Leaky Gut Syndrome and Constipation: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Constipation means different things to different people. It can mean having irregular bowel movements for some, and it can also mean difficulty passing stools, hard stools, or bloating after a bowel movement. Dealing with constipation can be a miserable experience, but imagine having to deal with it for a long period of time. Those who have leaky gut have to deal not only with chronic constipation, but also cramps, nausea, and a bloated feeling.

To alleviate their symptoms, many resort to taking antidepressants, painkillers, acupuncture and, above all, laxatives. Those who resort to these methods do not experience any improvement in their health. Some even notice that their symptoms seem to get worse.

For one thing, taking pain medication, like antibiotics, is actually killing off the good, beneficial bacteria in your gut, while allowing harmful ones, like yeast and fungus, to flourish in their place.

Most people use laxatives to relieve constipation. A terrifying number rely on him as their main source of relief. Did you know that the more you use laxatives, the more your colon relies on them? You are unknowingly weakening the walls of your colon by conditioning it to become dependent on laxatives.

Let’s take a look at some 3 common laxatives and why you should stay away from them:

• (Stimulant Laxatives) Dulcolax, Ex-Lax, similar alternatives: These laxatives work by stimulating the nerves in the colon, forcing them to move. Unfortunately, they contain harsh chemicals and toxins that create inflammation and further damage and irritate the intestinal lining and intestines. A big drawback of this is that they weaken the intestinal and rectal muscles. You become so dependent on them that you can no longer defecate without using them.




• (Stool softeners) Colace and similar alternatives: These work by forcing fats and water into the stool, making it softer and easier to pass. They also contain harsh chemicals and toxins that create inflammation and further damage and irritate the intestines and intestinal linings. Like stimulant laxatives, these also create dependence on bowel movements.




• (Osmotic laxatives) Epsom salt, milk of magnesia, and similar alternatives: Like stool softeners, these work by forcing water into the stool to make it softer and easier to pass. The downside is that it forces much more water than normal into the stool, which can lead to dehydration and upset electrolyte balance. Like stimulants and stool softeners, you can also become dependent on them.

Instead of using harmful laxatives, try bulking agents. This milder form of laxative contains no harsh chemicals or toxins and, more importantly, is non-addictive.

Food intolerances, probiotics, leaky gut syndrome and constipation: how they relate to each other.

A recent study shows that food intolerances are a common cause of chronic constipation. Becoming food intolerant is when you eat a particular food that creates an autoimmune reaction within your intestines. The reaction creates inflammation, which prevents you from properly digesting food. If you continue to eat those particular foods, the undigested particles seep into your bloodstream, and your body immediately scrambles to get rid of the intrusion. This leads to an overactive immune system, which then leads to autoimmune diseases.

Food intolerances also lead to constipation, so in order to eliminate constipation and inflammation, and therefore heal leaky gut, you need to identify the foods you are intolerant to and stop eating them. These foods can vary from person to person, but common intolerant foods include wheat, pasteurized dairy products, soy, sugar, white table salt, and artificial sweeteners.

Let’s go back to pain relievers and how people use them to relieve constipation. Remember how I said that pain relievers kill beneficial bacteria? Well, since your good bacteria are gone, you’ll need to replenish them and this is where probiotics shine. Probiotics are microorganisms that are similar to the good bacteria found in the gut. This is probably the only supplement I would suggest using because it balances the intestinal tract, decreases allergic reactivity, and prevents the growth of harmful bacteria (yeast, fungus, toxins, etc.).

What’s equally good is that there is evidence showing that a probiotic drink containing beneficial bacteria called Lactobacillus casei Shirota, or a placebo, improves the severity of constipation and the consistency of stool.

Some important tips to help overcome constipation:

• Drink lots and lots of water. This cannot be emphasized enough. This is especially important for those who drink sugary and caffeinated beverages on a daily basis. Dehydration is another cause of constipation, so be sure to drink adequate amounts of water daily to keep your body replenished.




• Eliminate your food intolerances such as cereals and dairy products. One of the causes of constipation is horrible diet choices, so be sure to replace your food intolerances with a balanced diet that contains meat, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.




• Make probiotics an important part of your diet. Make sure to include it in your daily regimen.