A happy and healthy gut is the first step in managing allergies. When struggling with a hyper-active immune system, we can get so focused on managing symptoms that we forget about the “long game.” We don’t just want to win the battle of suppressing symptoms, we want to win the war of retraining and balancing the immune system—getting it to homeostasis. Remember: Allergies are not a disease. The allergic/histamine response is a normal, natural, and necessary process that starts with a leaky gut.
Gut disruption happens when large proteins slip through microtears in the gut lining. The immune system is now on hyper-alert because the digestive system is supposed to be a closed system. Nothing is supposed to leak into the bloodstream. With the regular use of antibiotics, the preponderance of stress hormones in our bodies, the universal use of seed oils, the amount of sugar in most processed food items, the toxic chemicals sprayed onto our grains and produce, the pollution in our water and air—it’s a miracle if we don’t have gut issues!
The gut’s microbe patterns are set by the time a child turns three years old. This microecosystem plays a crucial role in the allergic response throughout life. Dysbiosis has been linked to the development of various allergic conditions. The connection between atopic dermatitis, asthma, and food allergies is directly related to gut health in children. Perinatal (before birth) and early-life factors that have been reported to affect the risk of allergic diseases can be mediated by changes in the gut microbiota!
To have a happy and healthy gut, we rely on two pillars—the integrity of the gut lining and the balance of the gut microbes. If you eat processed foods, if alcohol and tobacco are part of your story, if you have taken antibiotics in the last year, if you have a parasitic infection or an overgrowth of Candida, if you eat sugar regularly, if you eat foods that have been sprayed with chemicals, if you take oral contraceptives, you most likely have a leaky gut and dysbiosis. Signs of unhealthy gut include diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, abdominal pain, and indigestion, feeling tired despite getting enough sleep, developing new or worsening allergies or sensitivities to foods, sugar cravings, eczema, psoriasis, acne, autoimmune disorders, joint pain, muscle aches, brain fog and difficulty concentrating, headaches, weight gain/loss, mood swings, and anxiety. To address an unhealthy gut, you will need to make dietary and lifestyle changes that support gut health and reduce systemic inflammation.
Eliminate inflammatory foods. Avoid processed foods, refined sugars, alcohol, and foods that are known to trigger allergies like gluten, dairy, soy, tree nuts, corn, and eggs. Add these trigger foods back into your diet one at a time after thirty days to see their full effects.
Focus on gut-friendly foods. These include fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and ancient grains to nourish beneficial gut bacteria. These foods are prebiotics because they set the stage for new strains of good bacteria. Fermented foods like sugar free yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha which are rich in probiotics. Bone broth contains collagen and amino acids that can help heal and seal the gut. In addition, you can take collagen powder at 10 grams daily to deal with leaky gut. Healthy fats like those found in avocados, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish are necessary for a healthy gut.
Avoid taking antibiotics if possible. There are many natural ways to fight off bacterial infections, so most of the time we don’t need antibiotics. They are indiscriminate as to what they kill off—the good and the bad are both killed off which leaves room for bad bacteria to grow rapidly.
Avoid NSAIDs. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can increase intestinal permeability so use them cautiously or not at all.
Take a good-quality probiotic. Probiotics add new strains of bacteria to the gut. My favorite is here: Daily Probiotic
Make sure vitamin levels are sufficient. Deficiency in either vitamin A or vitamin D results in leaky gut. Check out Men's Daily or Women's Daily
Get Rid of Candida Overgrowth. Since this fungus feeds on sugar and the excrement of internal parasites, get rid of parasites and reduce net sugars to less than 25 grams for women and less that 37.5 grams for men.
Get Enough Sleep. Deep, restorative sleep for 7-9 hours nightly plays a crucial role in gut health.
Manage Stress. This can be done by prayer and meditation, eliminating toxic relationships, slowing down and being mindful, living in integrity in every area, setting healthy boundaries and keeping them strong, resting one day of the week, and taking adaptogenic herbs that help balance stress hormones and build your inner resilience. Check out Stress MAXX!