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What is a leaky gut?
Julia cheperis/Unsplash
Leaky gut is the cluster of symptoms that results from this increased intestinal permeability, explains Stephenson.
What contributes to leaky gut?
This can break down the layer of mucus that protects your gut barrier lining, causing increased permeability.
Diets lacking in fiber and high in gut-damaging emulsifiers and UPFs are a big problem, says Stephenson.
Fibre acts a fuel for the microbes in our gut.
However, if whatever triggered it remains, the gut barrier can become compromised.
Two of zonulins most powerful triggers are pathogenic bacteria (i.e.
from food poisoning) and gluten.
This is why gluten is now often deemed inflammatory by health experts.
You dont have to have celiac disease or a diagnosed gluten sensitivity to be impacted by it, either.
Chronic stress can alter the composition of our microbiome to favor more inflammatory species, too.
