Poor gut health has become increasingly common across the globe. Due to additives, genetically-modified crops, the use of pesticides, and consuming animals treated with hormones, anyone consuming a Standard American Diet (SAD) has a good chance of developing leaky gut syndrome.
As explained in a Harvard publication, “We all have some degree of leaky gut, as this barrier is not completely impenetrable (and isn’t supposed to be!)” When leaky gut situations become worse, a hoard of pain and discomfort can happen not only to your body, but in your everyday life.
So, how do we care for such an inevitable pain in the gut? With proper supplementation. Using all-natural and organic supplements may help balance out the bacteria floating about in your system. In turn, this may help alleviate symptoms of leaky gut syndrome.
While we’re going to still give you a brief overview of Leaky Gut Syndrome, please check out our in-depth look at what causes Leaky Gut Syndrome and how to heal leaky gut fast. Let’s take a look at 12 of the most effective supplements for leaky gut syndrome.
What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?
Before attempting to treat a condition, you should probably know a thing or two about it. Leaky gut syndrome transpires when undigested proteins enter into the bloodstream.
These proteins include:
• Gluten
• Toxins
• Microbes
• Candida
Also described as “intestinal permeability,” leaky gut syndrome rears its ugly head when the gateway that lives between the bloodstream and intestinal wall becomes damaged. This creates access for the aforementioned undigested proteins to reach the clean, oxygenated bloodstream.
Overtime, inflammations will spark, causing many conditions such as:
• Adrenal Fatigue
• Arthritis
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Autoimmune Disease
• Eczema
• Food Sensitivity
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Mental Health Issues (Depression/Anxiety/Mood Swings)
• Poor Nutrient Absorption
There are many symptoms of leaky gut syndrome to look out for. If you have one or multiple of the following issues, you may want to consult a gastroenterologist to test for leaky gut syndrome.
Symptoms of leaky gut syndrome include:
• Arthritis and Joint Pain
• Brain Fog
• Chronic Diarrhea or Constipation
• Consistent Gas and Bloating
• Fatigue
• Headaches and Migraines
• Increased Cases of Cold and Flu
• Mood Swings and Bouts of Depression
• Skin Breakouts
• Sugar Cravings
While many are skeptical about doctor trips, there are some things you can do at home to help your leaky gut syndrome. For one, you can change your diet and incorporate more yellow and orange (anti-inflammatory) foods. However, an even easier lifestyle change is by taking supplements.
Here are the 12 best supplements for leaky gut syndrome.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera has long been heralded by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as the “Plant of Immortality.” That’s because this plant goes a long way in repairing damage caused within the body.
Gel inside the aloe plant leaves can help fix the lining between the bloodstream and intestinal wall that is damaged by these undigested proteins.
By creating a stronger lining, it will be harder for toxins to permeate into the bloodstream. Doing this also slows down inflammations from forming. This can help deter autoimmune diseases, leaky gut syndrome, and even cancerous cell growth.
Aloe can be taken in capsule form. However, many health food stores also sell aloe vera juice. Lastly, you can also buy a plant. Just rip off the leaves and squeeze out the goop. Eat it or throw it into some water!
Caprylic Acid
One of the three primary fatty acids found in coconut oil, caprylic acid has strong antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Caprylic acid oil can be added to food or taken as a pill. By doing so, it helps regulate many essential functions in both your reproductive and digestive organs.
In combating leaky gut syndrome, caprylic acid is efficient in destroying bad yeast that can live and overgrow within your intestines. It’s most common nemesis? Candida. By ridding the gut lining of this harmful yeast, caprylic acid lays the groundwork for eliminating leaky gut syndrome.
While effective, caprylic acid works best in unison with other supplements, such as probiotics. As caprylic acid is busy killing off bad bacteria, you need good bacteria to get in there and set up shop!
Collagen Root
Collagen is the power behind bone broth, which is one of the most effective remedies for leaky gut syndrome.
Within collagen root lies gelatin, the compound responsible for giving our bones, tendons, and cartilage their strength and structure. However, collagen also has strong repairing abilities. Why do you think people get collagen implants in their faces? It helps rejuvenate cells and give structure to body parts.
One important part collagen gives structure to? Damaged intestine walls. Gelatin helps facilitate the growth of gastric juices. In turn, these juices improve the health of your gut’s mucosal lining.
Additionally, collagen root contains two important amino acids in proline and glycine. Together they act as building blocks to repair the intestinal lining as well.
