Your “gut” a.k.a. your digestive system, specifically your small intestine houses 70% of your immune system and is also dubbed the 2nd brain. Functional doctors and clinical nutritionists believe that the gut is the center of all health. If we are on a quest to be as healthy as possible and do all we can to prevent ourselves and our families from diseases like diabetes, cancer, autoimmune disorders, and even Alzheimer’s and dementia, we need to learn about the gut and how it dictates our total health. It is estimated that 80% of us have some degree of leaky gut.

Leaky gut is a vague “catch-all” that means that for whatever reason (I’ll mention a few in the next section) your intestinal lining has been compromised and is not digesting foods properly. When this happens, food particles, bacteria, and toxins will pass through the lining of your intestines creating havoc throughout your body. These particles are not recognizable by the body and force your systems to go into attack mode. Additionally, since food isn’t being digested properly, it can’t be properly used to nourish your body.

In a nutshell, leaky gut means that for whatever reason your intestinal lining has been compromised and is not digesting foods properly.

Traditional doctors don’t tend to diagnosis leaky gut since it is a vague culmination of symptoms. That said, there are things you can do to repair your digestive system…or, if you are already healthy, things you can do to keep a healthy digestive tract.

But first, here is a list of symptoms that are signs that you may be one of approximately 70-80% of the population that has this treatable condition.