Intestinal hyperpermeability: are you affected?

What you must remember :

• Hyperpermeability is also called “Leaky gut syndrome”.

• This is a condition where the protective barrier of our gut becomes more permeable than normal, causing unwanted substances to pass into our bloodstream.

• The causes of intestinal hyperpermeability are numerous and involve a large number of mechanisms.

• Intestinal porosity can go unnoticed because it is difficult to feel it directly. Associated symptoms can also be attributed to other diseases, making its diagnosis more complex.

• Digestive disorders, immune system disorders or even chronic fatigue are symptoms that can lead to intestinal porosity.
  
  
• A balanced diet or certain food supplements can help fight against intestinal porosity.

What is intestinal hyperpermeability?

Intestinal hyperpermeability , also known as "Leaky gut syndrome" , is a condition where the protective barrier of our intestine becomes more permeable than normal. The intestine then becomes a real “sieve”. Normally, the intestinal wall is made up of tightly packed cells, forming a barrier that controls the passage of essential nutrients while preventing unwanted substances from entering our bloodstream. However, in cases of intestinal hyperpermeability, this barrier becomes impaired, allowing undigested particles, toxins and bacteria to pass through the intestinal walls and into the rest of the body via the bloodstream. This situation can lead to an inflammatory response and an imbalance in our immune system , potentially contributing to the development of various health problems.

The importance of a balanced intestinal flora for our general health

Within our gut is a vast ecosystem made up of billions of beneficial microorganisms, including good bacteria , known as the gut microbiota . This intestinal flora plays a crucial role in many aspects of our health: from our immune system to our mood, including our digestion. In fact, it acts as a first line of defense against pathogens, promotes the absorption of nutrients, helps regulate our immune system and even participates in the production of certain vitamins.

The intestinal wall is permeable to certain compounds because it naturally has pores on its surface whose maximum size is determined. This selective permeability allows the passage of certain beneficial molecules and avoids the passage of molecules which would cause harmful consequences if they were to find themselves within our blood circulation. When our intestinal flora is unbalanced, this alters the effectiveness of our intestinal barrier which can lead to more or less serious health problems.

The main causes of leaky intestine

An industrial diet, the stress of daily life, medications (antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories), intestinal infections (bacterial and fungal), alcohol consumption, nutritional deficiencies... are so many causes that can be responsible for intestinal hyperpermeability. As you will have understood, these are numerous and many mechanisms come into play in this process. All of these situations lead to a disruption of the balance of the intestinal microbiota, also called intestinal dysbiosis , causing degradation of the intestinal mucosa. Indeed, reducing the proportion of beneficial strains within our intestine, in favor of pathogenic strains, leads to a modulation of the immune response, which contributes to intestinal hyperpermeability. This is a phenomenon to which we are all, more or less, subject. When the intestinal wall is damaged, it then becomes permeable to unwanted elements (toxic, germs, allergens, heavy metals, etc.) which can thus easily penetrate into the body where they should not be. This is when many symptoms can appear.

Symptoms of leaky gut

You may not know it, but the intestinal absorption surface, that is to say the surface area of ​​our intestines allowing the absorption of essential nutrients present in our diet, is equivalent to the surface area of ​​land of tennis . This is why the breakdown of this barrier, leading to the passage of unwanted substances into the bloodstream, is the starting point of many problems. Intestinal porosity can go unnoticed because it is difficult to feel it directly. Associated symptoms can also be attributed to other diseases, making its diagnosis more complex. However, here is a non-exhaustive list of symptoms frequently associated with intestinal hyperpermeability:

• Digestive disorders: bloating , frequent diarrhea or constipation, abdominal pain, flatulence, etc.
  
  
• Immune system disorders: low resistance to infections and diseases, food allergies and intolerances, autoimmune diseases, etc.

• Chronic fatigue: present even after optimal rest

• Skin problems: acne, eczema, psoriasis, itching…

• Mood disorders: anxiety, mood swings, depression, ADHD…

• Others: recurring headaches, concentration problems, memory loss, irrepressible sugar cravings, etc.

How to treat and restore intestinal permeability?

If you have one or more symptoms described above and/or you are exposed to factors favoring intestinal hyperpermeability, it is important to consult a doctor to obtain an accurate diagnosis. In fact, the latter will be able to prescribe targeted analyzes (blood/urine tests, etc.). After this, various treatments can be considered to relieve intestinal porosity depending on the causes identified, providing a wide range of possible options. Here, we reveal natural solutions to implement in your daily life to fight against this phenomenon.

A healthy and balanced diet 🍒

To combat intestinal hyperpermeability, choose a healthy and balanced diet. To do this, choose fresh, unprocessed foods such as fruits, vegetables and even oilseeds. In fact, they contain dietary fiber which is essential for promoting good intestinal health. We also recommend that you consume foods rich in polyphenols (fruits and vegetables, spices, aromatics, aromatic herbs, etc.), which relieve inflammation and help treat dysbiosis. Avoid inflammatory foods such as processed (industrial) foods, refined sugars and saturated fats. Also make sure to stay hydrated by drinking enough water (1.5 to 2L per day at least). And above all, remember: always listen to your body and adapt your diet according to your individual needs.

Taking care of your intestinal health naturally

# Take a course of natural probiotics 🧫

As you will surely have understood, it is more than essential to start by restoring a good balance within your intestinal microbiota to help you fight against intestinal hyperpermeability. For this, nothing is more effective than starting a course of natural probiotics in order to repopulate your intestines with good bacteria. We recommend Indispensable probiotics , a product containing 8 strains selected for their recognized benefits, as well as a quantity of 28 billion CFU (unit per colony) to guarantee their effectiveness. Combined with a diet rich in fiber with a prebiotic effect or with food supplements containing prebiotics , their benefits will be increased tenfold.

# Take a glutamine cure 💊

Once the balance of the intestinal microbiota has been regained, or even during rebalancing, we advise you to start a glutamine treatment . Studies have shown that taking 1g per day of L-glutamine helps fight against established intestinal hyperpermeability. Indeed, by acting as fuel for certain players present in the intestinal wall, this amino acid ensures its proper functioning. However, it can be lacking in our body. This is why, at DIJO, we have created a food supplement containing 3g of L-glutamine , to relieve leaky intestines and ensure the integrity of the intestinal barrier.