Leaky Gut Syndrome

Posted on October 16, 2011 with No Comments

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Candida overgrowth may also cause a condition that is called Intestinal Hyper-Permeability, more commonly know as Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS). This condition occurs when the wall of the gastrointestinal tract is damaged. The Candida change form, creating rhizoids, root like structures that break the intestinal walls. A healthy intestinal wall will allow only nutrients to enter bloodstream, but when it is damaged, larger molecules such as incompletely digested fats, proteins, and toxins may also slip through. The body recognizes these substances as foreign objects and forms antibodies to them, causing the patient to suddenly become allergic to foods they would previously been able to eat without a problem. With LGS, vitamin and mineral deficiencies are common because the patient lacks the ability to move minerals and vitamins from the gut to the blood.

Candida albicans, and other strains of Candida are yeast that normally inhabit our digestive system: the mouth, throat, intestines and genitourinary tract. Candida is a normal part of the bowel flora (the organisms that naturally live inside our intestines, and are not parasitic). It has many functions inside our digestive tract, one of them to recognize and destroy harmful bacteria. Without Candida albicans in our intestines we would be defenseless against many pathogen bacteria. A Healthy person can have a millions of Candida albicans. Our immune system is suppose to keep it under control, together with “friendly” bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus , B. bifidum, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, S. thermophilus and L. salivarius, …). If the number of friendly bacteria is decreased (antibiotics, pesticides, chlorine,…) in relation to a number of Candida, the immune systems is weakened or other conditions for yeast proliferation occur (diet high in sugar, improper pH in the digestive system) Candida albicans will shift from yeast to mycelial fungal form and start to invade the body. In the yeast state Candida is a non-invasive, sugar-fermenting organism, while in fungal state it is invasive and can produce rhizoids, very long root-like structures. Rhizoids can penetrate mucosa or intestinal walls, leaving microscopic holes and allowing toxins, undigested food particles and bacteria and yeast to enter the bloodstream. This condition is known as Leaky Gut Syndrome, one more name for the food and environmental intolerances.