Could Leaky Gut Be Causing Your Immune Symptoms?

So what exactly is leaky gut, and how does it happen?
Could Leaky Gut Be Causing Your Immune Symptoms?![]()
Leaky gut syndrome is a disorder that can cause any number of immune symptoms, from mild issues like seasonal allergies and eczema to more serious conditions like multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis.
So what exactly is leaky gut, and how does it happen? Why Does My Baby Pull Away While Breastfeeding?![]() Having your baby pull away while feeding can feel very stressful. You may worry that she is not getting enough to eat, or even feel rejected, or as if you are doing something wrong. Frequent pulling away can result in shorter feeding times, causing babies to wake often in the night or increase fussiness during the day. Pulling away can even cause some parents to think that their babies are no longer interested in breastfeeding, as if they are weaning themselves. While this may occasionally be true, there are many other reasons your baby might be fussing or pulling away during feeding. Your baby may be distracted by something as simple as fast or slow letdown, needing to be burped, or a poor latch. Teething or a stuffy nose can keep your baby from feeding as he normally would. However, a common cause of frequent pulling away while feeding which is often overlooked by first-time (or even experienced) parents is oral candida, also known as thrush.
How Gut Bugs May Be Aggravating Your Child's Autism Symptoms![]() A great deal of evidence has been coming out in recent years that certain gut infections, such as clostridium species and candida, may be producing toxins that can either cause or aggravate certain symptoms of autism spectrum disorders, ADD, and ADHD. Why do these "bad bugs" cause so many problems? Certain pathogenic gut flora such as clostridium difficile and candida albicans produce harmful toxins that can get into your child's blood stream and cause all kinds of neurological and inflammatory damage. Toxins released by clostridia in particular can damage certain signaling proteins in the brain, leading to changes in behavior and brain development. In addition, harmful gut bacteria and yeast are often triggers for digestive issues such as diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, gas, and bloating. Issues with digestion are a common in kids with autism and can cause a great deal of discomfort and stress. Antifungals and Antibiotics![]() Many people who find out that their child has one of these harmful gut infections may try antibiotic or antifungal therapies such as vancomycin and nystatin to clear out the bad bugs. Often times this will result in a brief period of improvement, followed by a relapse of symptoms. So why does this happen? The problem is that once the antibiotic or antifungal medication clears out pathogenic bugs from the intestine, the empty "real estate" that remains can be re-populated by the same pathogens that were causing issues in the first place. This can often be prevented by the introduction and co-treatment with probiotics and dietary changes to help heal the damaged intestinal lining. Achieving Overall Gut Health![]() Once pathogens such as clostridium and candida have been removed, either by pharmaceutical antimicrobials or by antibaceria and antifungal herbs, a long-term course of probiotics can help drive populations of good bacteria up while preventing a relapse of the bad. Once good bacteria are introduced, certain changes in diet, such as reducing pesticide and herbicide exposure by eating organic fruits and vegetables, can help your child's gut biome continue to thrive. Healing a "Leaky Gut"![]() Having a healthy gut means both repopulating the gut with beneficial bacteria (probiotics) and healing and sealing the gut lining. Inflammation in the intestines, whether caused by bad bacteria and yeast or by immune issues such as food allergies can lead to a condition called intestinal hyperpermeability, or "leaky gut syndrome." In leaky gut, a damaged intestinal lining is unable to form a complete seal between the foods the gut is digesting and the bloodstream. This allows tiny molecules of incompletely broken down nutrients to enter the blood, which can trigger even more inflammation and allergies. There are a lot of ways we can help heal and seal the gut in kids with autism. Specific nutrients nourish the cells that line the interior of the intestines, while others can damage cells and encourage more inflammation in the gut. In addition, certain GI insults such as artificial preservatives, heavy metals, food allergens, pesticides and herbicides can lead to increased permeability with widespread negative effects. Getting the right foods in and getting wrong foods and environmental toxins out can have huge impacts on the health and function of the gut. Through holistic interventions many children and adolescents with autism and other neurological and inflammatory issues have experienced huge improvements in concentration, sleep, mood, digestive function, and overall wellbeing.
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Dr Eli Silver
248-397-4664 23650 Woodward Ave Ste 104 Pleasant Ridge, MI 48069 drsilver@elisilvernd.com Appointments by Videochat
Dr Silver is available for telemedicine appointments for people outside of the Detroit area. If you are interested in setting up an appointment via videochat, just call 248-397-4664. About Dr SilverDr Silver is a board certified Naturopathic Doctor in the Detroit metro area. This blog is intended for educational purposes only. Information expressed herein does not constitute medical advice and in no way should be used as a substitute for the advice and attention of a qualified medical practitioner. Categories
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