The brain houses your memories, your communication and language skills, and your ability to move your body. It also controls automatic functions like breathing, temperature, and heartbeat. Your brain is one of the most important organs in your body and it requires diligent protection.
However, despite its superhuman powers, there are instances that brain and the Blood Brain Barrier, or BBB, is compromised and the brain is in danger. Leaky brain happens when the tight junctions of the protective BBB becomes loose or broken and permeable, substances like harmful chemicals and proteins can leak in and cause damage with will lead to inflammation.
What are the Symptoms of Leaky Brain Syndrome?
The following are the common signs of Leaky Brain Syndrome:
Headaches/Migraines
A headache is one of the common signs of leaky brain. The headaches are unexpected and severe. Studies also revealed that pain associated with these headaches is more intense when a person is standing.
Cognitive Decline
This includes memory loss and this can be the result of various conditions, such as blood brain barrier dysfunction. Studies revealed that this dysfunction may contribute to the cognitive decline that is often associated with individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Chronic Fatigue
This results in constant tiredness that does not go away, even with rest or sleep. Research has shown that the BBB’s permeability might bring on continuing symptoms and signs of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Mood Disorders
Breakdowns in BBB are often observed in people with anxiety, depression serious psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia.
Memory Loss
Loss of memory and other cognitive declines which can lead to dementia, Alzheimer’s and seizures.
Lack of Concentration
Including brain fog, ADD/ADHD and Autism Spectrum
Causes of Leaky Brain Syndrome
If you are suffering from leaky gut, you are more prone to having leaky brain syndrome. Things such as gluten and other known food allergens that damage the villi of the small intestine may eventually damage the blood brain barrier, too. Drug and alcohol abuse increase any risks on BBB permeability.
Infections, environmental toxins, and stress also take their toll on the blood brain barrier. There is a substance in the body known as Zonulin that determines the brain and the gut’s permeability. Studies revealed that consuming inflammatory foods such as gluten tends to increase the Zonulin within the body, resulting in elevated permeability on both barriers. It is also common for individuals with gluten sensitivities to develop both leaky brain and leaky gut.
In order to effectively treat leaky brain, it is important that any issues concerning the gut must be addressed due to the connection between the brain and the gut. Gluten must be eliminated from your diet since this increases the permeability of tight junctions and breaks down the BBB. Food sensitivities are also being linked to increased inflammation.
Many individuals suffer from leaky brain syndrome. To avoid this condition, you need to protect your brain. You also need to embrace a healthy lifestyle and engage in activities that promote mental health. However, there are also many current treatments effective for treating leaky brain syndrome if you should ever be diagnosed.
What is a Leaky Gut?
Leaky gut syndrome is hypothetical and a medically unrecognized state. Although an increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut) is a real symptom recognized by science, alternative medicine practitioners and nutritionists most frequently identify this unique medical condition. Proponents claim that leaky gut results in chronic inflammation throughout the body, which also contributes to a wider range of conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraines, lupus, autism, and multiple sclerosis.
Symptoms of Leaky Gut
Medical experts generally cite these common symptoms of leaky gut:
Bloating, constipation, or chronic diarrhea
Nutritional deficiencies
Headaches, memory loss, brain fog
Excessive fatigue
Skin rashes and skin problems like eczema and acne
Cravings for carbs and sugar
Joint pain
Depression
Autoimmune diseases
Food sensitivities
Causes of Leaky Gut
Leaky gut actually has no single cause; however, there are several common factors that contribute to this condition:
Chronic Stress
Prolonged stress tends to change a person’s immune system as well as its ability to quickly respond. It also affects your body’s ability to heal.
Microbial Imbalance
Dysbiosis is known as a microbial imbalance within the body that contributes to leaky gut syndrome. The Candida actually push their way to the intestinal wall’s lining and break down brush borders. When leaky gut is suspected, it is advised to have Candida levels evaluated.
Environmental Contaminants
Daily exposure to numerous environmental and household chemicals puts stress on a person's immune defenses and the ability of their body to repair itself. This leads to chronic delay of routine repairs. Immune systems can only address one issue or area at a time, so if they are concentrated on the digestive system, other parts of the body will be affected. The connective tissues start to break down and individuals lose traces of minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium. The environmental chemicals are depleting reserves to buffer minerals, resulting in cell swelling. This is referred to as leaky cells.
Excessive Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages have ingredients that are proven to be toxic to the cells and the body. Excessive consumption can contribute to the development of leaky gut.
Poor and Unhealthy Food Choices
Low fiber diets increase the transit time of food, enabling toxic digestion by-products to collect and irritate gut mucosa. Diets consisting of highly-processed foods are known to damage the intestinal lining. It is also essential to note that even the foods that you usually think of as healthy, like eggs, wheat, and milk, can irritate the gut lining.
One of the most effective ways to heal leaky gut is to change your diet and eliminate foods that the body consider toxic. Follow a nutritionist’s advice to eliminate gluten, soy, refined sugar, alcohol, caffeine, and dairy. In addition to eliminating certain foods, you can consume healthy fats and healthy bacteria that will repair your intestinal wall lining.
If you’d like to join my membership group or discuss how you can beat the burn-out and stop the leaky gut/brain, book an appointment or a your complimentary 30 minute call so that we get your gut feeling good again.