Is leaky gut real

Understanding our gut is important to helping our bodies heal some of our hormone problems.  Is leaky gut real or is this the newest trend in the medical community?

Is leaky gut real?

You’ve probably haven’t really thought much about your intestines but they are actually quite amazing.  Our guts produce hormones.  And, hormones help balance our sleep, our mood, and a host of other things.  This is why it’s good to keep our estrogen levels in check.

So, if you aren’t sleeping well, it could be because you are having a problem with leaky gut.  If you’re moody or generally feel sad, maybe your belly is telling you something.  Do you often have diarrhea or constantly constipated?  Have you ever been diagnosed with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) or perhaps you’ve ‘self-diagnosed’ yourself with IBS because of all the tummy troubles you face EACH day?  Leaky gut could be to blame but luckily you can do something about it.

What makes you poop?

Before I started eating a more healthful (and organic) diet, I used to always have gastrointestinal issues.  Some of the biggest issues I dealt with were:

• constant gas / bloating
• having to use the bathroom after eating
• Constipation – and I mean major constipation
• Infrequent bowel movements
• a general feeling of being unwell

Do any of these symptoms sound familiar to you?  Now do you believe ‘is leaky gut real’?  The problem I had was high stress and this affected my digestive system.  I was always on “high alert” which told my body to slow down my digestion – basically, everything I ate just sat in my digestive system.  Yuck, right?  That can’t make anyone feel good – on so many levels.  So, I’d end up with diarrhea because I was nervous.  You know what I’m talking about – the nervous poops…

For example, I’d have a presentation to do at work for a job that I absolutely hated.  I was in a position that just wasn’t me.  I wasn’t being true to myself and who I was just for a paycheck.  I continued to stay in the position because I needed the money and I was too afraid to leave.  I didn’t realize that the stress I was causing myself was hurting me in such a way.

On the other hand, I’d also be constipated at times.  If I didn’t have something like a presentation hanging over my head, I’d still be in this “heightened state of alert” and so I would almost hold onto everything I ate.  I literally seemed like everything I ate wouldn’t pass through me.  And, it hurt – literally hurt.  I didn’t talk about it because it was embarrassing but living like that wasn’t doing me any good.  I needed to do something and when I finally realized the answer to my own question:  ‘Is leaky gut real’ was an absolute YES, I had to make a change.

What’s happening?

When we go to the bathroom – that is, poop – too often, our bodies can’t take in the nutrition properly.  It’s like it’s just passing through us and never having a chance to be absorbed.  But, when we hold onto our poop when we’re constipated, that’s not good either because that can be toxic and toxic means dangerous.  Plus, our stool become hard as a rock making it harder for us to pass.

So, it’s very important to poop regularly and in order to do that, you need to eat properly.  Keeping your blood sugar in check is also important as is managing your stress.  Take time for yourself – take care of yourself so that you can feel better.