Do You Have Leaky Gut? What Even Is That?

Food doesn't mean anything if you aren't digesting it. The gut impacts literally every system in the body - it has its own nervous system that connects and influences all other systems in the body. The digestive system is also much more than simply digesting your food. It influences immunity, mental health, detoxification, sex and thyroid hormones...the list goes on. + HAPPY MONDAY!!!   Second to hormones, gut health may be the most talked about topic in the nutrition space today - and for good reason!  The gut is often referred to as the “second brain,” and is responsible for so many things in our bodies. Whether you are seeking fat loss, muscle gain, better performance, or even simply better overall health, the gut must be functioning properly to achieve the desired outcomes. While the media would like you to believe that achieving optimal gut health is as simple as eating a yogurt a day, or taking a daily probiotic, the truth is that it is far more complex.  From inflammation to parasites, and everything in between, we must understand how to assess and correct a dysbiosis of the gut if we truly want to become best version of our selves.   HERE IS WHAT I MEAN....   Have you ever heard that you or someone you know has "leaky gut"?   What is that? What does it mean?   Leaky gut, also known as increased intestinal permeability, is a digestive condition in which bacteria and toxins are able to "leak" through the intestinal wall   Let's be more specific , it is a condition in which the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged, causing undigested food particles, toxic waste products and bacteria to "leak" through the intestines and flood the blood stream. The foreign substances entering the blood can cause an autoimmune response in the body including inflammatory and allergic reactions such as migraines, irritable bowel, eczema, chronic fatigue, food allergies, rheumatoid arthritis and more. With leaky gut, damaged cells in your intestines don't produce the enzymes needed for proper digestion. As a result, your body cannot absorb essential nutrients, which can lead to hormone imbalances and a weakened immune system.    What causes leaky gut?  In many cases, leaky gut is caused by your diet. For some people, certain foods that they are consuming every day, including gluten, soy and dairy, get treated by their body as foreign invaders that had to be fought off. When they eat these foods, the body went to war, producing antibodies, which triggered an immune response that included diarrhea, headaches, fatigue and joint pain. Leaky gut can also be caused by medications including antibiotics, steroids or over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin and acetaminophen, which can irritate the intestinal lining and damage protective mucus layers. This irritation can start or continue the inflammation cycle that leads to intestinal permeability. See what I mean...a yogurt a day won't fix that AMONG ALL THE NEW THINGS WE ARE ADDING IN 2019 WE ARE ADDING A PROGRAM TO IMPROVE GUT HEALTH Fixing the gut - There are numerous “gut repair” protocols that exist today, but understanding which to use can be difficult.  We will walk you through everything from elimination diets to broad spectrum botanicals, and everything in between.  You will know what the protocols are, and how to implement them effectively. Gut Health Maintenance - Repairing GI issues is essential, but optimizing our population for the future is truly what we are after.  I will be taking a few people to pre-register for this service starting in January (after the Holidays) It will be a $75 deposit to book the appointment and that can be applied to the Gut Health Maintenance package if you decide it's for you... Send any questions my way, I wish you all an AMAZING week !! Coach Rafael “PREPARE FOR AWESOMENESS.”