A couple of years ago, I went through a stressful season, which included moving into an RV and traveling quite a lot, and I began to experience some serious stomach issues. When I went to my doctor, I found out that I had a parasite, along with candida overgrowth, food intolerances, and leaky gut symptoms. I decided to address these with natural remedies instead of conventional medicine, and I found great success using changes in diet, five cycles of our detox cleanse, and avoiding gluten and a few other grains. (I also found that if I have any accidental exposures to gluten, TerraZyme helps relieve the pain I experience quickly.)
Diane Carroll, who is a nurse and a dōTERRA team member, presented some excellent education in a webinar recently about this topic . You can watch the recording below.
Diane is passionate about this topic because she has seen the debilitating effects of autoimmune disorders in her own family and how they are directly linked to gut health. She also detailed the important associations of leaky gut, diet, and how dōTERRA oils and supplements can support a healthy lifestyle.
"Leaky Gut Syndrome is almost always associated with autoimmune disease. In fact, reversing symptoms of autoimmune disease depends on healing the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. Any other treatment is just symptom suppression." - Jill Carnahan, MD
The microbiota of our bodies includes the gut flora and other bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live in a symbiotic relationship. When a dysbiosis (imbalance) of this microbiota is present, the impairment causes disease in the host. Our gut biome is established by the time we reach age three, and the small intestine lining measures 4300 square feet. Isn't it amazing to consider that length? Certainly keeping this system healthy is crucial to many aspects of our health.
Leaky Gut Syndrome, also known as Hyper-permeable Intestine, occurs when the intestinal lining has become more porous, with additional holes developing that are larger in size, and the natural screening process that allows nutrients to pass into the bloodstream and toxins to move through to excretion is no longer functioning properly.
Some causes of Leaky Gut include:
Diet (especially gluten, which disrupts Zonulin and the tight junctions associated with a healthy [non-leaky] gut, and casein)
Medications (including acid blockers and antibiotics)
Infections (including SIBO [Small-Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth], E-coli, and Shingella)
Stress
Hormone imbalance
Autoimmune conditions
Industrial food processing
Environmental factors (including pesticides, solvents, and cigarette smoke)
All of these can lead to gastrointestinal inflammation, which can cause food sensitivities and can develop into problems with immune function and autoimmune diseases.
Another factor that is interrelated to autoimmune disease and gut health is Vitamin D deficiency. Experts say 80-90% of people with autoimmune issues also have a Vitamin D deficiency, so it is very important to supplement enough Vitamin D into your diet and dietary supplements in order to combat these problems.
Other dietary culprits of Leaky Gut include dairy from cows, sugar, unsprouted grains, GMO produce and grains, alcohol, and diets high in saturated fat and low in fiber.
When it comes to autoimmune issues, we see that between 23 and 50 million Americans struggle with 80-100 different types of autoimmune disorders, and they are among the top 10 leading causes of death among females of ALL ages. This is a very serious problem!
Some forms of Autoimmune Disorders include Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Celiac Disease, Autoimmune Hepatitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Diabetes Type I, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and more.
Symptoms of Leaky Gut can include:
Food sensitivities
Irritable bowel
Thyroid problems
Nutrient malabsorption
Inflammatory skin conditions
Mood issues/autism
"All disease begins in the gut." - Hippocrates
So, what can we do?
Let's start with some dietary recommendations to prevent and/or reverse Leaky Gut:
Bone broth
Raw/cultured dairy/Kefir
Coconut water/Kefir
Fermented vegetables
Coconut products
Sprouted seeds (chia or flax)
Probiotics (with diet change)
Clean eating, which includes:
Organic food
Non-GMO foods
Non-processed foods
No preservatives/chemicals/nitrates
Whole foods
No pesticides
While these dietary changes may seem monumental, a lifestyle change to help you feel better will be more than worth it!
Many people have found great success to combat Leaky Gut and Autoimmune Disease by choosing a certain diet protocol such as Specific Carbohydrate Diet, FODMap Diet, Paleolithic Diet, Anti-Inflammatory Diet, and Ketogenic Diet, just to name a few options.
In addition, dōTERRA essential oils and natural supplements can help support a healthy immune system and promote gut health. Here are some products that can improve health and wellness of these body systems:
Lifelong Vitality Pack - for bioavailable nutrition, improved absorption, omegas/Vitamin D, anti-inflammatory herbs, and tummy-tamer blend
PB Assist+ - to repopulate the gut with friendly bacteria
GX Assist - to cleanse and toxins and reduce toxic load
Citrus oils (Lemon, Grapefruit, Lime, Tangerine, Wild Orange) - for a natural daily cleanse and to boost antioxidants
Zendocrine Detoxification Complex - to support the liver, kidneys, colon, lungs, and skin during a detox cleanse
Zendocrine Softgels - to cleanse the body's organs of harmful free radicals, heavy metals, and other toxins
DDR Prime Softgels - to reduce toxic oxidation and for cellular support
Bone Nutrient Complex - for additional Vitamin D, especially if facing a deficiency
DigestZen Softgels - for occasional stomach/digestive discomfort
Cinnamon Bark - to support the immune system and balance metabolism
Cassia - for immune support, to balance the gut's microbiota, and for cardiovascular support
Myrrh - to help balance the gut's microbiota, for a healthy inflammatory response, and thyroid support
Frankincense - a staple for immune support, cellular health and longevity, protection against cellular mutation, and digestive support