Top 16 Remedies and Tips on How to Heal Leaky Gut Symptoms

gut with caption how to heal leaky gut

Leaky gut syndrome sounds a little strange, but it is a serious condition, which, left untreated, can lead to a number of more serious health conditions. Let’s examine how to heal leaky gut, but before we do, let’s examine its causes.

Leaky gut syndrome, aka intestinal permeability, is caused when there is damage to the junctions between the intestinal walls and blood stream become damaged. This damage allows undigested particles and toxins to pass into the blood stream. That, in turn, triggers an immune response. The most common triggers of leaky gut are:

Refined carbohydrates (gluten and glucose)

  • Candida overgrowth;
  • Intestinal parasites;
  • Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO);
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS);
  • Environmental toxins;
  • Stress.

Symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome

The concept of leaky gut syndrome centers on ineffective functioning of your stomach and intestinal walls. This poor performance is attributed to bacterial imbalances, fungal overgrowth and parasitic problems within an individual’s digestive system. These cause the following symptoms:

  • Diarrhea – Imbalances may contribute to food digesting improperly or barely digesting at all, causing issues with diarrhea and bloating.
  • Fatigue – If a lot of toxins are passing through a person’s intestinal walls, they may experience general fatigue and chronic inflammation.
  • Headaches – Pain in in different areas of the body can result from LGS, especially in the head.

We’ve listed the top 16 remedied and tips on how to heal leaky gut symptoms here, but these remedies aren’t all inclusive. In more severe cases, it might be necessary to consult your health care provider.

Top 16 Remedies and Tips on How to Heal Leaky Gut Symptoms

Cut Refined Carbohydrates

Refined carbohydrates are one of the leading triggers of leaky gut, therefore, when you’re considering how to heal leaky gut, cutting them from your diet is one of the most important steps.

What to do:

  • You’ll have to start reading labels to what sugars are contained in your foods.
  • Refined sugars, syrups, sodas and sweetened juice drinks, which contain glucose, should be eliminated from your diet.
  • Foods with wheat flour, starch and corn starch, which contain gluten, must also be cut out.

How it works:
Besides being major contributors to the growth of candida, refined carbohydrates contribute to a highly acidic lower intestine, which tends to create a harsh environment for beneficial gut flora.

cakes and pastries in bakery

Probiotic Foods

Eating probiotic foods is a step in the right direction in how to heal leaky gut.

What to do:

  • Yogurt, kefir and coconut kefir should be added to your diet.
  • In addition consume more fermented vegetables like sauerkraut, kimchi and natto.
  • Add pickled vegetables, like dill pickles and pickled beets to your diet as well.

How it works:
In order to heal the lining of your intestines, probiotic foods contribute to the production of good bacteria, which aid in nutrient absorption and immune system support.

DGL Licorice Root

A list on how to heal leaky gut wouldn’t be complete without adding DGL licorice root, which is a remedy that has been used for thousands of years in China.

What to do:

  • For a period of up to 4 weeks, take 6 g per 130 pounds of body weight, of non-DGL licorice root extract per day.
  • Taking DGL licorice root is a safer alternative at 200 mg to 300 mg 2 to 3 times per day.

Note: if you are pregnant or have heart, liver or kidney conditions, do not take licorice root.

How it works:
To help in the reduction of inflammation of your intestines, the four active compounds, flavonoids, coumarins, triterpenoids and stilbenoids, are highly beneficial.

Fiber

Fiber is another major component in how to heal leaky gut.

What to do:

  • Aim for 30 to 40 grams of fiber in your diet on a daily basis.
  • Include sprouted chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds and psyllium seeds in your diet.
  • If you have a sensitive stomach, you can get your fiber from steamed fruits and vegetables.

How it works:
Fiber helps probiotic foods to be more effective by creating a more friendly environment for them.

Avoid NSAIDS

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are major contributors to the damage and continued aggravation of leaky gut.

What to do:

  • Avoid taking products that block the production of stomach acid, like antacid tablets and acid reflux medications.
  • Limit your intake of ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen.
  • Look to herbs and oils for pain and inflammatory relief.

How it works:
Besides hindering liver and adrenal function, NSAIDS strip away mucosa in the lining of your gut and hinder proper digestion.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera isn’t just for the treatment of stings, bites and burns. Aloe vera gel can be a major contributor in how to heal leaky gut.

What to do:

  • Consume 2 oz. of aloe vera gel 6 a times day to fight against pain and inflammation.
  • Drink a mixture of 2 Tbsp of aloe vera juice in a glass of water daily.

