Food Sensitivities & Allergies

A leaky gut can sensitize the body

The overall health of the gut rests on its selective permeability, or its ability to allow in beneficial nutrients, while blocking out toxins, harmful bacteria, and waste products. However, certain things can break down this important barrier. Conditions like Coeliac disease can lead to the tiny microvilli of the intestinal lining becoming damaged, or bacterial overgrowth in the small intestines can release harmful toxins that destroy the intestinal lining.

When the gut cells are damaged (or rather, the tight gaps between the cells are compromised), the gut lining cannot function as normal. Harmful particles penetrate the barrier and enter the bloodstream. The immune systems detects these foreign bodies and responds with inflammation and pain. An allergic reaction can be triggered as the body tries to deal with the “invasion”, usually by overreacting to previously unproblematic foods.

Leaky gut is thus both a cause and an effect, setting up a vicious cycle where sensitivity and inflammation predisposes to more sensitivity and inflammation. What can be confusing is how ordinarily healthy foods can trigger severe symptoms, and combined with already impaired nutrient absorption, you may find yourself failing to absorb the nutrition your body needs, as harmful bacteria gain a foothold and the problem spirals out of control.

Dealing with food sensitivities – it starts with healing the gut

Unfortunately, food sensitivities and allergies can take time to overcome, because no two people share the same trigger foods or the same symptoms. A potentially aggravating substance like gluten could cause brain fog in one person and diarrhea in another, but on the other hand, a dozen people with brain fog may all have completely different trigger foods causing the problem, none of which may be gluten.

The best way to approach food sensitivities is to get to the root of the problem: the integrity of the gut lining. When the permeability of the gut is restored, optimal bacterial balance can be regained, and nutrient absorption is improved. When the inflammation from a leaky gut is addressed, the body’s allergic response is dampened and you may find yourself able to tolerate more and more foods without triggering symptoms.

Fulvic acid can nourish and support the health, structure and function of the intestinal cells, as well as encourage the growth of a healthy microbiome. The effects of this alone are substantial – better immunity, better mood and stress response (many of neurotransmitters like serotonin are synthesized in the gut, the “second brain” after all) and hormone balance.

Some evidence has found that fulvic acid supplementation can soothe inflammation in the digestive tract, for example that associated with inflammatory bowel disease or IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Fulvic acid provides not only raw nutrients that feed the gut cells, improving their absorption, it also supplies beneficial microorganisms that combat harmful bacterial overgrowth, while downregulating inflammation.

If you’re experiencing severe digestive symptoms, it’s important to consult a doctor and devise a tailored treatment plan. Fulvic acid supplementation should be done gradually and with care – it’s important to choose a purified, absorbable supplement that is 100% fulvic acid and nothing else, which will be gentle on your digestion. AEON is the only supplement with these credentials, and can be used with confidence no matter what the initial cause of your discomfort, or your unique digestive symptoms.

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