Enzymes
Taking two digestive enzymes prior to eating as well as following a meal helps keep the stomach a well-oiled machine. Naturally occurring enzymes play a pivotal role in so many functions throughout the body, including the digestion process. Taking a supplement of enzymes can help break down:
• Animal Fats/Dairy
• Complex Sugars
• Complex Starches
• Gluten
• Other Enzymes
• Proteins
You can get individual enzymes or supplements with specific formulas. Read the label and keep an eye out for products containing the following enzymes to help digest the following foods:
• Amylase – Starches
• Lactase – Dairy
• Lipase – Fats
• Protease – Proteins such as Gluten
Fiber
Fiber supplements are one of the most common on pharmacy and grocery store shelves. Truth of the matter is the SAD doesn’t contain much fiber. We tend to eat a lot of animal fats that make us full and then rely on our bodies to do all the work. This causes leaky gut syndrome. Help aid all that fat, protein, and toxin out of your system by taking fiber supplements.
Another perk of fiber is that it acts as prebiotics for the probiotics in your system. Indigestible fibers remain in your gut. However, they don’t pass into the bloodstream like the toxins that cause leaky gut syndrome. Instead, the good bacteria in your system feasts on the fiber, growing stronger and improving your gut health.
Glutamine
Another amino acid to make the list, L-glutamine is energy for your stomach cells. These cells depend on this fatty acid to give them the strength necessary to maintain the integrity of the gut lining. Also, they use glutamine to help them in repairing damage done inside the intestines.
It’s easy to have low glutamine levels because stress can lower them. With stress comes the hormone, cortisol. As cortisol levels rise, they start to deplete glutamine production. In turn, you are more susceptible to leaky gut syndrome.
Licorice Root
Twizzlers aren’t healthy, but licorice root is. Licorice root is effective in maintaining homeostasis for your hormones. This is important, because producing an adequate amount of hormones ensures that cortisol won’t overtake the system. Therefore, licorice root fights off leaky gut syndrome.
It also helps with symptoms of leaky gut syndrome. Due to compounds within licorice root fighting off cortisol, you are less likely to suffer from adrenal fatigue.
When supplementing with licorice root it may cause hypertension. That’s because in its purest form, licorice root contains glycyrrhizin. To get licorice root without glycyrrhizin, make sure the package says either deglycyrrhizinated licorice or DGL.
Marshmallow Root
This fluffy plant is far healthier than the candy that took its namesake (although it is used in confections). The root has been used for over 3,000 years in TCM. That’s because of marshmallow root’s natural mucilage.
This root secretes a viscous liquid that moistens the mucous membranes of respiratory, digestive, and urinary tracts. The gooey texture of marshmallow root also works as a coating for the stomach lining. In the coating lives flavenoids that starve inflammations, lowering your chances of leaky gut syndrome. Marshmallow root absorbs toxins. Therefore, it might be counteractive to any medications you are taking.
Probiotics
Within our gut lies thousands of bugs, parasites, yeasts, bacteria, enzymes, and proteins. Together they make up our microbiome. As the SAD takes it toll on our gut health, the good bacteria (probiotics) in our gut become comprised.
Consequently, bad bacteria will win the gut war and start to expand its reach. This will undoubtedly cause leaky gut syndrome.
Taking a high-quality probiotics supplement will go a long way in balancing out the bad bacteria in your gut with the good.
Some strains of probiotics you should look for in your supplement include:
• Bifidobacterium bifidum
• Bifidobacterium longum
• Bifidobacterium breve
• Bifidobacterium infantis
• Lactobacillus casei
• Lactobacillus acidophilus
• Lactobacillus bulgaricus
• Lactobacillus brevis
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus
• Bacillus subtilis
• Bacillus coagulans
• Saccharomyces boulardii
Quercetin
This unique supplement is actually a crystalline pigment found in plants. It has a yellowish color, which if you remember back means that it has anti-inflammatory properties.
Quercetin helps boost the immune system while simultaneously reducing allergic responses (such as gluten sparking up a case of leaky gut syndrome). It does this by acting as an antihistamine. This pigment stabilizes cells that release histamine in the body. Therefore, quercetin stops inflammations that cause painful leaky gut syndrome symptoms to pop up.
Turmeric
Perhaps the strongest anti-inflammatory supplement, this root makes for a delicious meal and a strong gut.
