Leaky Gut Syndrome and its connection to stubborn weight loss

Dr. Pacholec offers integrative health management regarding many different types of gastrointestinal complaints and disorders at both her St Petersburg, FL and Lutz, FL locations. She performs specialized blood, breath and stool testing using Genova Diagnostics to diagnose and treat underlying gastrointestinal diseases such as Chron's Disease, Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), Celiac's Disease, and Ulcerative Colitis. The testing that she utilizes can also be used to detect food sensitivities and allergies (including gluten allergies), nutritional deficiencies and markers of leaky gut syndrome. Dr. Pacholec offers a range of supplements, probiotics, detox programs, vitamins, minerals and pharmaceuticals at both her St. Petersburg, FL and Lutz, FL locations to treat these disorders once they have been properly diagnosed. These types of disorders can affect every part of the body, including the skin, adrenals, thyroid, liver, brain and may even contribute to weight gain and stubborn weight loss. Read below to learn more about one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints, leaky gut syndrome.

Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders play a significant role in health conditions such as:

• stubborn fat loss
• obesity
• fatigue
• chronic headaches/migraines
• thyroid disease
• food intolerance and gluten sensitivity
  
• autism
• auto-immune diseases
  
• skin conditions like rosacea, eczema, acne
  
• arthritis and joint pain

Leaky Gut Syndrome – What is It?
Leaky gut syndrome is one of the leading causes of GI disorders, and if left untreated, can lead to multiple auto-immune diseases including:

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome/Disease (IBS or IBD)
• Chron’s Disease
  
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Celiac’s Disease

These conditions vary slightly in symptoms and treatment, but leaky gut can be the underlying cause of them all to some degree. In a healthy GI system, the intestinal lining is semi-permeable, allowing for small nutrients and beneficial organisms to pass from the intestines to the bloodstream to deliver vital proteins, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants to other systems of the body. In patients with leaky gut syndrome, the permeability of the intestinal lining is increased, forming larger “holes” which allow for large proteins like gluten, chemical waste and harmful bacteria to pass into the bloodstream, thereby eliciting an immune response.

Physical signs that you may have leaky gut include food intolerances, gas or bloating, constipation or diarrhea, chronic headaches, or skin rashes, such as eczema or acne. Dr. Pacholec can look for markers of leaky gut syndrome in a patient’s advanced blood panel at either her St Petersburg, FL or Lutz, FL location, including nutrient deficiencies in vitamin B-12, zinc and iron, inflammation and an imbalance of beneficial bacteria in stool samples. Stubborn weight loss, unwanted weight gain, or a general feeling of fatigue, exhaustion or sluggishness can also indicate leaky gut. Higher concentrations of toxins in the blood contribute to higher fat storage, lower metabolism, and decreased energy output. Call either the St Petersburg, FL or Lutz, FL location today to learn more about the types of programs Dr. Pacholec offers regarding gastrointestinal health, disease diagnosis, support and treatment.