SARA E. STEWART; CINHC, NLPP, RYT, EOLD

HOW TO FIX LEAKY GUT AND RELATED AUTOIMMUNE ISSUES

7/30/2019

Thank you to Dr. Westin Childs for the wonderful article.
By now there's no doubt you've at least heard of leaky gut.

But what is leaky gut and why does it matter to your health?

In simple terms leaky gut is defined as damage that occurs to your intestinal lining which allows bad things to enter into your blood stream and prevents good things from being absorbed.

This is obviously an oversimplification, but it gives you an idea of why leaky gut is so important.

Damage to the intestinal lining results in the absorption of pro-inflammatory cytokines which can interact with your brain and skin causing all sorts of problems for your immune system and thyroid function.

If you suspect or know you have thyroid problems there is a HUGE probability that you also have some degree of intestinal damage.

You can identify the presence of leaky gut using the symptom list below:

Symptoms of leaky gut include:

History of autoimmune diseases (Hashimoto's rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, celiac disease, etc.).
Known thyroid dysfunction (diagnosis of hypothyroidism) or other hormone imbalances (estrogen dominance, low progesterone, etc.).
History of depression or mood disorders.
Poor immune system or history of frequent illness.
Nutrient deficiencies.
Trouble with digesting certain foods or pain after certain meals.
Chronic abdominal symptoms such as gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea.
Brain fog, trouble concentrating, ADD/ADHD or anxiety.
Skin issues such as dermatitis, rashes, eczema or rosacea.
Food cravings for sugar/carbs or unhealthy foods.

If you're keeping track you'll probably find that you have at least 2+ of the symptoms listed above.

Why?

Because thyroid function alters intestinal function and vice versa.

The relationship between your thyroid and your gut is similar to the adrenal/thyroid connection we discussed previously.

And just like that connection, fixing this problem requires treatments for each individual system.

But before we talk about treatment let's talk about WHY it's so important to fix your gut.

What leaky gut does to your thyroid:

Gut dysfunction reduces peripheral thyroid conversion and directly LOWERS free T3 levels. Around 20% of T4 in your body is converted in the gut meaning it's an important source for thyroid conversion next to your liver.
Leaky gut may reduce thyroid hormone ABSORPTION making your thyroid hormone less effective.
Leaky gut causes multiple nutrient deficiencies (especially iron, zinc and selenium) which all help thyroid hormone to function cellularly.
Leaky gut may increase thyroid autoantibodies and cause glandular damage (permanent if not treated) and worsen thyroid function long term.
Symptoms of leaky gut may mimic symptoms of hypothyroidism which clouds the picture and makes treating thyroid more complicated.

Now that you know WHAT leaky gut is and WHY it's important, we can talk about how to go about treating it:

10 ways to be more respectful to your body.

3/23/2019

How respectful or disrespectful are you to your body?
Know that the respect one has for their body, has a direct effect on the brain and over all well being. So plan and prepare for how you will give your body the respect it deserves to thrive, with these steps.

Recognize the mind-body connection. The body has a continual quest for Homeostasis. This is the body’s “tendency to seek and maintain a condition of balance or equilibrium”. For example, the human body is to maintain an internal temperature of around 98.6 degrees. When the body temperature increases due to illness, the body’s own defenses work to recover and return to normal.
What we put into our mouths and ingest affects not only our bodies’, but our minds and overall well being. Example, we knows that cigarette smoke can cause COPD, lung cancer, emphysema, blood clots, early menopause and erectile dysfunction. So STOP IT!
If possible, get a complete blood workup to know if you are nutrient deficient. Correct any deficiency with the right food, vitamins and minerals. A lack of vitamins D, B12, and Iron, can affect your energy on a daily basis. Know your fasting and non fasting glucose numbers to know your risk for diabetes. Restrict your sugar intake as it can have catastrophic affect on the brain and body, so eat low Gylcemic foods. Get a daily dose of live (refrigerated) probiotic. Limit inflammation by limiting dairy intake. Eat organic when possible or at least remove dyes and artificial flavors from your intake. Lastly, eat good fats from Omega 3s, fish oils, avocado and coconut oil.
Do something to experience joy and reduce stress every day. Consider finding and implementing some or all of the following activities into your daily activities mediation laughter a nap or at least 7 hours of sleep a night self affirmation sex or masturbation

5. The conditions of your life only affect it to the level for which you allow or how you perceive it. I am not saying that things don’t just happen to us out of the blue, but at the end of the day, are we a victim or victor. .Know that toxic or negative emotions affect the body at the molecular level.
6. Be responsible for your own self.
7. Recognize negative emotions or people and remove them from your life.
8. If the emotion cannot be easily removed, recognize it and label it as opposed to trying to ignoring it.
9. Verbally express your interpretation of your emotions and work to let it go, or use it as a source of growth and strength.
10. Lastly, take some special time for yourself and get pampered. If you need to, save up and go to a spa. Here is a special offer to do just that.

HOW TO FIX LEAKY GUT AND RELATED AUTOIMMUNE ISSUES

10 ways to be more respectful to your body.

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