In my previous post I explained leaky gut: did you have some or all of the signs? You may have thought those were symptoms of your Endometriosis, and they are … caused by your leaky gut.

So why should you be concerned about having a leaky gut (besides finding the symptoms hard to live with)?

Firstly, it is crucial to realise that having a leaky gut means you are not absorbing all the nutrients from food. So even if you eat a fantastically healthy diet, it is likely that you are not getting all the nutrients you need. Your body will be trying to function on less than it needs.

Secondly, leaky gut allows undigested food particles to go through the gut lining and enter the bloodstream. This causes your immune system to kick into gear: it has detected foreign substances in the bloodstream and needs to do something about it. Remember, your immune system is already super sensitive and triggered way to easily.

One of the key tools your immune system uses is inflammation. It is the kick-off signal of various other immune responses.

Now, because of your leaky gut, undigested food particles are constantly entering your bloodstream, causing systemic – or widespread – chronic inflammation. The organs and tissues in your body become inflamed and as a result become these beautiful ‘landing sites’ for endometrial-like tissue to land in and settle.

The inflammation worsens your leaky gut, and you are stuck in a vicious cycle.

If you are trying to eat really healthy and be in optimal health, you may not achieve it, despite all your fantastic efforts, if you don’t heal your leaky gut. Just eating ‘healthy’ may not be enough.

To heal your gut there are certain foods you should avoid eating and other foods that you should eat more of or should start eating. And in my next post I will explore those in more detail.

Having Endometriosis can be a lonely experience: most of the women in your life may not really understand how debilitating it is. After all, you look normal – you don’t look sick! But you are sick, you have a chronic illness. If you would like to join a community of women who will truly understand what you are going through, and who are, like you, looking for ways to manage their Endo in a more natural way, join my facebook group: Reclaim Your Life from Endometriosis.