Danna Bowman, Founder
Thyroid Nation
Leaky Gut Usually Associated With Autoimmune Disease
Leaky gut syndrome is almost always associated with autoimmune disease. In fact, reversing symptoms of autoimmune disease depends on healing the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. Any other treatment is just symptom suppression. Autoimmune disease is defined as when the immune system makes antibodies against its own tissues. As you likely know if you are reading this, one common example is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis where the body makes antibodies to the thyroid gland.
Nutritional Support for Leaky Gut
- Glutamine, an amino acid, has been shown to reverse intestinal mucosal damage from various insults. Glutamine is the principle fuel used by the upper intestinal tract to repair and heal.
- Agents that stimulate protective mucus secretion may also help with the healing. Some common ones I use are marshmallow root extract and deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) extract.
- Probiotics are essential! Lactobacillus casei, bifidobacter species, and saccromyces boulardii, a beneficial type of yeast are all important to restore gut health.
- Fish oil can be very helpful in the treatment of intestinal inflammation by decreasing inflammatory prostaglandins. EPA and DHA should be used in the range of 2-4gm daily
- Quercetin functions as a natural mast cell stabilizer and decrease release of histmine which contributes to inflammation & injury. To be effective, quercetin should be used in powder form and taken 3-6gm daily.
- Vitamins A and D are critical to supporting secretory IgA function and restoring the mucosal immune system. Ask your doctor for specific doses.
- Replace damaging fats with healthy fats like coconut oil, avocados, grass-fed butter, omega 3-rich fish, and extra virgin olive oil.
About the Author
Danna Bowman is the founder of Thyroid Nation. She developed Hashimoto’s after years of unknowingly suffering with hypothyroidism, hormonal imbalances and adrenal fatigue. Hypothyroidism runs in her family but it was never discussed, unfortunately. Her husband, 2 kids and her, picked up and moved, sight unseen, from Texas to Costa Rica in 2008. She was accurately diagnosed; however, they only offered Levothyroxine or a Thyroidectomy as a solution for the disease. After a year of suffering, she turned to the internet. She found a doctor in Arizona that would consult with her and send Natural Dessicated Thyroid to her. After learning and realizing the misinformation and lack of information in Costa Rica and worldwide, she founded the website to help educate others. In 2015, she launched Thyroid Nation RADIO, a weekly thyroid and health, LIVE radio show with her co-host, Tiffany Mladinich. Follow Thyroid Nation on Facebook,Twitter, Pinterest, Youtube and Instagram.
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Questions or anything to add about maintaining your gut health? We want your thoughts, please. You might just help someone else in need.
Sources
I am so confused about all of the information out there about hypothyroidism and treatments. I was diagnosed in my 20’s and have never been symptom free. I am 50 now. I was on Synthroid up until a couple of years ago. I met a “integrative medicine” doctor that place me on compounded T3 and T4. He also placed me on supplements and hormones(progesterone pills and estrogen and restring cream). He also tried treating me for “leaky gut” using meds and that just made me have digestive problems and a chronic yeast infection- ALL of which I never had in the past. Well- none of that made my symptoms better. . It just made me more depressed, foggy headed and I felt angry all of the time. I talked my dr and he just said that all of my levels were fine. I guess he gave up? Since then, I stopped taking using the hormones- except the T3 and T4. I feel better than when I was taking them, but I still am symptomatic as far as the thyroid issues. At this point- I don’t know what to do and am feeling depressed about the whole thing. I need to find a new doctor- but I am not sure what type? An endocrinologist, an internal med dr…..?? Do I need to be on other hormones besides thyroid meds? What type of thyroid meds- synthetic or compounded? I don’t know what to do or who to ask or what to believe anymore after reading so many different opinions about the same subject. It is very overwhelming.
Do you have any advice?
I see no one has answered your questions. You can research doctors and see if they treat thyroid conditions. I think and endocrinologist would be the type of doctor that you need, they treat hormone-secreting glands. Hope you find the help you need. Good luck.