How it works:
The anti-inflammatory properties of aloe vera help to bring relief and also help to heal the intestinal lining of your gut.

aloe vera gel

Enzymes

Enzymes are a necessary part of breaking down starches and sugars. Consequently, they are another factor in how to heal leaky gut.

What to do:

  • Consider taking enzyme powders according to their label directions regularly.
  • Consumer higher amounts of pineapple, papaya, mango and honey.

How it works:
The bromelain in pineapple, papain in papaya and amylase in mango are all natural enzymes that help break down starches and sugars, making your digestive system more efficient.

Oil of Oregano

Oil of oregano is a means of directly battling against the damaging flora and another contributor to how to heal leaky gut.

What to do:

  • To start, drink 3 drops in a glass of water twice daily.
  • Gradually increase the dosage up to 6 drops 2 times per day.

How it works:
Oil of oregano is an anti-fungal agent. It will help get rid of the overgrowth of yeast and candida in your intestines.

Cumin and Fennel

Cumin and fennel are two very common spices found in every kitchen. They are both great additions to our list of how to heal leaky gut.

What to do:

  • Chew a tsp of cumin or fennel seeds to help with acid reflux, indigestion, flatulence or bloating instead of reaching for an antacid.
  • Increase your use of these two spices in your cooking on a regular basis.

How it works:
Both of these spices help stimulate digestive enzymes.

Walking

Though this is not something you take down from the shelf and consume, walking is another way of how to heal leaky gut.

What to do:

  • Make a daily habit of walking 20 to 30 minutes every day.
  • During your breaks at work, walk 3 minutes for every hour you spent sitting.

How it works:
Walking stimulates the nerves that help with digestion and speeds up your metabolism.

Garlic

Garlic is one of the superfoods on everybody’s list of home remedies. It is beneficial in how to heal leaky gut as well.

What to do:

  • Chew a clove of garlic twice daily.
  • Increase the amount of garlic you use in your foods by using garlic infused olive oil.
  • Take a garlic supplement on a daily basis.

How it works:
Garlic gets rid of excess yeast, aids in digestion and also helps balance the pH of your intestines.

Cayenne Pepper

We don’t often think of cayenne pepper as a stomach soother, but it really is.

What to do:

How it works:
Cayenne pepper not only stimulates the digestive process, but it also helps to make the pH of your intestines more alkaline, thus killing the bad flora and promoting the good flora.

Ginger Root

Ginger root is found to have a significant effect on reducing and managing leaky gut symptoms.

What to do:

  • Bring 1 cup of water to a boil.
  • Add two 2 Tbsp of grated ginger.
  • Simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Pour the tea through a strainer into a cup.
  • Add lemon and honey, if desired and drink 2 to 3 times daily.

How it works:
Not only does ginger aid in relieving nausea and indigestion, but its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties help promote healing of the damage to the intestinal walls.

Chamomile

Chamomile is more than just a relaxing nighttime drink to make you sleep better. It is another essential element in how to heal leaky gut.

What to do:

  • Boil enough water to fill your favorite mug.
  • Add 2 to 3 tsp dry chamomile flowers.
  • Turn off the heat, cover and let the flowers steep 10 minutes.
  • Strain the tea drink it 2 to 3 times daily.

How it works:
Chamomile is a natural anti-inflammatory and is another way to avoid using NSAIDS whenever you have bloating, gas, indigestion, inflammation and pain.

Zinc

The mineral zinc is another essential element in how to heal leaky gut.

What to do:

  • Ounce per ounce, beef contains more zinc than any other food, so increase your beef consumption.
  • In addition, add oysters, shrimp, kidney beans, flax seeds and pumpkin seeds to your daily diet.
  • You can also take a zinc supplement of 30 mg daily.

How it works:
Zinc is a major component in promoting healing, so, keeping high levels of zinc in your body not only helps that process, but is a compound that is constantly being destroyed by candida.

Turmeric

This non-pharmaceutical, anti-inflammatory compound is equal to any pharmaceutical treatment on the market in efficacy.

What to do:

  • Bring a cup of water to a boil.
  • Add ½” to ¾” of grated turmeric root.
  • Let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Strain the tea into a mug or cup.
  • Drink this tea 2 to 3 times a day with lemon and honey added to taste.

How it works:
The active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, reduces inflammation as well as any NSAIDS and is therefore a valuable means of how to heal leaky gut.

turmeric in bowl

A Final Word

If you’re ready to give your overall health an enormous boost, then learning how to heal leaky gut is a major step in the right direction. Making use of these 16 remedies individually or in combination can help you eliminate one of the greatest contributors to most major health conditions.

Images from depositphotos.com.