7 Signs of a Leaky Gut — Dr. Berg

Dr. Eric Berg DC
27 Apr 202408:25

Summary

TLDRThis video script discusses the signs and causes of a leaky gut, emphasizing the importance of the gut barrier and its impact on overall health. It criticizes common medical advice to increase fiber intake for gut inflammation, suggesting a carnivore diet instead. The script also highlights the role of gut microbiome, the dangers of glyphosate, and the potential for certain foods to exacerbate gut issues. Symptoms of a leaky gut are outlined, along with the connection to autoimmune diseases, advocating for dietary changes and supplements like glutamine to aid healing.

Takeaways

  • 🛡️ The gut wall acts as a barrier, with a thin layer of cells separating the inside of the intestines from the outside, where 90% of nutrient absorption and 80% of the immune system are located.
  • 🚫 Medical advice to increase fiber intake for gut inflammation is counterproductive, as it can exacerbate the condition.
  • 🥩 A carnivore diet is suggested for severe gut inflammation, as it can help reduce inflammation by eliminating fiber.
  • 🔍 The causes of gut inflammation are still largely unknown, but are believed to involve the gut-brain axis and risk factors such as age, prolonged fever, anxiety, depression, and genetics.
  • 🌱 The alteration of the gut microbiome is a recognized factor in gut inflammation, but specific causation is not detailed.
  • 🏃‍♂️ Physical activity and various treatments like talk therapy, anti-spasmodic medication, and anti-depressants are recommended for managing gut inflammation.
  • 🍲 The script emphasizes the importance of diet in managing gut inflammation, which is often overlooked in conventional advice.
  • 💊 Broad-spectrum antibiotics and substances like glyphosate in GMO foods can disrupt the gut microbiome, leading to inflammation and other issues.
  • 🌾 Consuming whole grains with a leaky gut can cause immune reactions and potential allergies due to the absorption of substances that should be excluded.
  • 🥛 Early consumption of milk in children can cause leaky gut due to their inability to digest milk proteins, potentially leading to anemia.
  • 🌾 Gluten, a protein in grains, is one of the few that our bodies cannot fully digest, contributing to gut lining damage.
  • 🍳 Seed oils are identified as another factor that can damage the gut lining, contributing to inflammation.
  • 🤒 Symptoms of leaky gut include abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea, fatigue, brain fog, mood changes, skin inflammation, and autoimmune diseases.
  • 🛑 The script recommends eliminating inflammatory foods and possibly adopting a carnivore diet, along with supplements like glutamine and glycine, to heal the gut.

Q & A

  • What is the primary function of the gut wall?

    -The gut wall serves as a barrier between the inside of the intestines and the outside, playing a crucial role in the absorption of nutrients and protection against harmful substances.

  • Why is increasing fiber intake not recommended when dealing with gut inflammation?

    -Increasing fiber intake during gut inflammation can exacerbate the condition because more fiber can lead to increased inflammation in the gut.

  • What is the 'gut-brain axis' and how is it related to gut inflammation?

    -The gut-brain axis refers to the bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain. It is believed to be affected in cases of gut inflammation, although the exact causes remain unknown.

  • What are some risk factors associated with gut inflammation?

    -Risk factors for gut inflammation include being older, experiencing prolonged fever, anxiety, depression, genetics, and alterations in the gut microbiome.

  • What dietary changes are suggested in the script to manage gut inflammation?

    -The script suggests a carnivore diet to reduce inflammation, as it eliminates foods that may contribute to gut irritation and allows for healing.

  • How do broad-spectrum antibiotics affect the gut microbiome and contribute to gut inflammation?

    -Broad-spectrum antibiotics can disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome by killing off beneficial bacteria, which can lead to a more pathogenic environment and contribute to gut inflammation.

  • What is the role of glyphosate in food and its potential impact on gut health?

    -Glyphosate is an herbicide used in GMO foods and is patented as an antibiotic. It can affect the bacteria in the human body, potentially leading to an antibiotic effect and contributing to gut inflammation.

  • Why are whole grains not recommended for someone with a leaky gut?

    -Consuming whole grains with a leaky gut can allow substances to pass through the gut wall into the immune system, triggering a significant immune reaction and potentially causing allergies.

  • What is the connection between gluten and gut inflammation?

    -Gluten is one of the few proteins that our bodies cannot fully digest, and its presence can cause irritation and contribute to gut inflammation.

  • What are some symptoms that may indicate a leaky gut?

    -Symptoms of a leaky gut include abdominal pain or cramping, constipation or diarrhea, fatigue, brain fog, mood changes including anxiety, skin inflammation, and autoimmune diseases.

