If You Have/had Leaky Gut, How Did You Treat It?

[emcmaster]

I know probiotics are a big one, but what other supplements, vitamins, etc. did you take to decrease the intestinal permeability?

Thanks!!!

[CarlaB]

My doctor has me taking VSL#3. From what I've read about it, it really helps with leaky gut. You can get it without a prescription, but they will ask who your doctor is because they recommend having medical supervision. It's a probiotic.

Here's an interesting article about it ... they talk about gluten, but DO NOT claim to heal celiac. Open Original Shared Link

[emcmaster]

My doctor has me taking VSL#3. From what I've read about it, it really helps with leaky gut. You can get it without a prescription, but they will ask who your doctor is because they recommend having medical supervision. It's a probiotic.

Here's an interesting article about it ... they talk about gluten, but DO NOT claim to heal celiac. Open Original Shared Link

I've taken that before and liked it! Thanks for reminding me - I'll order some now.

[CarlaB]

I've taken that before and liked it! Thanks for reminding me - I'll order some now.

Glad to get the testimonial, mine just came today!!

I also take Theralac (not Threelac) and another probiotic ... but I'm on a boatload of long-term antibiotics.

I don't know if there's anything better for your gut than probiotics and staying away from allergens.

[emcmaster]

Glad to get the testimonial, mine just came today!!

I also take Theralac (not Threelac) and another probiotic ... but I'm on a boatload of long-term antibiotics.

I don't know if there's anything better for your gut than probiotics and staying away from allergens.

Do you think it would be harmful for me to take 2 different probiotics, as I'm not on an antibiotics now? Because my A.L.C.A.T. results came back as intolerant to foods I've been eating a lot of, it makes me think that it's leaky gut. I was tested for it about a year ago and didn't have it, but I did have not enough good bacteria in my gut. I wonder if that eventually caused it?

[CarlaB]

I agree that leaky gut can cause lots of food intolerances. I don't see what it would hurt to take more than one ... I'm taking three!

Do you use organic milk products and organic meats? If not, you do get antibiotics in your food. I wonder if that's what contributes to so many people having leaky gut and food intolerances?

[emcmaster]

I agree that leaky gut can cause lots of food intolerances. I don't see what it would hurt to take more than one ... I'm taking three!

Do you use organic milk products and organic meats? If not, you do get antibiotics in your food. I wonder if that's what contributes to so many people having leaky gut and food intolerances?

I'd never thought of that - no, I don't use organic meat and milk products. I try to buy organic, but it's not exactly easy on the budget!

[CarlaB]

I'd never thought of that - no, I don't use organic meat and milk products. I try to buy organic, but it's not exactly easy on the budget!

Yeah, I know! I have six kids, so we eat a lot of natural fed ground beef! It's the cheapest! I also buy the chicken sausages from Wild Oats that don't have the bad stuff. I actually don't buy organic meat all the time, but I do buy the stuff without hormones or antibiotics all the time. Same with milk and eggs.

[emcmaster]

Yeah, I know! I have six kids, so we eat a lot of natural fed ground beef! It's the cheapest! I also buy the chicken sausages from Wild Oats that don't have the bad stuff. I actually don't buy organic meat all the time, but I do buy the stuff without hormones or antibiotics all the time. Same with milk and eggs.

Hmmm. I will have to start doing that!

As for the VSL#3, did you buy the packets that you mix with liquid or the capsules? I'd bought the packets before, but I don't really want the lemon flavor and the unflavored has corn starch in it...

Also, how much are you taking?

[CarlaB]

I was happy to have the lemon flavor because I love kifir, but can't have the flavored ones because of the sugar ... now my kifir tastes like lemon! I take one per day, but if the meds continue to cause GI problems I'll probably have to take more.

The pills have a lower bacterial count so you need more of them to equal one packet. I take SO MANY pills each day that I just couldn't take a few more!

[emcmaster]

I was happy to have the lemon flavor because I love kifir, but can't have the flavored ones because of the sugar ... now my kifir tastes like lemon! I take one per day, but if the meds continue to cause GI problems I'll probably have to take more.

The pills have a lower bacterial count so you need more of them to equal one packet. I take SO MANY pills each day that I just couldn't take a few more!

I will try the lemon kind then... as the pills are more expensive anyway... not that they both aren't expensive! Sheesh!

[Nancym]

My rheumy has me on Sulfasalazine which he says treats leaky gut, which is the root cause of my autoimmune arthritis. But I also use coconut milk kefir (homemade) and I think taking Vit. D3 supplements has helped too. Sticking with a low GI diet helps (i.e. avoiding starches and sugars) as does avoiding foods I seem to have problems with (seeds, dairy and all grains).

[Guest Greggy]

Sorry for my ignorance. Could someone please tell me how you would find out if you had leaky gut sydrome? Is it synonymous with gluten intolerance or celiac? How would you be tested for it if there is a need?

Thanks

Greg

[Nancym]

Sorry for my ignorance. Could someone please tell me how you would find out if you had leaky gut sydrome? Is it synonymous with gluten intolerance or celiac? How would you be tested for it if there is a need?

