Leaky Gut and Malnutrition

Jun 30, 2021

Vitamins are essential in maintaining your health. However, when you suffer from a leaky gut you can also be vitamin deficient (or malnourished).alt tagjonathan pielmayer uiPaZkzjv64 unsplash

When you have leaky gut, it’s likely you also may have an absorption problem. That means you can be eating the healthiest nutrient dense foods AND taking good quality supplements and still have deficiencies. This happens because of the ongoing inflammation and weakening of the intestinal wall.

The most common deficiencies are iron, Vitamin B12 and magnesium. Deficiencies in vitamins and minerals can cause hair loss, fatigue, dry skin and nails, brain fog, constipation, and even pain and neuropathies. Zinc deficiency can cause in hair loss and copper deficiency can lead to high cholesterol levels and arthritis. Bone problems can also develop from deficiencies of calcium, boron, silicon and manganese.

What is leaky gut?
Leaky gut is a very common disorder in which the lining the intestines become “leaky” due to inflammation. The spaces between the cells open up and allow toxins into the bloodstream that would normally be eliminated. These toxins like bacteria, fungi, parasites, undigested protein, fat and toxic waste get absorbed into the bloodstream and your immune system launches an “attack” to protect you (causing more inflammation).

What causes leaky Gut?

  • Celiac Disease
  • Medications (NSAIDS) like ibuprofen and Motrin
  • Gut overgrowth or infection
  • Parasite infections
  • Fungal overgrowth (Candida)
  • Ingestion of allergenic foods
  • Stress
  • Aging
  • IgA deficiency (immune response in the gut)
  • Chronic alcohol intake
  • Excessive exercise

 

Leaky gut can be connected to these symptoms and disorders:

  • Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s & Colitis)
  • IBS
  • Inflammatory joint disease
  • Food allergy
  • Celiac disease
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Eczema & psoriasis
  • Bipolar & Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Allergies and asthma
  • Hashimotos

 

How do you know if you have leaky gut?
Food allergies, toxins, sugar, antibiotics, parasites and stress can wreak havoc on your digestive system. Many time stomach symptoms like gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation or stomach discomfort may be the first clue that something is wrong with the digestive tract, but allergies or even lack of energy and fatigue can often be traced to digestive problems too.

When I work together with clients, we use testing that will tell you for sure if your gut is leaky and is contributing to your overall health.

Vitamins are important players in your body’s overall functioning. That means your gut needs to be healthy to ensure you are getting all the vitamins you need to feel your best!

If you would like to learn more about how you can heal your leaky gut and  how vitamin deficiencies may be affecting your health, book a complimentary call with me below and tell me more.

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carla alpert functional medicine practitioner

Hello and Welcome! My name is Carla Alpert, and I’m a Board Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach and Diagnostic Practitioner, focusing on the gut and how it affects your overall health. Think of me as a health detective and wellness coach working in partnership with you to restore your health. We work together to uncover the contributing factors to your chronic symptoms, to eat well, sleep well, move more and stress less.

I love the GI MAP test because it helps my clients and I discover gut dysfunction that may be contributing to daily digestive issues as well as other chronic symptoms like anxiety, fatigue and brain fog. I created this GI MAP Coaching Package to help you stop struggling with your health and get back to living your best life.

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Carla really helped me to figure out my gut pain and issues after so many years. I finally feel like I have energy and clarity around my health! She was so easy to talk to and helped me discover problem areas that were causing me so much distress, when no other doctors could help.
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Well Humans changed my life. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis accompanied by chronic hives. It sprang up out of nowhere and caused bizarre “food allergies” that I’d never had before. Because of Carla’s coaching and dietary recommendations as well as GI Map testing, I can happily say that I am now symptom-free, and I have been in remission for over a year now. All of the doctors I saw told me I would have to deal with my symptoms because there was no cure, but here I am, back to living a mostly normal life. I highly recommend Carla and Well Humans for anyone looking for real answers and treatments that work.
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When working with Carla, you are in capable, compassionate, knowledgeable and caring hands. Carla truly cares about your well being and wants to help you be the healthiest that you can be. My health was truly suffering and with her guidance and suggested testing, we uncovered some issues that nobody else had uncovered, despite my going to some of the top rated medical institutions. My health and pain improved greatly due to Carla’s sleuthing…she knew where to look. Through many health challenges, I was quite emotional and Carla showed me what compassion looks like. If you want to truly improve your health, start with Well Humans.
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Over years, I’ve tried various “alternative” medicine as well as conventional “western” medicine approaches. Skin ailments are hard to treat – so many aspects of a life can produce skin symptoms. I enthusiastically recommend Well Humans and Carla for a simple reason – I’ve experienced sustained, substantial improvement! I have hardly ever posted a review of anything, but writing this was an easy choice to make. I wish you all the best in your journey towards better health!
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I searched the U.S. to find someone who does what Carla does. Carla has used her knowledge, support and expertise to optimize my health and well-being with a blend of scientific medical tests, supplements and diet changes. I wasted a lot of time on my hunches, the internet and experiments with supplements and food and NOW i have an actual plan. Superb supportive knowledge and guidance. I highly recommend Carla. Grateful.
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I never knew that I had a gluten allergy and intolerance until Carla discovered it in my blood work! I’m so grateful that she made this discovery and I have been gluten free ever since. I sleep better, don’t feel bloated and have much more energy. It was a life-changing insight.
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