  • What supplements are recommended in the script to aid in gut healing?

    -The script recommends glutamine and glycine as supplements that can help heal the gut lining.

Outlines

00:00

🛡️ The Perils of Leaky Gut and Dietary Recommendations

The first paragraph delves into the concept of a 'leaky gut', describing it as a condition where the intestinal barrier, a thin layer of cells, becomes compromised. This barrier is crucial for the absorption of nutrients and the protection against harmful substances. The script criticizes common medical advice to increase fiber intake for gut inflammation, arguing that it exacerbates the problem. Instead, it suggests a carnivore diet to reduce inflammation and highlights the importance of the gut-brain axis. The paragraph also discusses risk factors for gut inflammation, including age, prolonged fever, mental health issues, and genetics, and touches on the broader impact of diet on gut health, mentioning the negative effects of antibiotics, glyphosate, and certain foods like whole grains and gluten.

05:03

🚨 Signs and Symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome

The second paragraph outlines the symptoms of a leaky gut, starting with abdominal pain or cramping, which the speaker had experienced for years without realizing its significance. It continues with a list of other symptoms, including constipation or diarrhea, fatigue due to poor digestion, brain fog affecting clarity, mood swings linked to digestive health, skin inflammation as an external sign of internal issues, and the development of autoimmune diseases due to the immune system's compromised function. The speaker emphasizes the connection between gut health and overall well-being, suggesting that addressing gut inflammation can alleviate a range of symptoms. The paragraph concludes with a recommendation for a carnivore diet and supplementation with glutamine and glycine to aid in gut healing.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Leaky Gut

Leaky gut, or increased intestinal permeability, refers to a condition where the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged, allowing toxins and undigested particles to pass through the gut wall and flood the bloodstream. In the video, it is the central theme, as the speaker discusses the signs, causes, and management of this condition, emphasizing its role in inflammation and immune response.

💡Inflammation

Inflammation is the body's natural response to injury or infection, characterized by redness, heat, pain, and sometimes swelling. The video script highlights inflammation in the gut as a key issue, suggesting that dietary measures recommended by the medical profession, such as increasing fiber intake, may exacerbate the problem instead of alleviating it.

💡Gut Microbiome

The gut microbiome is the collection of microorganisms living in the digestive tracts of humans and animals. It plays a crucial role in digestion, immune function, and even mood regulation. The script mentions that alterations in the gut microbiome are risk factors for gut inflammation and leaky gut syndrome.

💡Carnivore Diet

The carnivore diet is a dietary approach that consists solely of animal-based foods, excluding all plant matter. The speaker in the video recommends this diet for managing gut inflammation, arguing that it can help reduce inflammation by eliminating foods that may contribute to it.

💡Fiber

Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that the human body cannot fully digest, and it is often recommended for gut health. However, the video script challenges this by stating that increasing fiber intake can worsen gut inflammation, especially in cases of leaky gut.

💡Glyphosate

Glyphosate is an herbicide used widely in agriculture, and it is a topic of controversy due to its potential health effects. The speaker mentions glyphosate as an example of a substance found in GMO foods that can negatively affect the gut microbiome and contribute to leaky gut by acting as an antibiotic.

💡Gluten

Gluten is a protein found in wheat and other grains, and it is known to cause digestive issues in individuals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. The video script identifies gluten as a protein that the human body cannot digest, which can lead to gut lining damage and contribute to leaky gut.

💡Glutamine

Glutamine is an amino acid that plays a vital role in gut health, aiding in the repair of the intestinal lining. The speaker in the video suggests taking glutamine as a supplement or consuming foods rich in glutamine, such as red meat, to help heal the gut.

💡Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues. The video script connects leaky gut to autoimmune diseases, explaining that when the gut lining is compromised, the immune system can create antibodies against the body's own tissues, leading to conditions like Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

💡Brain Fog

Brain fog is a non-medical term used to describe a state of mental confusion or lack of clarity. In the video, it is listed as one of the symptoms of leaky gut, suggesting a connection between gut health and cognitive function.

💡Mucus Layer

The mucus layer is a protective barrier in the gut that helps to keep the gut lining intact and prevent harmful substances from entering the bloodstream. The video script describes the mucus layer as part of the gut's defense mechanism, which can be compromised in cases of leaky gut.

Highlights

The gut wall is a thin, single layer of cells that serves as the barrier between the inside of your intestines and the outside, where nutrient absorption and immune protection occur.

