A leaky gut test is the first step to experiencing long-term healing. Luckily, I have a tried-and-true test that I recommend for all my clients! 

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One of the most common questions I get asked is if there is a leaky gut test that can provide insight into what is going on inside the gut. The answer is yes, there is!  I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: test, don’t guess! Doing a leaky gut test is not only a good idea, but it is essential, in my opinion. It provides baseline information about a person’s gut health to help determine an effective treatment plan and validate an appropriate timeline. 

In addition, doing a leaky gut test not only helps me generate the right treatment plan for a person but can show me if the protocols the person is on are working well or if something else is being missed. Although it might be obvious a person has a leaky gut based on their symptoms, testing, and retesting can confirm a successful treatment protocol for that individual and show us how to proceed in case something else needs to be done, such as identifying other potential leaky gut triggers. 

Functional testing is the most effective way to understand the root cause of disease. Learning to test for Leaky Gut is the first step to experiencing long-term healing. Luckily, I have a tried-and-true test that I recommend for all my clients! 

WHAT IS LEAKY GUT 

Leaky Gut Syndrome, also known as intestinal permeability, occurs when the gut lining weakens and creates loose junctions. In a healthy digestive system, the gut lining acts as a barrier, allowing only specific substances to pass through while preventing harmful bacteria, toxins, and undigested food particles from entering the bloodstream.

In cases of Leaky Gut, these tight junctions become compromised and allow unwanted substances to pass through to the bloodstream. A compromised gut lining can trigger an immune response, as the body recognizes these substances as foreign and potentially harmful. 

When an immune response occurs, the person is more likely to develop autoimmunity or experience an autoimmune flare-up. We must heal the Leaky Gut to prevent and improve an autoimmune condition! 

CAUSES OF LEAKY GUT

Many factors contribute to Leaky Gut Syndrome, including our environment, toxin exposure, lifestyle, and diet. Knowing the causes of Leaky Gut Syndrome can help us identify where to focus our efforts to see progress and improve overall health. 

The most common root causes are:

Processed Foods: Consuming the Standard American Diet, high in inflammatory fats, processed foods, preservatives, additives, and refined sugar, can contribute to inflammation in the gut and compromise the integrity of the intestinal lining.

Gut Dysbiosis: An imbalance in the gut microbiota occurs when harmful bacteria overgrow and crowd out the beneficial bacteria. Dysbiosis can contribute to intestinal permeability and lead to SIBO.

Chronic Stress: High, chronic levels of stress can negatively impact the function of the gastrointestinal system, potentially leading to Leaky Gut.

Drugs and Medications: Some medications, such as NSAIDs, antibiotics, and certain prescription drugs, may contribute to intestinal permeability.

Underlying Infections: Underlying infections or imbalances in gut microorganisms, such as H. pylori, Lyme disease, or parasites, can damage the intestinal lining.

Nutrient Deficiencies: Specifically Vitamin A, zinc, or Vitamin D

Genetics: Some individuals may have a genetic predisposition to developing gut conditions. However, epigenetics explains that our lifestyle and diet help determine how our genetics express themselves. In other words, we are not always at the mercy of our inherited genetics. 

Toxins: Toxins are just about everywhere and can damage the intestinal lining, such as mold, heavy metals, environmental toxins, chemicals, glyphosate, EMFs, etc. Toxins are everywhere–in our food, soil, water, environment, home, cosmetics, personal hygiene products, cleaning supplies, etc. In the case of Leaky Gut, when an abundance of these toxins are absorbed into the bloodstream over time, symptoms can appear in many different ways. 

The causes of Leaky Gut are just the tip of the iceberg. In a world that is consumed with toxins and stress, there are many other contributing factors, such as sleep quality, alcohol consumption, travel, hydration, and more. 

SYMPTOMS OF LEAKY GUT

In many cases, vague and general symptoms of Leaky Gut may seem unrelated. However, they all have one thing in common: inflammation. And the root cause of inflammation is a compromised gut microbiome. We also know that inflammation is present in almost every disease and condition. I firmly believe that if we heal our gut, many (or even all) diseases and conditions in the body will improve! 

The most common symptoms of Leaky Gut include:

• Chronic fatigue 
• Bloating
• Gastrointestinal distress
• Stomach pain or cramps
• Food sensitivities and intolerances 
• Heartburn or GERD
• Anxiety and or depression
• Brain fog
• IBS
• SIBO
• Autoimmune conditions, like Celiac, Hypothyroidism, Chron’s, Hashimoto’s, etc. 
• Problematic skin, like eczema, acne, or rosacea    

The good news is that Leaky Gut Syndrome is not a life sentence. It is possible to heal from your chronic symptoms. However, the first step is testing to get a baseline and begin customizing a roadmap to heal! 

