4 Supplements to Help Heal a Leaky Gut

Our intestinal or gut lining is not impenetrable and is not supposed to be. It should allow essential vitamins, minerals, and important nutrients to be absorbed and circulated by the bloodstream. When working correctly, our gut acts as a net to let the good stuff in and keep the bad stuff out. When it is not working correctly, we develop a leaky gut. This term is used to describe an intestinal lining that becomes “too permeable”. Think of it as a net that has large holes torn into it. These holes allow toxins, bad bacteria, and undigested food to be absorbed and pass through our bloodstream. You can imagine how having a leaky gut can cause a host of problems. It can cause bloating, gas, and cramps. It is also connected with multiple chronic gastrointestinal conditions such as celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome.

To heal a leaky gut, it is an absolute must that we change our unhealthy dietary habits. With that said, there are supplements to a healthy diet that we can take to alleviate the symptoms and help heal a leaky gut:

Probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms that improve the microbiome of our gut by recolonizing the gut with good bacteria. Unfortunately, friendly bacteria can be depleted by a poor diet or by taking steroids, antibiotics, or acid blocking medication. 

Recommendation: Take a high quality probiotics supplement with a high concentration of 25-100 billion units a day, preferable in delayed release capsules. 

Digestive Enzymes

These are microbial or plant based supplements that help break down the food we eat into easily digestible nutrient components like amino acids, fatty acids, and simple sugars. 

Recommendation: Look for a powerful plant - based, broad spectrum enzyme complex. Read the labels and look for protease, amylase, and lipase. Those help break down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. 

Collagen

Collagen is the main protein that makes up our connective tissues. It helps maintain the integrity of our cells and aids in tissue regeneration. It has two important amino acids, proline and glycine, that act as building blocks to repair and prevent the further breakdown of the intestinal lining.  

Recommendation: The easiest way is to sip bone broth or mix 2 tablespoons of collagen protein into your drinks daily. Kulture will be launching a Collagen range shortly.

Slippery Elm

The superstar component of this rare but very effective supplement to alleviate leaky gut syndrome is mucilage. Mucilage coats the intestines and makes them less prone to damage. It also stimulates nerve endings in the gut to increase natural mucous secretion. Without mucous, the stomach would digest itself. Additionally, it has antioxidants and can act as a prebiotic for your probiotics. 

Recommendation: These are available in tablet, capsule, and powder form. Find one that is of high quality.