Last Updated on September 6, 2024 by Cathy
Microbes in your gut contain trillions of microbes. They regulate just about every system in your body including inflammation. Inflammation in the central nervous system is the trigger for multiple sclerosis (MS). As inflammation increases it may cause a leaky gut possibly leading to MS.
It’s unclear if a leaky gut leads to MS or if it’s the other way around. Kind of like the chicken and the egg. No matter which way it goes, if you have MS… you have a leaky gut.
The past fifty years have seen a dramatic increase in people diagnosed with MS. It’s considered MS to be a “rare disease.” In the U.S. nearly one million people are living with MS. That’s more than twice the previously reported number.
Living with MS is hard, you never know what tomorrow will be like. One day you’re doing fine, the next day you’re blind, paralyzed, or unable to talk. It doesn’t only affect the person living with MS, it affects the entire family.
A leaky gut happens not only with MS, it’s all autoimmune diseases. There are now about 100 different ones. 80% of your immune system resides in your gut, the healthier your gut the healthier your immune system. A leaky gut is a precondition for autoimmunity.
Signs of a leaky gut:
- Autoimmune disease diagnosis
- Brain fog
- Chronic fatigue
- Constipation, diarrhea, gas, or bloating
- Depression or anxiety
- Digestive issues
- Food allergies or food intolerances
- Joint pain
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Seasonal allergies or asthma
- Skin issues such as acne, eczema, rashes, or rosacea
- Sugar cravings
Multiple Sclerosis and Leaky Gut
Unfortunately, something you did cause your leaky gut and MS. Not that I’m trying to put the blame on you but this gives you the power to correct what is going wrong. Every decision you make affects how your MS will progress.
Diet and lifestyle habits matter!
Your immune system is smart. It works to protect you from bacteria, infections, and viruses. In MS, the body goes haywire and begins to the central nervous system. The immune system attacks the myelin sheath protecting the nerve fibers. Eventually, it breaks communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
This leads to a number of neurological problems such as:
- Balance problems
- Bladder issues
- Dizziness
- Heat or cold intolerance
- Loss of coordination
- Numbness
- Pain
- Poor memory or concentration
- Severe fatigue
- Slurred speech
- Stiffness and spasticity
- Tingling (pins and needles sensation)
- Trouble swallowing
- Vision problems such as double vision or optic neuritis
- Weakness
MS is not an inherited disease, meaning you weren’t destined for MS. There is a genetic risk that increases your odds of getting MS. However, genetics plays a small role – it’s your environmental factors that cause your MS.
7 Harmless Habits That May Cause a Leaky Gut
1. Alcohol
Alcohol causes a leaky gut, it may also temporarily worsen MS symptoms. The relationship between alcohol and MS is not fully understood. For most people, an occasional glass of wine won’t hurt. But, if you have balance issues it’s best to avoid alcohol altogether.
In large amounts, alcohol can overwhelm the gastrointestinal tract and liver. This can lead to damage both within the gut lining and in other organs. Consuming large amounts of alcohol increases inflammation throughout the body.
MS is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. If you do drink alcohol make sure it is a moderate amount and gluten-free like brandy and wine.
2. Antibiotics
Antibiotics are powerful medicines that can save a person’s life. They saved my son’s life when he was 2 years old from necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating bacteria). However, antibiotics are not miracle drugs.
Yes, they kill bacteria that can kill but they also kill good bacteria. When your gut has fewer of the good guys it allows the bad guys to overgrow. Such as candida (yeast overgrowth) and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).
When the yeast starts to multiply it damages the lining of your intestinal walls. That is why it is important to only take antibiotics when necessary. If you do need to take antibiotics take a probiotic at the opposite time of day.
3. NSAIDs (Pain Medications)
People are in the habit of taking painkillers for practically anything. But long-term use of painkillers such as Ibuprofen can lead to a leaky gut. Studies have also shown painkillers can impact the gut’s microbiome.
Get a free Gut Health Tracker at the bottom of this post.
4. Poor Diet
What you eat either feeds the good bacteria in your gut or the bad bacteria. Inflammatory foods such as processed foods and sugar create a leaky gut and lead to MS. The two foods you should stop eating immediately are dairy and gluten.
Studies found women who drank more cow’s milk had more MS flares. Countries that consume more dairy have higher rates of MS. A more recent study found casein (a milk protein) may be the cause of MS attacks.
Gluten triggers the release of zonulin. A chemical that separates the tight junction in the gut lining – a leaky gut.
5. Stress
Your gut and your brain communicate with each other. Also known as the brain-gut connection. That is why when you get stressed you can feel it in your gut. Occasional stress is normal. It protects you from danger but long-term stress is unhealthy.
When you are under stress your microbiome doesn’t work. Chronic stress is often the last straw before a diagnosis of MS. It also creates flares and causes MS to progress faster. Chronic stress affects every part of your body. Including your hair, skin, brain, nerves, organs, and gut.
6. Toxic Overload
Toxins are everywhere, it is impossible to live in a toxin-free environment on Earth. Even newborn babies are born with over 200 toxins. Pesticides in our food, body care products, and household cleaners are all around us.
These toxic chemicals add up and damage your intestinal tract causing a leaky gut. They also increase inflammation which increases your risk of disease. The good news is you have the ability to lower your toxic burden.
You don’t need to overhaul everything in your life. Start with whatever is easiest for you, whether that’s eating organic produce or using a water filter. Every little step turns into a giant leap. Even if you take little steps you need to reduce your toxic overload as much as possible.
7. Lack of Exercise
You wouldn’t think a lack of exercise could cause a leaky gut but it can, indirectly that is. Everyone knows how important exercise is for your health. It is especially important for people with MS to stay mobile, strong, and happier. Exercise releases “feel good” hormones.
A lack of exercise may also cause oxidative stress. This can damage cells and tissue including myelin leading to inflammation and poor digestion of food. Researchers found exercise improves the microbiome and when people stopped exercising their microbiome reverted back.
Diet and exercise are the two most important things you can do for your health.
Quick Links To Information In This Post:
Antibiotics And Gut Health
How To Start An Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Need Some Stress Relief?
Hidden Toxins You May Be Putting Into Your Body
Supplements
There are many supplements to choose from. For food sensitivities and potent antioxidant enzymes, I took Dismuzyme Plus.
I also drank a lot of bone broth and ate soups with bone broth such as chicken vegetable soup. I also added banana flour to help thicken the soup. Plus, banana flour is rich in resistant starch that helps your body with digestion.
Always talk to your doctor first before starting any supplements. Supplements can interfere with certain medications.
Harmless Habits That May Cause a Leaky Gut
Your gut microbiome responds to what you eat and do. Your lifestyle habits make all the difference. Reduce your stress and toxic overload. Simplify your life and create an environment where your body will thrive and heal.
Gut Health Tracker
Subscribe for free and I’ll send you the password to my secret library filled with many printables including the Gut Health Tracker.
Want to remember this health tip? Pin it to your Pinterest board!
Photo by cottonbro from Pexels
Resources:
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.718220/full
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5513683/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33803407/
7 Harmless Habits That May Cause a Leaky Gut
