Leaky Gut Syndrome and Diet

• Understand first that dietary alterations will likely not provide a complete cure for leaky gut syndrome, but they may help to alleviate the severity and frequency of symptoms. According to Dr. Leo Galland M.D., the director for the Foundation for Integrated Medicine, leaky gut syndrome is best treated with a natural diet that seeks to eliminate trigger foods that exacerbate symptoms. This elimination diet is composed largely of fresh fruits and vegetables, coupled with a large and steady influx of nutrients as infrequent feedings or following "crash" diets can increase intestinal permeability.
  
  

Allergin Testing

• Head to your doctor and have yourself tested for food allergies before embarking on an elimination diet to curb leaky gut syndrome. As inadvertent consumption of foods to which you are allergic can increase the prevalence of symptoms, wholesale elimination of these foods is the best strategy for success. Common allergies include gluten (a protein found in grains), nuts, and lactose. While these conditions may or may not affect you, you have to first know with what you are dealing with before you can make suitable adjustments to your dietary intake.
  
  

Carbohydrate Approach

• Consume a diet that contains carbs from only fruits and vegetables while fighting leaky gut syndrome. Dr. Galland recommends a diet that is rich in both fresh fruits and vegetables, as these are fairly benign foods that tend to not adversely affect the digestive process while being simultaneously nutrient-rich. The bulk of every meal you consume should contain at least one fruit and one vegetable, preferably rotated throughout the day so that you are not always eating the same items. Beyond keeping your carbohydrate intake limited to fruits and veggies, you should include a small serving of lean protein with every meal (seafood, chicken, turkey, or low-fat meat), along with a small serving of unsaturated fat. Healthy sources of unsaturated fat include, but are not limited to, olive and fish oil. Wholly eliminate consumption of processed foods, white flour, sugar, and alcohol while you are fighting leaky gut syndrome.