Approximately 80% of your immune system is located in the gut, highlighting its crucial role in overall health.

Inflammation in the gut, often referred to as 'leaky gut,' is characterized by the weakening of the gut wall, allowing harmful substances to enter the bloodstream.

Contrary to common medical advice, increasing fiber intake can worsen gut inflammation; a carnivore diet is suggested for severe cases.

The gut-brain axis is affected by inflammation in the gut, which can lead to a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety and depression.

Risk factors for gut inflammation include age, prolonged fever, anxiety, depression, and genetics, with alterations in the gut microbiome playing a significant role.

Common medical treatments focus on management rather than curing gut inflammation, often recommending increased fiber, talk therapy, and medications.

Most diseases are triggered by gut issues, emphasizing the importance of diet and gut health in disease prevention and management.

Broad-spectrum antibiotics and herbicides like glyphosate can disrupt the gut microbiome, leading to further health problems.

Whole grains and certain proteins, such as gluten, can exacerbate leaky gut by allowing undigested particles to enter the bloodstream and trigger immune responses.

Consuming milk proteins too early in life can cause leaky gut and related issues like anemia in small children.

Seed oils are another major factor that can damage the gut lining and contribute to inflammation.

Symptoms of leaky gut include abdominal pain, cramping, constipation or diarrhea, fatigue, brain fog, mood issues, skin inflammation, and autoimmune diseases.

Healing the gut involves eliminating inflammatory foods and adopting a carnivore diet, along with supplements like glutamine and glycine.

Effective gut healing strategies include dietary changes to reduce inflammation, emphasizing the importance of red meat in the diet for its glutamine content.

Transcripts

play00:00

I want to share seven signs of a leaky

play00:03

gut we're dealing with this gut wall and

play00:06

what happens is we have this really thin

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single layer of

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cells that is the barrier between your

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inside of your intestines versus the

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outside where we have protection and

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absorption of about 90% of all the

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nutrients you have a mucus layer there

play00:24

you have a lot of microbes you have 80%

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of your immune system in that location

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and when you have Lecky gut you have the

play00:31

start of inflammation but let's take a

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look at what the medical profession says

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about having inflammation in your gut

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okay dietary measures to improve this

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inflammation in your gut you should

play00:45

increase sble fiber intake now right off

play00:50

the bat that's the absolute worst thing

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to do if you have inflammation your gut

play00:55

is to take more fiber in fact you want

play00:58

to just take that inflammation and do

play01:00

the opposite you want to go carnivore if

play01:03

you have inflammation in the gut

play01:04

especially if it's very very severe

play01:07

because as you have more fiber you're

play01:08

going to create more

play01:10

inflammation all right I'm not done I

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want to show you a couple other things

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here if we look at the cause of this

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problem the first thing it says while

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the causes of inflammation are still

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unknown It is believed that the entire

play01:24

gut brain axis is affected they're

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talking about the connection between

play01:28

your gut and your brain and so it

play01:31

doesn't really give us any more

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information about causation but it does

play01:36

talk about risk factors being older

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prolonged fever

play01:42

anxiety

play01:43

depression genetics can be a problem

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they're talking about alteration in the

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gut microbiome okay I agreed with that

play01:52

then they get into management not curing

play01:55

it but let's manage it the number of

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treatments have been found to be

play01:59

effective increasing fiber no you don't

play02:01

want to do that uh talk therapy

play02:05

anti-spasmodic

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medication and

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anti-depressants okay so then they get

play02:12

into physical activity you should

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exercise then they talk about

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medications then they're getting into

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vagus nerve stimulation okay but you

play02:21

know what's missing they're not talking

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about changing the diet what you need to

play02:25

know is that most diseases are triggered

play02:29

by something that happens in your gut

play02:31

and it has everything to do with the

play02:34

food that you're eating it's not in

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Wikipedia and so it's kind of missing

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information and the problem is you don't

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see it because it's missing and for the

play02:43

average person doing research uh they

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won't really connect the dots most of

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the time now there's other things that

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go beyond food or that are in food that

play02:52

can create a problem like broad spectrum

play02:56

antibiotics you start messing with your

play02:59

gut microbiome and that's when you start

play03:02

to really go downhill because you need

play03:05

those microbes to help you digest you

play03:08

don't need to piss them off and have

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them change the relationship to be more

play03:13

pathogenic and then you have also other

play03:15

things in the food supply like an

play03:18

herbicide called glyphosate in the GMO

play03:21

food they actually patent it as an

play03:25

antibiotic now if you look at glyphosate

play03:28

they say well doesn't affect the human

play03:30

body well yeah it affects bacteria that

play03:33

are in your body and so you start

play03:36

exposing yourself to too much glyphosate

play03:38

and now that creates an antibiotic

play03:40

effect and then you're told to consume

play03:42

whole grains wow if you consume whole

play03:46

grains while you have a leaky gut you

play03:49

are going to allow materials that go

play03:52

through that hole into your immune

play03:55

system and it's going to create a huge

play03:58

immune reaction you're start developing

play04:00

allergies to all sorts of things that

play04:03

maybe you didn't have before and not

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just with whole grains but with other

