"Permeable bowel syndrome, "intestinal hyperpermeability, "porous intestine, "leaky gut, "sieve intestine or even "leaky gut syndromeare all terms and expressions that refer to the same situation: an intestinal problem that has considerable repercussions on the lives of sufferers! But what exactly is a "porous intestine? What causes it? How can "repermeabilize or "re-seal? These are the questions we're going to answer in this article!
What is a porous intestine?
The inner lining of our small intestine is made up of millions of villiand the epithelial cells - called "enterocytes" - that cover the latter are also covered at their apical surface with microscopic villi called "microvilli.
These villi and microvilli increase the total absorptive surface area of the intestine tenfold. Thanks to them, this surface reaches an average of 250 m²the equivalent of a tennis court!
This intestinal mucosa functions like a filter. It absorbs the nutrients we need (vitamins, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, trace elements...) and prevents the penetration of micro-organisms, large molecules, toxic substances or other elements that are unnecessary for our organism, or even potentially dangerous.
When the intestinal mucosa is altered, particularly when the tight junctions between the cells of the intestinal wall are defective, the latter lets through molecules it would not normally let through.
It becomes too permeable and loses its barrier function. This is known asintestinal hyperpermeability. Some people use more colorful expressions to describe this condition, such as "porous intestine, « leaky gut or even "leaky gut.
What are the consequences of a porous intestine?
As mentioned above absorption surface equivalent to the surface area of a tennis court. In the event ofalteration of the intestinal barrier andpermeabilitymany undesirable moleculespotentially dangerous, risk passing through this immense surface area to reach the bloodstream and lymphatic circulation.
A permeable intestine can therefore lead to many malfunctions leaving the foreign substances into the body's internal environment.
These are just some of the manifestations and repercussions of a porous intestine:
- Digestive disorders: nausea, diarrhea, bloating, flatulence, abdominal pain... These are non-specific symptoms, meaning that their presence is not necessarily due to permeable bowel syndrome, nor does their absence rule out the diagnosis.
- Fatigue: overloading of the liver due to the passage of toxic substances through the body leads to a drop in energy and a feeling of permanent fatigue. Micronutrient deficiencies (vitamins, minerals, trace elements, essential fatty acids, etc.) can also contribute to fatigue in people with permeable bowel syndrome.
- Repeated infections: intestinal hyperpermeability leads to a lowering of the immune system. People with a porous intestine are more vulnerable to infections, particularly during the winter months.
- Allergic manifestations: immune system dysfunction induced by intestinal hyperpermeability can give rise to allergies (eczema, hay fever, asthma, etc.) and food intolerances (gluten, lactose, casein, etc.).
- Autoimmune diseases : intestinal hyperpermeability is thought to be a key factor in the genesis of many autoimmune diseases. inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as Crohn's disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis...
Intestinal hyperpermeability may also be implicated in a number of health problems, such asacne, l'obesityobesity psoriasispsoriasis migraines, l'asthmaasthma tendonitiscertain disorders mood disorders (depression), certain behavioral disorders…
What causes porous bowel syndrome?
L'intestinal hyperpermeability is a pathology multifactorialwhich means that several factors are involved in its development. Here are just a few of them:
- The modern Western diet: consumption of increasingly processed foods containing numerous compounds harmful to the body, particularly the digestive system (additives, preservatives, pesticides, heavy metals...).
- Unbalanced intestinal floraor "dysbiosis": a quantitative (number of bacteria) or qualitative (species of bacteria) change in the intestinal bacterial flora is one of the main factors involved in the onset and perpetuation of leaky gut syndrome.
- Other factors : the stresses of daily life, regular alcohol consumption, physical overwork or excessive sporting activity...
How to permeabilize or "seal" a porous intestine?
There is as yet no cure for intestinal hyperpermeability syndrome.. However, the various strategies that have been put in place can help to alleviate the condition. reduce symptoms (in particular digestive disorders, spasms, nausea, flatulence, food allergies...) and thus considerably improve the quality of life. quality of life for sufferers.
The management of permeable bowel syndrome aims to act on the various factors that have contributed to the genesis of the problem, notably diet, stress and physical overwork.
Visit treatment of a porous intestine can involve :
dietary changes
The modern Western diet, with its consumption of so-called "ultra-processed" foodsis one of the main causes of intestinal hyperpermeability.
It is therefore important to modify your eating habits to maintain intestinal health and avoid many digestive problems.
Here are just a few of the dietary adjustments you can make to repermeabilize a porous intestine:
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to fill up on fiber, vitamins and antioxidants.
- Choose organic produce and avoid industrial products as much as possible.
- Increase consumption of legumes, oilseeds, rapeseed oil, avocado and, above all, oily fish to replenish omega-3 and restore the correct omega-3/omega-6 ratio (at least 1/5).
- Eat fruit raw and prefer steaming vegetables (avoid high-temperature cooking, 110°C maximum).
- Eliminate refined sugar and all foods containing it (especially processed foods).
- Eliminate gluten from your diet (contained in wheat, barley, rye, oats, etc.).
