Leaky Gut (Intestinal Permeability)

Leaky gut, known medically as increased intestinal permeability, occurs when the lining of the small intestine becomes more permeable than it should be.

Your intestinal lining acts as a highly selective barrier. Its job is to allow nutrients from food to pass into the bloodstream while keeping bacteria, toxins, and partially digested food particles contained within the digestive tract.

This barrier is made of tightly connected cells that work together like a filter. When the connections between these cells begin to loosen or become inflamed, substances that normally remain inside the gut can pass into the bloodstream.

When this happens, the immune system may react to these particles as foreign, creating inflammation and a wide range of symptoms that often extend far beyond digestion.

For many people, the symptoms feel scattered and difficult to connect. Digestive discomfort, fatigue, skin reactions, and new food sensitivities can appear gradually over time, making it hard to identify a clear starting point.

When Balance Shifts

The intestinal barrier is constantly renewing itself, but it can become stressed when the digestive system is under repeated strain.

Chronic stress can alter how the nervous system regulates digestion and weaken the protective lining of the gut. Certain foods that the body struggles to tolerate may create ongoing irritation. Infections, dysbiosis, alcohol, medications, and long-term inflammation can also affect the integrity of the intestinal barrier.

When the gut lining becomes more permeable, substances that normally stay inside the digestive tract can pass into the bloodstream. These may include fragments of partially digested food.

When food particles reach the bloodstream, the immune system may react because those particles are appearing in a place where they normally would not be found.

This is one reason food sensitivity tests can sometimes show long lists of reactive foods. Many of these tests measure IgG antibodies, which reflect that the immune system has been exposed to food particles that crossed the intestinal barrier.

This does not necessarily mean those foods are the root problem. In many cases, it reflects that the gut barrier has become more permeable, allowing food fragments to interact with the immune system.

This is also why I do not rely heavily on IgG food sensitivity testing alone. Research and allergy organizations have noted that IgG responses often reflect exposure to foods rather than true intolerance. Removing large numbers of foods without addressing the underlying digestive environment can sometimes make nutrition and recovery more difficult.

Instead, the focus is often better placed on supporting digestion, reducing inflammation, and helping restore the integrity of the intestinal lining so the gut barrier can function the way it was designed to.

Common Signals of Gallbladder Dysfunction

• Persistent bloating or digestive discomfort

• New or increasing food sensitivities

• Brain fog or difficulty concentrating

• Fatigue that worsens after eating

• Skin issues such as eczema, rashes, or acne

• Joint discomfort or generalized inflammation

• Autoimmune conditions or immune reactivity

Because the gut is closely connected to the immune system, nervous system, and metabolic health, changes in intestinal permeability can influence many areas of the body at once.

By understanding how the intestinal barrier functions and what may be stressing it, it becomes easier to connect symptoms that might otherwise feel unrelated. When digestion, gut lining health, and immune balance are supported together, the body often begins to restore stability and resilience within the digestive system.