Leaky Gut Diet Information

Leaky Gut Diet Guidelines:

If you or someone you know suffers from this condition, it's good to know there are dietary treatments for this problem.

The difficulty is, some of the standard American foods that you grew up eating - the so-called "comfort foods" - are often the culprits in LGS.

So adopting this "diet" plan requires some re-thinking about what foods bring you comfort.

As the new diet brings you increased physical comfort, this can help you to adopt the leaky gut diet with more enthusiasm.

And there's more good news - once your leaky gut condition is under control, you may judiciously re-introduce some of the problem foods. Once your gut is healed, you can handle the occasional deviation from the diet.

Here is more information on the specifics of a leaky gut diet.

1. Gluten is implicated in leaky gut, even if Celiac disease (the name for gluten sensitivity) is not specifically present. The most widely known and glutinous grain is wheat, but corn and barley are high in gluten as well. So cutting out high-gluten grains makes sense.

2. Eat grains like millet, quinoa, and brown rice. Make sure they are whole and unrefined.

3. Whole foods in general are better for people with leaky gut. Eat whole, unrefined meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables. Do not eat processed foods like lunch meats or white bread.

4. Dairy products are very inflammatory. They contain casein, a protein that, when it gets out into the bloodstream, can cause a host of inflammatory problems.

Modern milk is especially a problem, as it is generally homogenized, which means, in short, that the fat and protein particles are much smaller than in raw milk. Thus, they are more likely to migrate through the intestinal lining and out into the bloodstream.

5. White sugar and high fructose corn syrup (or any corn syrup) should not be consumed by people with leaky gut. Use healing honey as a sweetener instead. Make sure it is raw and unfiltered.

6. Pickled or fermented foods (including alcohol) are generally not recommended for those with leaky gut. The exception to this would be gluten-free sourdough bread.

In fact, whole wheat sourdough bread can sometimes be tolerated by people with gluten sensitivity. This can be one of the first wheat foods you re-introduce as you heal.

7. Colas and sugary drinks need to be avoided by those with leaky gut. Replace them with stevia-sweetened herbal teas, iced or hot.

8. Eat foods rich in probiotics, the good bacteria. This includes miso, a Japanese soy paste that can be found in health food stores. Stir a teaspoon or two into a cup of hot water to make a healing broth.

If you are avoiding soy, eat or drink other foods rich in probiotics, such as kombucha tea. Taking probiotic supplements is also a good idea, especially if you can't find a probiotic-rich food that does not contain problem substances like soy or dairy.

Other dietary tips include chewing your food thoroughly before swallowing, and drinking plenty of pure water.

Further Reading - Leaky Gut Syndrome:

A general overview of LGS

How candida yeast overgrowth may be linked to LGS

Symptoms and causes of LGS as well as natural cures and treatment.

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