Autoimmune Disease and Leaky Gut: Nine Big Culprits

One major factor in the development of autoimmune disease is increased intestinal permeability.

Or, in fewer letters: leaky gut.

If your gut is a mosquito net, imagine puncturing a few small holes in it: that’s leaky gut. Sounds minor, but as anyone who has had a holey mosquito net when camping can attest, it’s a BIG deal.

Leaky gut exists in such diverse autoimmune disease as type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease and coeliac disease. In my practice, focusing on abdominal and pelvic issues, I see A LOT of digestive problems. Some of these involve leaky gut.

But what causes the leaky gut? Lots of things.

Alcohol is a big one, but it’s temporary.

Aspirin and anti-inflammatories.

Gluten.

Too much glucose and salt.

Weird additives used in food processing like organic solvents, nanoparticles and microbial transglutaminase. (Hint: stop eating packaged processed food.)

But the one I really want to harp on about? Imbalance of gut bacteria.

Lousy gut flora is a big trigger for leaky gut.

And the causes of this?

Medications.

Stress.

The Pill.

ANTIBIOTICS.

“But I have not had antibiotics for thirty years, and then only once!”

Oh yeah? How’s this then:

Being born in the age of antibiotics when they were used by all ancestors over multiple generations.

Luckily, manipulating the gut microbiome and using specific nutritional strategies can sew up those little holes in the mosquito net. Keep an eye out for future blog posts on this topic.

Or to cut to the chase, see your trusty functional nutritionist for help with your autoimmune disease. Skype appointments available.

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