Thanks

Greg

If you've got a gluten intolerance, you've got a leaky gut. One thing gluten does is it jams open the junctions on the gut and allows stuff to cross the intestinal barrier. Google zonulin for more info.

Someone just posted Open Original Shared Link on Braintalk about glutamine and intestinal barrier function.

[Guest Greggy]

Ok, so can our leaky guts be repaired??

[CarlaB]

Ok, so can our leaky guts be repaired??

Yes, with probiotics, avoiding foods that you have an intolerance to, and avoiding bad stuff (sugar, alcohol, etc.). Eat really "clean" -- meat, veggies, eggs, fruit, brown rice, etc.

[Rachel--24]

Ok, so can our leaky guts be repaired??

You would need to find out the cause of the leaky gut in order to repair it. Like most things...if you dont determine the cause and correct it....the problem will not fix itself. If gluten intolerance is the cause the gut should heal with removal of gluten and a clean diet.

If this alone doesnt heal the gut then there is likely another culprit.....usually dysbiosis (too much bad bacteria/not enough good). Other possibilities would include parasitic infection and/or yeast overgrowth.

[RiceGuy]

I did have a terribly leaky gut, though thankfully now it doesn't appear to be leaking to any real noticeable degree. I guess I just gave it time more than anything else, but all my meals have been prepared by me, and only veggies, whole grains, some fruits, etc. Nothing artificial, no processed sugars, no "junk food". Also lots and lots of water, which for me isn't so much a matter of self-discipline as it is thirst.

Had I known earlier what I know now, I'd have definitely been taking a powdered magnesium supplement. From what I've read, it helps with a lot of things, including the absorption of nutrients. So it seems to me that would be a good thing to have in the case of leaky gut. The more nutrients the body gets, the better able it should be to heal. The reason to select a powder rather than a pill is it should be easier on the digestive system to utilize. Even today I'd never take a solid pill - I know my system can't break it down well enough. That brings me to one other thing I'd have done, which I also do now; putting veggies through a blender so it's easier for the gut to break them down.

Again, I think it may take time perhaps more than anything. Such damage can't be repaired over night.

[Guest Greggy]

Thanks guys. Ive looked up leaky gut on the net & along with your advice I now have a treatment plan set up. Colostrum is the first natural aid I purchased today!

Greg

[CarlaB]

Thanks guys. Ive looked up leaky gut on the net & along with your advice I now have a treatment plan set up. Colostrum is the first natural aid I purchased today!

Greg

Colostrum is good as long as your not dairy intolerant. I took it for years, but stopped taking it when I got off dairy for six months. I've been thinking about adding it back in ... you may have given me the motivation.

[emcmaster]

Thanks guys. Ive looked up leaky gut on the net & along with your advice I now have a treatment plan set up. Colostrum is the first natural aid I purchased today!

Greg

Can you post the link where you found the treatment plan? I've been researching but didn't see anything that specific. Also, where did you buy the colostrum? Thanks!

[tabasco32]

sometimes I wonder if I have leaky gut. my stool is always grainy and shiny and floats. I always have bubble guts even just drinking water does this. I was on macrobid, cipro, and metronidazole all in less than 2 or 3 months. My digestive system has never been the same since. I wonder if it's gluten at all or just leaky gut. It doesn't go away though I have been on a gluten free diet for 5 months now. I am taking a probiotic by Lame Advertisement. It has 12 billion colonies. I wonder if this is good enough. sigh. will I ever get better and start gaining weight? All I eat is chicken soup as this is the only thing my intestines absorb. I will have to try that magnesium powder though. I have been to so many doctors. I don't know what to do anymore. I started to also get bladder ulcers at the same time. I wonder if it was the beer and me being an alchohalic that did this to me.

[Guest Greggy]

Elizabeth,

Sorry - just read your message.

I just read up an awful lot on leaky gut syndrome & worked out what I needed to do i.e.-

Lots of pro-biotics - to add good bacteria to my gut

Magnesium & calcium with Vit B supplemeents (powder form as easier to absorb)

Avoiding infalammatory foods

Avoiding caffeine

Cutting down on alcohol

Im now off dairy after reading about the dangers of the darn stuff (see notmilk.com)

And a lot of time for it to heal which I think it will for most of us in the right conditions

Good luck,

Greg

[emcmaster]

Thanks, Greg! I'll definitely try that!

[elisabet]

Elizabeth,

Sorry - just read your message.

I just read up an awful lot on leaky gut syndrome & worked out what I needed to do i.e.-

Lots of pro-biotics - to add good bacteria to my gut

Magnesium & calcium with Vit B supplemeents (powder form as easier to absorb)

Avoiding infalammatory foods

Avoiding caffeine

Cutting down on alcohol

Im now off dairy after reading about the dangers of the darn stuff (see notmilk.com)

And a lot of time for it to heal which I think it will for most of us in the right conditions

Good luck,

Greg

Hello Greg,

It is a wonderful idead to have vit B in powder form.Where do you buy it?

thanks