The Connections Bridgewater-Somerville Edition June July August 2021

theconnectionsnj.com HEALTH & WELLNESS PAGE 30 Intestinal permeability (commonly heard of as ‘leaky gut’), is associated with several chronic diseases. When symptomatic, one can experi- ence fatigue, headaches, confusion, brain fog, bloating, gas or constipation, skin problems, such as rashes or eczema or joint pain, all ba- sically driven by the in ammation that it can create. When we have a damaged or in amed lining of the intestines, the barrier between the gut and bloodstream is jeopardized and the bar- riers can be breached. If allowed to continue, harmful bacteria, foodstuff and toxins that your body normally would not allow through can leak into the underlying tissues and bloodstream and cause further in ammation and immune activa- tion along with digestive disturbances and auto- immune conditions. Intestinal permeability is critical to identify in people who have it. Our body has gating mech- anisms that are inborn. When the integrity of our gating mechanism is functioning well, it allows things that are supposed to get in through and blocks what can be harmful to us from getting in. There are two mechanisms that can break down with intestinal permeability, paracellular break down around/in between the cells and transcellular breakdown which occurs through the cell structure. These breakdowns can occur when our body has taken a toll from stress, poor diet, abusive alcohol consumption, long standing need for antibiotics, or speci c foods that may be problematic possibly due to genetic factors. The blood testing at Natural Medicine & Re- habilitation measures both paracellular and trans- cellular breakdown processes. Additionally, it will determine if there is something called endotox- emia present, which is the negative effect of certain unfavorable bacteria being present in our microbi- ome. Maintaining healthy bacteria in your gut, or a healthy microbiome, is critical to healthy immune tolerance. Imbalances in your gut microbiome can trigger the body’s immune response and increase in ammation and intestinal permeability. One of the most common offending foods that can trigger intestinal permeability is the peptides in wheat known as gliadins, or more common- ly known as the blanket term, gluten. For many, these peptides create immune responses in the body that can disrupt the intestinal barriers, caus- ing painless or silent in ammation, and triggering autoimmune processes in the body. While some may have no symptoms with intes- tinal permeability, others may experience digestive symptoms such as gas, bloating, constipation, and/or re ux. Others may have no gastrointestinal symptoms but may have systemic or autoimmune conditions developing as a result. Systemic symp- toms that can point to intestinal permeability being the cause can be a headache, chronic muscle and joint pain, ongoing fatigue, and neurologic symp- toms such as depression, anxiety, and/or brain fog. Autoimmune conditions that can have intestinal permeability as a primary cause are many. Some of the more common being thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, and Type I Diabetes. The rst step in helping our patients is to utilize the results from our intestinal permeability blood test. Our team of physicians can then, along with a comprehensive consult and examination, most accurately identify the root cause(s) of your condi- tion. Once the root cause has been determined, other interventional protocols such as dietary, nutri- tional and lifestyle changes may be recommended to help improve gut health and alleviate intestinal permeability symptoms. Our functional medicine doctor may recommend dietary changes that both eliminate certain offending foods and include foods and supplements containing bene cial nu- trients to soothe in ammation and restore the in- tegrity of your gut lining. Adding probiotics and prebiotics to the diet may be suggested as well. To help heal and avoid leaky gut call 908-252-0242 or visit NMRNJ.com/appointment-request/ to request a FREE new patient consultation. HEAL YOUR LEAKY GUT Protect the barrier between your gut and bloodstream for better health. By: Dr. Vincent Sferra One of the most common offending foods that can trigger intestinal permeability is the peptides in wheat known as gliadins, or more commonly known as the blanket term, gluten. For many, these peptides create immune responses in the body that can disrupt the intestinal barriers, causing painless or silent in ammation, and triggering autoimmune processes in the body. Intestinal permeability (commonly heard of as ‘leaky gut’), is associated with several chronic diseases. When symptomatic, one can experience fatigue, headaches, confusion, brain fog, bloating, gas or, constipation, skin problems, such as rashes, or eczema, or joint pain, all basically driven by the in ammation that it can create. FREE new patient consultation to help heal Leaky Gut. Heal Your Leaky Gut Leaky Gut is associated with several chronic diseases such as thyroiditis, rheumatoid-arthritis, celiac disease, and Type 1 Diabetes. Somerset | 908-252-0242 NMRnj.com/appointment-request Gas, bloating, constipation, reflux, headache, chronic muscle and joint pain, ongoing fatigue, depression, anxiety, and/or brain fog can all be symptoms of intestinal permeability or Leaky Gut.