- Avoid dairy products (pro-inflammatory action) and consume foods such as parsley, almonds, spinach or dried figs to provide calcium.
- Avoid strong spices that attack digestive walls.
- Avoid saturated fats (deli meats, palm oil, large quantities of red meat, etc.).
In general, in case of high intestinal permeabilityit is advisable to adopt a natural diet as possible.
Regular moderate physical activity
L'intestinal hyperpermeability can be induced or promoted by intense physical effort or repeated physical exertion. These efforts can cause increase in the body's core temperaturepromoting bacterial translocation from the intestinal lumen to the general circulation.
This passage of digestive bacteria into the bloodstream then causes a reaction inflammatory reaction leading to numerous health problems.
To avoid this phenomenon, it is recommended to practice a moderate physical activityadapted to your physical capabilities, while giving your body time to recover. recover with a good night's sleep and a healthy diet.
Intestinal permeability: strengthening intestinal flora with probiotics
Visit probiotics are microorganisms naturally present in our bodies, forming part of the intestinal, oral and vaginal flora.
Visit unbalanced intestinal flora is one of the main causes ofintestinal hyperpermeability.
Bring the right probiotics to the body, in addition to an appropriate diet, is the basis for treating permeable bowel syndrome.
The daily intake of probiotics adapted over a period of several months rebalance intestinal florai.e. restoring thebalance between good and the bad bacteria.
The correction of intestinal microbiota imbalance contributes to strengthening the intestinal immune system, increasing mucus production, maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier and improving food digestion.
Good bacteria can be provided by regular consumption of foods such as dairy products (especially fermented), fermented beverages, soy derivatives, sauerkraut, kimchi, cider vinegar...
Like dairy products and leaky gut syndrome and leaky gut syndrome don't mix, it's sometimes advisable to provide the necessary probiotics. through dietary supplements rich in them.
Intestinal hyperpermeability: which probiotic will repermeabilize the intestine?
A number of bacterial strains have been shown to have superior efficacy in chronic intestinal diseases such as intestinal hyperpermeability. Two of the most important are Bacillus clausii and Claustridium butyricum.
These bacterial strains, supplied daily in sufficient quantities by Clasporin food supplement contribute to :
- Strengthen the intestinal mucosa and help it regain a better seal.
- Stimulate intestinal motility and regulate transit (fight constipation and diarrhea).
- Fight the proliferation of bad bacteria and promote a healthy balance of intestinal microbiota.
These bacterial strains are therefore particularly useful in the treatment of porous bowel syndromesyndrome irritable bowel syndrome and other chronic intestinal diseases such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
Other natural remedies to improve intestinal health
In case ofintestinal hyperpermeabilityin addition to probiotics and a healthy diet, other natural remedies can help improve symptoms.
Prebiotics
The prebiotics are organic substances whose role is to provide energy to probiotics. To put it more simply, prebiotics are the food for good bacteria in our intestines.
Prebiotics are unique in that they can only be digested by beneficial bacteria (probiotics). So, for promote the development of good bacteria onlywe recommend a daily intake of prebiotics through the diet.
Visit prebiotics are found naturally in foods such as fruit (bananas, apples, berries, mangoes, tomatoes, etc.), fruits vegetables (turnip, onion, shallot, leek, artichoke...) and certain plants such as chicory.
To provide the right amount of prebiotics and rebalance your intestinal microbiota, it may be a good idea to use supplements food supplements rich in them. You can opt for a product based onhumic and fulvic acids which are particularly effective in the case of permeable intestines thanks to their against bacterial toxins and other toxic substances affecting the intestinal mucosa.
Glutamine
A deficiency of glutaminean amino acid that is the main fuel for muscles and cells in the intestine, can contribute to the development of a intestinal hyperpermeability. It is therefore recommended to provide the body with sufficient quantities of this amino acid to prevent this disease, slow its progression or improve its symptoms.
Omega-3
Foods rich in omega-3essential polyunsaturated fatty acids, should be consumed in large quantities in case of permeable bowel syndrome.
In addition to fighting inflammation throughout the body, these good fats help reduce the amount of gas in the intestine, which in turn reduces bloating.
Curcumin
The curcumin, the active ingredient in turmericis highly effective in combating inflammation and oxidative stress (free radicals and their harmful effects on enterocytes) in the intestinal mucosa. It thus helps preserve or restore the integrity of the intestinal wall.
It also stimulates digestion by increasing the bile secretion.
Quercetin
The permeable intestine syndrome is very frequently associated with allergies and food intolerances.
To combat these allergic phenomena, the quercetina flavonoid and powerful antioxidantcan be used.
Thanks to its inhibitory action on histamine production production (involved in allergic reactions), the quercetin is particularly indicated in the management of food intolerances within the framework of a porous bowel syndrome.
Conclusion
It's vital to understand that intestinal hyperpermeability can impact the whole body, including the immune system and mental well-being.
By identifying the underlying causes and taking steps to maintain gut health, we can improve our overall health and quality of life.
Clasporin probiotic contains two bacterial strains that are particularly effective when suffering from intestinal hyperpermeability.