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Foods too like the

play04:10

proteins if you give a small child milk

play04:14

the proteins in that milk can cause

play04:17

leaky gut because the child does not

play04:20

have the ability to digest those

play04:22

proteins early on at that age and so now

play04:26

you actually create an irritation a hole

play04:29

whole

play04:31

bleeding and that's one of the causes of

play04:34

anemia in small children that consume

play04:37

this milk too early but of course breast

play04:40

milk won't do it and then if we take a

play04:42

look at the protein in grains gluten

play04:46

gluten is one of the only proteins that

play04:48

our bodies cannot digest and then I

play04:51

think the last thing that really

play04:52

destroys this gut lining is seed oils so

play04:56

when you start to develop this leaky gut

play04:59

we get this injury we get inflammation

play05:03

like if you right now had a cut on your

play05:05

finger and it was all red and it was

play05:07

swollen you could see it you can protect

play05:10

it you could put a bandit on it but if

play05:13

that's happening inside your colon you

play05:15

can't see it how do you know it's

play05:19

inflamed I'm about to give you the

play05:21

symptoms to let you know number one of

play05:24

course you're going to have abdominal

play05:26

pain or cramping in any part

play05:30

of the lower abdomen I lived with that

play05:34

for decades and I just kind of pushed

play05:37

through I thought it was normal you

play05:39

should never have pain cramping or any

play05:44

type of bloating in your digestive

play05:46

system that means there's some type of

play05:48

inflammation going on that's number one

play05:50

number two constipation or diarrhea

play05:55

number three you're going to be fatigued

play05:56

because you're not digesting and because

play05:59

food's not getting the full digestion

play06:02

you're going to lack energy then number

play06:03

four you're going to feel brain fog so

play06:07

it's going to start to affect not just

play06:09

fatigue but Clarity number five it's

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going to affect your mood you're going

play06:15

to have anxiety and it's actually

play06:18

related to your digestion number six

play06:21

skin inflammation whatever is going on

play06:24

your skin is a really good indication of

play06:27

your digestion and being a practice for

play06:29

30 years I will tell you these people

play06:32

that came in with skin problems you just

play06:34

fix the gut and their skin problems go

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away if someone has really good skin you

play06:39

know their digestion is good and last

play06:43

one number seven autoimmune diseases 80%

play06:46

of your immune system is in the gut and

play06:48

when you invade the immune system and

play06:50

you bypass it and you bypass normal

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immigration and it no longer gets the

play06:56

stamp of approval it gets into the body

play06:59

and body starts developing antibodies

play07:02

against your own tissues and it can be

play07:04

in any tissue and now what happens is

play07:06

you start getting inflamation in that

play07:09

area because we have this constant

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attack your body now considers certain

play07:13

normal

play07:14

tissues foreign or a pathogen and so if

play07:19

it identifies the thyroid as being The

play07:22

Invader it'll start creating

play07:24

inflammation on your thyroid gland as a

play07:27

condition called Hashimoto and that

play07:29

origin ated in the gut and it started

play07:33

with inflammation and leaky gut one of

play07:35

the best things you can do for any type

play07:38

of gut

play07:39

inflammation is eliminate a lot of the

play07:43

things that are creating inflammation

play07:45

and this is where I would recommend the

play07:46

carnivore diet for a couple months to

play07:48

start to heal the gut by eliminating all

play07:51

the things that are creating

play07:53

inflammation in parallel with that I

play07:55

would recommend taking something called

play07:57

glutamine and glyc SE two things that

play08:00

can actually heal it and if you're on

play08:02

the carnivore diet you're consuming a

play08:04

lot of red meat and things like that

play08:06

which are loaded with glutamine and so

play08:08

that can help you right there but

play08:10

there's a little bit more information

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you need to know about this topic and

play08:13

for that check out this video right here

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Related Tags
Leaky GutInflammationDietary AdviceGut HealthCarnivore DietMucus LayerMicrobiomeImmune SystemNutrient AbsorptionGut Brain Axis