I have recently seen a patient who reported severe gut discomfort, having been admitted to hospital twice in recent times. However, the doctors reported that they could not find any cause. As you can imagine, not having resolution to this kind of debilitating problem can be disheartening and frustrating. Many people suffer from significant gut-related symptoms and treat only their symptoms. This results in a continuation of their suffering because the root cause has not been identified.

One of the unrecognised root causes of conditions such as depression, arthritis, and autoimmune thyroiditis may be a leaky gut. A leaky gut has been recognised to fuel inflammation in the body and may ultimately play a role in causing autoimmune diseases.

Functional medicine recognises that food intolerances or food sensitivities play a role in gut disorders and can provide the individual with a simple strategy to identify and eliminate these conditions, as well as heal the damage already present in the gut. Here are a few of the known gut problems that can be treated through functional medicine:

Celiac Disease

This is not a food allergy. Instead, this is an autoimmune disease characterised by a severe reaction to wheat and gluten proteins. A blood test can identify this.

Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance

Some research suggests that up to one in 10 people has a reaction to wheat and gluten proteins. This is not an autoimmune disease like celiac, but it can still cause harm.

Lactose Intolerance

A small percentage of people worldwide are allergic to the proteins in milk. But up to two-thirds of the global population cannot digest lactose, which is the sugar in milk. This is not classed as an allergy, but rather an intolerance.

FODMAP Intolerance

A growing number of people with conditions such as small bacterial overgrowth and irritable bowel syndrome (which affect 10 to 15 percent of the population worldwide) are intolerant of certain carbohydrates called FODMAPs. These are found in common foods such as onions, garlic, and high-fructose fruits.

IgG- and IgA-Mediated Food Intolerances

Many prominent immunologists, including Dr. Aristo Vojdani, have argued that some people have food intolerances and yet are not allergic, but they are still caused by an antibody response. Allergies are mediated by IgE antibody production, but “food intolerances” are mediated by IgG and IgA antibodies.

All of the above conditions can lead to leaky gut and are easily recognised, diagnosed, and treated by a functional medicine practitioner. If you have any questions about this article, then get in touch with us on the Contact page.

The information contained within this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute professional medical advice, nor does it replace the services of a medical practitioner.