| Our food can induce a leaky gut in two ways :- | | | | restricted from a child's diet until his immune system |
| - Allergic reaction to an offending food substance | | | | is fully developed after the onset of puberty. |
| - Lectin damage | | | | Although sugar is not an allergenic food, it does |
| Food allergy causes a leaky via the following | | | | contribute to intestinal dybiosis which in turn leads to |
| mechanisms:- | | | | hyperpermeability. |
| 1) The offending food sparks off an allergic reaction | | | | The foods that commonly pose problems are - |
| in the gut lining | | | | wheat, wheat germ, corn, cow's milk, beans, |
| 2) Increased permeability from this allergic response | | | | tomatoes and oranges. |
| enables larger undigested food molecules to pass | | | | Recent research also suggests that it is the lectins |
| through | | | | found in certain foods that triggers this allergic |
| 3) Alerted by these foreign invaders, the body's | | | | reaction. Lectins are sugar-binding proteins commonly |
| immune system begins to generate antibodies which | | | | found in nature in foods such as fruits, vegetables, |
| attack the gut tissue in the process. | | | | and seafood, but especially grains, beans and seeds. |
| Many chemicals involved in the immune response are | | | | They have the ability to attach to cells of our |
| very corrosive, as their main purpose is to destroy | | | | intestinal membrane and initiate in inflammatory |
| the offending agent. However, if the reaction is | | | | response. Many food allergies are actually immune |
| excessive, these chemicals can damage the tissue in | | | | system reactions to lectins. |
| the area as well. This leads to further permeability of | | | | Most of the lectins found in food are destroyed by |
| the GI tract, and a vicious cycle sets in. | | | | cooking and our digestive enzymes, but at least 5% |
| We are most vulnerable to developing food allergies | | | | of the lectins in our food are absorbed into the |
| when we were infants. During this critical period of | | | | bloodstream. The effects of lectins on our health are |
| our development, our gut lining is still very flimsy and | | | | really dependent on our blood types, though wheat is |
| loosely connected. To get an idea of what an infant's | | | | problematic for almost all blood types. The wheat |
| gut lining looks like, think of cheese cloth. | | | | germ agglutinin (WGA) found in wheat has been |
| Large undigested food particles can easily cross the | | | | shown to interfere with protein digestion and |
| intestinal lining and trigger an immune response. This is | | | | increase gut permeability. Our gut is most vulnerable |
| why babies should not be given solid food before | | | | to the damage by WGA since our intestinal lining has |
| they turn six months old, and only easily digestible | | | | more sugar receptors. You may refer to Dr |
| food may be introduced between six months to one | | | | Dadamo's website for a more complete food list for |
| year of age. In my opinion, highly problematic foods | | | | your specific blood type. |
| like wheat, dairy and sugar should continue to be | | | | |