The gastrointestinal tract influences both the brain and immune system. Immune cells are widespread in the gastrointestinal system, particularly in the lining of the small intestine. It is in this intestinal lining that the normally leak-proof lining allows for the absorption of proteins, fatty acids, and carbohydrates (as simple sugars).

Sometimes there are abnormalities in the intestinal lining that normally cause the sieve to become leaky, allowing for bigger particles of food to pass through. This is called “leaky gut syndrome”

When this happens, larger particles of food pass into the bloodstream, causing an immune response that leads to various diseases like food sensitivities and autoimmune diseases. The intestinal lining is only one cell layer thick so that can become damaged fairly easily. When this layer becomes damaged, the holes in the sieve become bigger so that larger molecules of fat, carbohydrates, partially digested protein, and undigested protein can pass into the bloodstream. Continue reading →

Leaky gut syndrome is related to many types of autoimmune diseases. Leaky gut syndrome happens when the normal sieve that is the absorptive surface of the small intestine develops bigger holes than is normal.

This allows for the passage of larger food particles and toxins that increase the inflammation in the body and can result in the immune system recognizing normal tissues as being foreign, causing an autoimmune disease.

Things that are linked to leaky gut syndrome include celiac disease, food allergies, strenuous exercise, chronic alcoholism, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, and infections of the GI tract from parasites, fungal organisms, and bacteria. This causes undigested protein molecules and undigested proteins as well as toxic waste and fat to enter the bloodstream, causing problems for the body. Continue reading →