HOW A LEAKY GUT TEST CAN TRANSFORM YOUR HASHIMOTO’S MANAGEMENT

When I work with women who have autoimmunity, such as Hashimoto’s, I find it an essential step to heal the gut! A baseline for intestinal permeability can be obtained when beginning a treatment plan and protocol to heal the gut and improve intestinal permeability. 

Having a baseline Leaky Gut test ensures the healing protocols are working effectively. Typically, a Leaky Gut test will coincide with Hashimoto’s antibodies and improvements in TSH levels and symptoms over time. When I work with women to heal their gut to reverse autoimmunity, we always see that when the gut improves (based on their lab data), so do their thyroid labs. 

If you aren’t sure what labs to test for a full thyroid panel, this custom wellness panel below is a great starting point!

BEST TEST FOR LEAKY GUT AT HOME

Functional testing serves as a diagnostic tool to gain insight into the root cause of any disease. In the case of Leaky Gut, testing is the first essential step to healing! As an experienced practitioner, I use this Leaky Gut panel from Vibrant America for every single one of my clients. The best part is that you can do it right from your home by calling a mobile phlebotomist or looking up a Vibrant America lab testing center near you. 

The Vibrant American Intestinal Permeability Panel can determine the level of intestinal permeability and test the following markers: zonulin, actin, and LPS. The test can also confirm whether you have Celiac disease or Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity to understand how gluten responds in the body and if it is something you must avoid. 

The science behind this testing is impressive. It is comparable to having an endoscopy without the invasive procedure and only requiring a simple blood test! 

HOW TO INTERPRET YOUR LEAKY GUT TEST

As an assessment for intestinal permeability, the test provides a score between 1-6. The score is calculated based on zonulin levels in the blood and antibody reactivity. 

The intestinal permeability scoring is as follows:

• 1-2 green
• 2-4 yellow
• 4-6 red 

Zonulin 

Zonulin is a protein that plays a crucial role in regulating the permeability of the intestinal lining. However, when a Leaky Gut is present, the compromised intestinal lining allows larger protein molecules to get into the bloodstream, which causes an immune response. 

Zonulin is a regulator protein that acts as a gatekeeper of the intestines. When zonulin levels rise, the tight junctions between enterocytes open slightly to allow nutrients and other molecules to move between them.

Since the discovery of the regulatory protein zonulin in the year 2000, scientists have been measuring serum zonulin levels to determine the likelihood of increased intestinal permeability.

The following explains the scoring of zonulin levels:

Zonulin (ng/mL) 

• In control: < 45.3
• Moderate: 45.4~55.3
• High risk: > 55.4 

Anti-zonulin IgA

• In control < 0.89
• Moderate: 0.90 ~ 1.10
• High risk: > 1.11

Anti-zonulin IgG

• In control < 0.89
• Moderate: 0.90 ~ 1.10 
• High risk: > 1.11

High levels of zonulin in the blood mean too much zonulin has been released in the gut, which probably signifies increased permeability. Testing zonulin levels will be the gold standard for detecting Leaky Gut and measuring improvement over time. 

Actin

Actin, another marker Vibrant Leaky Gut panel measures, regulates paracellular flow across the intestinal epithelium. However, increased actin levels suggest epithelial cell damage, which can lead to increased intestinal permeability and decreased barrier function. 

The following explains the scoring of actin levels:

Anti-actin IgG

• In control < 0.89
• Moderate: 0.90 ~ 1.10 
• High risk: > 1.11

Anti-actin IgA

• In control < 0.89
• Moderate: 0.90 ~ 1.10
• High risk: > 1.11

LPS Antibodies

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a type of sugar found on the cell walls of some gram-negative bacteria. LPS molecules are released when the bacteria die, but since they are relatively large in size, they do not usually pass through the lining of the small intestine. However, when the gut is “leaky” some LPS can pass between the cells and stimulate the immune system. 

Therefore, the presence of LPS antibodies in the blood is an indirect marker of gut permeability since they bind to the gut lining and increase the synthesis of pro-inflammatory substances. 

High levels of LPS antibodies indicate that LPS has penetrated into the bloodstream. 

The following explains the scoring of LPS levels:

Anti LPS IgA (U/mL)

• In control: < 30.0
• High risk: >30.1

Anti LPS (IgG +IgM)  (U/mL)

• In control: < 281.0
• High risk: > 281.1

While Leaky Gut affects many Americans, the root cause is always bio-individual. This comprehensive, functional test provides invaluable insight into the specific root causes of Leaky Gut in an individual’s body. It is the key to experiencing long-term healing! 

READY TO TEST FOR LEAKY GUT?

If you are ready to get the help you need to test, not guess, and heal your Leaky Gut the right way so you can live the symptom-free life you dream of, I would love to show you how! 

You can read more about how my Microbiome Makeover program works, which includes personalized protocols, coaching sessions, access to medical-grade supplements, and the best functional medicine testing available, including a test for Leaky Gut. You don’t have to settle with the symptoms holding you back; get started today and take your health and life back! 

