment of your symptoms and take a complete medical history to properly diagnose Leaky Gut and rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms. We recommend that you prepare a list of symptoms prior to your first consultation. We will also review your lifestyle factors, current medications and other health concerns.
Only with a proper diagnosis can treatment commence and healing begin.
If you are experiencing symptoms of Leaky Gut, it’s important to work with a doctor who understands the complexity of GI conditions, gut health and autoimmune disease. A very specialized type of expertise and care is required to address all of the issues that arise from Leaky Gut.
The course of treatment will vary with each individual, especially since Leaky Gut symptoms may manifest differently in each patient. We will develop a treatment plan designed specifically for you. We will discuss your individualized Leaky Gut treatment protocol in detail, including treatment duration, possible side effects, dosing, and a timeline for when you can expect to see effects.
Our goal is to counteract the changes in your body the onset of Leaky Gut may have triggered. Some approaches may include:
Investing in your gut integrity and health is one of the most important moves you can make in increasing longevity and overall health and wellness. Ease digestive complaints, restore energy levels, correct nutritional deficiencies and food sensitivities, manage your weight, reduce inflammation and pain, slow aging, erase skin conditions, improve neurological function, while addressing or even preventing chronic illness and disease – all by healing your gut and restoring the integrity of your intestinal lining.
At Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto, CA, we offer the most up-to-date and comprehensive testing and treatment to bring renewed gut health and freedom from the troubling symptoms of Leaky Gut.
We are here to answer any questions you may have about your symptoms and our array of healing, rejuvenating and balancing approaches to help you recover from Leaky Gut and restore healthy GI function. Compile your list of symptoms and reach out to Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto, CA to schedule a consultation today! Contact us online or call us at (650) 240-4868!
326 Bryant Street
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Phone: (650) 240-4868
Fax: (650) 494-4939
| Monday: | 9:00am - 4:00pm |
| Tuesday: | 9:00am - 4:00pm |
| Wednesday: | 8:00am - 3:00pm |
| Thursday: | 9:00am - 4:00pm |
| Friday: | 8:00am - 12:00pm |
| Saturday: | Closed |
| Sunday: | Closed |
