Top 4 Gut Healing Supplements
I always recommend starting with a gut-healing diet, but there are gut-healing supplements that can make the world of a difference on your gut-healing journey. In fact, I always use supplements in conjunction with dietary and lifestyle interventions with my clients, because they help bring them to the next level of healing that food alone isn’t always able to do.
What’s Really At The Root of Leaky Gut?
Before we get into some supplements I use, it’s important that you’re working to address the underlying causes of leaky gut with your practitioner and consult them before taking supplements.
There’s usually a combination of factors contributing to Leaky Gut Syndrome. Here are some questions I like to address first:
Are there are missing digestive juices like hydrochloric acid and enzymes needed for proper digestion?
Is there stagnation in the gut and detox organs like the liver and colon?
Are there key nutrients missing from the diet that’s inhibiting healing?
Are there potentially gut-damaging foods that need to be removed from the diet?
Is the gut microbiome out of balance?
Are there high stress levels, poor coping skills or emotional trauma impeding gut healing?
Is the client getting enough exercise or too much?
Is there a history of antibiotic use or other medications?
After we start addressing some of the basics, including developing a nutrition protocol, I’ll start bringing in supplements to support the gut-healing process.
Natural Antimicrobials
Antimicrobials play a big role in restoring digestion function in strategic gut healing protocols. Natural herbal antimicrobials such as berberine, olive leaf, oil of oregano, are powerful and can help both clear bacteria, parasites and yeast, but also balance the microbiome. The important thing to note here, is that we don’t simply want to kill off pathogens, we want to rebalance. When in balance, bacteria, yeast and parasites are not harmful.
Probiotics
Just as I’d mentioned, good bacteria is a great thing! You have more bacteria than you do human cells, so it’s crucial that we work on restoring balance, not just kill the bad guys. Not all probiotics are equal though, as many are not formulated to withstand the acidic environment of the stomach. Not all strains are going to be beneficial for everyone either, depending on the state of their gut. Some people with bacterial overgrowth may experience negative side effects from probiotics.
Overall, probiotics have been shown to improve many conditions though. Two meta-analyses have shown that probiotics can be an effective treatment for IBS without side effects often seen with meds. Probiotics have also been proven beneficial for weight loss, IBD, helping reduce blood sugar and with mood and fatigue.
L-Glutamine
L-glutamine is an amino acid commonly taken to support the gut lining. Its soothing properties calm inflammation, especially in combination with licorice root. Glutamine can be used for restoring gut barrier function, as it nourishes and supports healing of the mucosal membranes in the intestines and reduces inflammation. It’s also great for those struggling with diarrhea because it helps reabsorb the water in the stool. I often use Glutagenics by Metagenics with clients, as it contains l-glutamine, licorice and aloe vera, which as has wonderful gut-soothing properties.
Magnesium
Magnesium is a critical mineral with over 300 functions in the body that many people are missing. The right form of magnesium is fantastic for supporting healthy bowel movements and works to relax and support the enteric nervous system, aka the nerves found in the gut, which is crucial for healthy digestion. If the nervous system is overactive, or there are high stress levels it will be hard for the gut to heal. Magnesium is also great for sleep and calming anxiety.
Healing the gut is not as easy as simply bringing in a few supplements, it’s a process that will take time, but it’s worth it! Contact me today with inquiries on how to get started!
Sources:
Lynne V. McFarland and Sascha Dublin, “Metal-Analysis of Probiotics for the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome” World Journal of Gastroenterology
Healthy Gut Healthy you by Dr. Michael Ruscio
