Leaky gut

by Lucia Stansbie

Not a medical term – a better definition is: increased intestinal permeability. In a healthy intestinal tract, the gut’s tight junctions limit the transport of large molecules (>500 Da) across it. In an unhealthy intestine the junctions become ‘leaky’ and these large molecules (unprocessed proteins, large amino acids, pathogens, etc) can then slip into circulation. This can lead to IBS-like symptoms including bloating, discomfort when eating certain foods, altered bowel movements and skin rashes.