Leaky Gut is a commonly used term referring to intestinal hyper-permeability. As the name suggests, leaky gut is a dysfunctional condition marked by gaps in the tight junctures in the intestinal lining. A healthy gut contains trillions of beneficial microbes – collectively called the microbiome – that play a critical role in protecting the integrity of the mucosal barrier lining the gut wall. These microbes produce byproducts that reduce intestinal inflammation and repair tight junctions holding the intestinal cells together. The microbiome is delicate ecosystem; disrupting this balance allows for overgrowth of harmful pathogens (bacteria, fungus, parasites) and toxins that destroy the mucosal barrier.

If the barrier is breached, toxins can migrate to the intestinal cells, damaging them and creating inflammation. This damage creates the gaps that let toxins and other particles leak into the bloodstream that should NEVER enter. The body’s immune system identifies these leaked particles as invaders and mounts an immune response to neutralize the threat.

Leaky gut is considered a causal factor in the development of autoimmune diseases. Certain leaked particles such as proteins can appear similar to the body’s own tissues; because the immune system retains a memory of previously encountered invaders, it can mistakenly attack tissues that most resembles these leaked particles. This can result in an autoimmune response, where the immune system becomes confused and attacks its own tissue.