Written by Dr. Nicole McCulloch, ND
Our digestive system harbours many different bacteria in order to help with digestion and to aid the immune system. It is important that we have the right amount and the right type of bacteria present in the digestive tract in order to maintain health. However it is very common for a ‘dysbiosis’ to occur, meaning that there is an imbalance between the amount of ‘good’ versus ‘bad’ bacteria present. This condition is becoming exceedingly more common due to the Standard North American diet which emphasizes processed foods, excess sugar and refined carbohydrates. As well, the use of antibiotics can also alter the balance in the digestive tract leaving one more likely to develop a dysbiosis. The symptoms of dysbiosis often include:
Many people disregard the symptoms of dysbiosis as mild and do not address them, but if left untreated it can progress to a more serious condition known as ‘leaky gut syndrome’. This condition occurs when there is an increase in inflammation in the lining of the gut which can lead to the development of the ‘leaky gut’. In healthy individuals the lining of the gut serves as a barrier that allows only nutrients, proteins, fats and carbohydrates to enter the bloodstream, leaving the toxins, bacteria and larger molecules to be excreted in the stool. However, when the gut is leaky, these larger molecules are able to seep into the bloodstream and can cause significant irritation and inflammation in the body. In addition to dysbiosis, leaky gut syndrome may develop secondary to other conditions such as food allergies, stress, low stomach acid, candida overgrowth, celiac’s disease just to name a few. Several different health conditions have been associated with leaky gut syndrome including:
Many individuals suffering with the symptoms of dybiosis or leaky gut syndrome can benefit from healing the inflammation in the digestive tract. This is done by re-establishing the proper balance of bacteria in the digestive tract through the use of various strains of probiotic supplementation as well as by avoiding any food that may be contributing to the inflammation. Identifying the foods that are contributing to inflammation can be achieved by laboratory testing (Food Allergy Testing- IgG) used to identify your unique food intolerances. Once identified, following a unique dietary plan designed around your intolerances aimed at decreasing the inflammation in the gut is a very important part of treatment. In addition to food avoidance, the gut can be healed by using many different herbs, nutrients or other natural agents to help soothe the lining and promote healing, thereby reversing the symptoms.
If you are suffering from any of the symptoms or conditions above or feel that you may benefit from seeing one of our Naturopathic Doctors, call the clinic to set up your appointment today (905)668-7987.
25 Comments
It’s a shame you don’t have a subscribe button! I’d certainly subscribe
to this fantastic blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
I look forward to fresh updates and will share this site with my Facebook group.
Talk soon!
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve visited this web site before
but after going through a few of the posts I realized it’s new to me.
Nonetheless, I’m definitely pleased I stumbled upon it and I’ll be book-marking it
and checking back frequently!
thx for the info
Excellent postings. Thanks a lot!
I have read so many articles about this but
this post is really a pleasant article, keep
it up.
I cant wait to read much more from you. That is actually a wonderful website.
I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your website.
It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit
more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme?
Superb work!
Good information. Lucky me I came across your website by
accident (stumbleupon). I’ve saved it for later!
Useful info. Fortunate me I found your web site accidentally, and I am surprised why this
accident did not took place earlier! I bookmarked it.
thanks for the jnfo
Fascinating
thanks for the intfo
Good article. I certainly appreciate this site.
Thanks!
Awesome article.
thanks for the imnfo
Nice weblog right here!
Hello, just wanted to say, I liked this article. It was awesome.
Keep on posting!
useful website
whoah this blog is great i really like studying
your posts. Stay up the great work! You already know, many individuals are searching round for this info, you can help them greatly.
Glad to see that this site works well on my Google phone , everything I want to do is functional. Thanks for keeping it up to date with the latest.
This is my 1st time Ive visited this site. I identified a whole lot of interesting info within your blog. From the volume of comments on your posts, I guess I am not the only 1! maintain up the impressive work.
It’s awesome to pay a visit this web page and reading the views of all mates
on the topic of this article!
My brother recommended I might like this
web site. He was once totally right. This submit actually made
my day. You can’t imagine just how so much time I had spent for this information! Thank you!
I like it when people come together and share ideas.
Great website, continue the good work!
I really can’t believe how great this site is. Keep up the good work. I’m going to tell all my friends about this place.