La Biome Leaky Gut Test
How strong is your gut wall?
A strong and intact gut wall, characterized by healthy and properly functioning tight junctions, is crucial for overall digestive health and overall well-being.
Benefits of a Strong Gut Wall:
Enhanced Nutrient Absorption.
A healthy gut wall with intact tight junctions allows for efficient absorption of essential nutrients from the food we consume. This ensures that our bodies receive the necessary vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to support optimal health and functioning.
Improved Digestive Function.
A strong gut wall aids in proper digestion by preventing undigested food particles from leaking into the bloodstream. This reduces the risk of digestive discomfort, such as bloating, gas, and diarrhea, and supports the breakdown and absorption of nutrients.
Strengthened Immune System.
The gut wall plays a critical role in immune function, acting as a physical barrier against harmful pathogens and toxins. A strong gut wall with intact tight junctions helps prevent the entry of pathogens and other foreign substances into the bloodstream, reducing the risk of infections and bolstering immune defenses. Leaky gut can also result in the translocation of bacterial endotoxins, such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS), from the gut into the bloodstream. This can lead to chronic low-grade inflammation and contribute to various systemic conditions, including autoimmune disorders, metabolic dysfunction, and depression.
Prevention of Food Intolerances.
Leaky gut is often associated with food intolerances and sensitivities. When the gut barrier is compromised, undigested food particles can enter the bloodstream, triggering immune responses and leading to symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and skin issues.
Reduced Inflammation.
Intestinal permeability, or “leaky gut,” occurs when the tight junctions in the gut wall become compromised. This can lead to the entry of undigested food particles, toxins, and bacteria into the bloodstream, triggering an immune response and inflammation. A strong gut wall helps prevent this inflammation, reducing the risk of chronic inflammation and associated health issues.
You may have leaky gut if you:
Have a poor diet or eat lots of gluten.
Consuming a diet high in processed foods, refined sugars, unhealthy fats, and artificial additives can contribute to gut wall dysfunction. These dietary factors can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria, promote inflammation, and compromise the integrity of tight junctions. Gluten proteins like gliadin have been found to upregulate zonulin, the protein that modulates intestinal permeability.
You are chronically stressed.
Prolonged or chronic stress, whether physical or psychological, can negatively impact gut health and compromise the tight junctions. Stress hormones can disrupt the gut-brain axis and alter the balance of gut bacteria, leading to increased intestinal permeability.
You take medications that can impact the gut.
Certain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), and antibiotics, can disrupt the gut microbiota and affect gut wall integrity. These medications may compromise tight junctions and increase the risk of leaky gut.
You had a gut infections in the last year.
Infections caused by pathogenic bacteria, parasites, or yeasts can damage the gut wall and compromise tight junction integrity. These infections can lead to increased intestinal permeability and subsequent health issues.
You are exposed to mould or environmental toxins.
Exposure to environmental toxins, such as heavy metals, mould, pesticides, and pollutants, can impair gut health and disrupt the tight junctions. These toxins may promote inflammation and compromise the integrity of the gut wall.
How do I take the leaky gut test?
The process is quick and simple. Upon ordering the test, you will receive a collection kit containing:
- At home stool sample collection test kit
- Complete instructions and laboratory request form
- Pre-paid express return post satchel
Follow the instructions to provide and then send it back to the lab using the pre-paid bag.
What will I receive?
Once the analysis is complete, you will receive the results of your leaky gut test as well as an evidence based protocol from our qualified naturopath and microbiome expert to strengthen your gut wall.
Note: you cannot heal leaky gut with products like glutamine. The solution to leaky gut lies in the gut microbiome itself, as well as addressing factors that may have caused it.
