When you have a runny nose, itchy eyes, and can’t stop sneezing you might typically reach for tissues and an antihistamine. While this can often relieve some of your allergy symptoms, it might not be the full treatment you need. In fact, their suffering might be due to an underlying problem called leaky gut. While it may not be an obvious relationship, it turns out that our gut health is extremely important to our immune function.
Along with the skin and the respiratory system, the digestive system is one of the major barriers between our bodies and the outside world. Everything we ingest must be filtered correctly so that nutrients get absorbed and the waste gets discarded in a way that doesn’t harm the body. I won’t get into the complex workings of the digestive system, but what is important to understand is that the moment there is an imbalance in our gut health, the immune system is affected as well. In the case of leaky gut, the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged and inflamed which allows undigested food, bacteria, or toxins to enter the bloodstream. This inflammation of the gut prompts an immune response that can cause long-term health issues, such as food sensitivities. If you continue to eat foods that you have become sensitive to, the inflammation in your body will remain and weaken your immune system. If the immune system is weakened over a long period of time, its ability to fight off foreign invaders such as allergens is compromised, making seasonal allergies worse and seemingly neverending.
If leaky gut might be the root of your problems, it certainly needs to be fixed. One way of doing so is by finding out if you are sensitive to any foods and eliminate them from your diet either completely or for an extended period of time to allow the tissue to heal (talk to a doctor about your needs). You can schedule a nutritional appointment with Dr. Sanders to discuss possible tests to check for any food allergies if you think you may have them. Another thing to pay attention to with leaky gut, is maintaining the balance of bacteria in your intestinal tract. Good bacteria is vital to gut health so it is possible that supporting your natural flora with a probiotic can help you restore this balance. Finally, chronic stress is a large contributor to issues in gut health. Making sure you are not overwhelmed and take time to relax is very important for your general wellbeing.
Please visit us at our office if you are considering treatment for allergies or any gastric issues, since we might be able to help you. To ask any you questions or schedule an appointment, call (512) 494-1880.