Thousands of clients have been successful in reclaiming their gut health and improving symptoms of autoimmunity with this program– and I’m confident you will be, too! To learn more about The Microbiome Makeover, click here! 

MY 7-STEP PROCESS TO HEAL LEAKY GUT

When my health hit rock bottom, I discovered functional medicine. It changed the trajectory of my entire life! Healing my gut finally helped me get my Hashimoto’s and other autoimmune conditions into remission. At that time, I decided to become a Registered Dietitian and Functional Medicine Practitioner and teach other women the same process I used to get my life back! 

For over a decade now, I have helped hundreds of women heal their gut and reverse autoimmunity with this same 7-step process so they can experience more energy, mental clarity, better digestion, and, most of all, more joy in their lives! 

Here’s a breakdown of the 7 steps to heal leaky gut & reverse autoimmunity:

Remove 

Identifying your unique “triggers” will be the most critical stage in the gut healing process. If we skip this and dive into repairing the gut, we may spin our wheels for years without digestive or autoimmune improvements. 

Food sensitivities, toxins, heavy metals, gut infections, and bad bacteria such as yeast, viruses, H. pylori, parasites, or SIBO need to be identified and, if present, removed in this crucial stage of the gut healing process.

Replace

If a leaky gut is confirmed, we often find that you lack bile acids and hydrochloric acid, which can reduce the ability to produce natural enzymes that help break down, absorb, and assimilate food and nutrients. 

During this stage, we need to replace anything lost from an infection that may assist in optimal digestion. We also need to start replacing inflammatory foods with anti-inflammatory foods. This is where I encourage you to start three therapeutic diet phases.

Repair 

The real fun and work begins in the repair stage, and we can see major improvement. Now, the gut lining can finally start to “heal and seal” once and for all, and we can start incorporating many helpful gut-healing amino acids and antioxidants to help strengthen the gut lining and bring the tight junctions back together again. 

We can do so much in this stage, such as supporting micronutrient imbalances and deficiencies and including foods that help the gut lining and cells renew and regenerate.

Reinocculate and repopulate 

The reinocculate and repopulate stage is where we start balancing the microbiome and restoring the proper balance of good gut bugs and bacteria. 

We start with PREbiotics first (the food for the probiotics) and then gradually increase to the right PRObiotic supplement for YOU with multiple strains that are soil-based along with the correct balance of bifidobacteria and lactobacillus you need. We also discuss food-based prebiotic fibers and food-based probiotics in this stage.

Rebalance

In the rebalance stage, we can finally work on ALL the other areas that may have been out of balance due to an altered gut. Balancing areas like sleep, weight, hormones, adrenals, and brain chemistryf is more effective now that the gut is healed and repaired. 

During the rebalance stage, we also want to find the right diet and balance that helps you sustain optimal long-term gut health. Everyone is different, and we will teach you how to listen to your body and know what the best diet is to help you thrive.

Reintroduce

The reintroduce stage is usually everyone’s favorite step! Reintroducing means we start introducing foods that you probably had to avoid in the beginning stages. We also experiment with introducing some food sensitivities back since they can improve and disappear once the gut is actually healed. 

In the reintroduce stage, we will teach you how to know and identify if these foods are long-term triggers for you or if you have a level or threshold of tolerance that you want to stick to for specific foods to keep your gut in check long-term. 

Responsibility

In the last and final stage, we need to devise a sustainable plan to help keep your new gut healthy and happy. 

In order to do this, we have to talk about your responsibility to keep up with your gut-healthy lifestyle and a timeline for when you should be checking in on labs each year or even every few years once we know you are operating at 100%. This is where we discuss our special program for graduates and alumni for ongoing support.

Learn the three biggest mistakes to avoid when healing your gut and the #1 step you must take to banish brain fog, increase energy, beat the bloat, and feel like you again! Get my FREE Leaky Gut Training Here!

WRAPPING IT ALL UP 

In my opinion, doing a leaky gut test before you start a healing protocol is essential to confirm that what you are doing is working. Testing first also confirms whether you are making the right progress that will improve your health and life! 

The best way to heal leaky gut is to start by identifying your root cause and its manifestations (as outlined above). I’m here to encourage you that healing IS possible! It takes patience, persistence, and commitment. I know this because it’s my story, too! 

Not only did I myself suffer from severe GI distress for 7+ years, but I have three autoimmune conditions, and now they are COMPLETELY reversed. They are undetectable on my lab results. 

I have more energy than ever, and all of the symptoms I suffered with for so long are completely resolved. The turning point for me was that I finally discovered the right mentor who opened my eyes to functional medicine, tested my unique chemistry, and got to the root cause of why I had so many symptoms to begin with. 

I’m here to be that for you. With the support of a coach and professional who not only has a clear system for you to follow but who is truly invested and called to this work and wants to see you start living your life again, it will make all the difference in the results you get. 
I’m here to help you achieve the symptom-free life you dream of. Here’s how to contact me today if you’re ready!

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