5 Supplements to Aid Food Sensitivities

Food sensitivities seem to becoming more and more common these days. Elimination diets that become progressively more restrictive and never really address the root cause of the food sensitivities can be frustrating. So how did we get here? What is really at the root of this growing challenge of food sensitivities?

Leaky Gut

At the root of most food sensitivities we find leaky gut or intestinal permeability. If we dig even deeper, we have to ask how did we develop leaky gut in the first place?

As toxins (think environmental toxins, toxins from our food, pathogens, infections, endogenous toxins, etc) accumulate in the gut, the gut barrier breaks down. When our gut lining becomes permeable, we have particles entering the bloodstream which should be there. This is when inflammation happens, when infections come in, and more.

When we eat, our food particles are now able to pass through our compromised gut lining into our bloodstream. With 80% of our immune cells being in our gut, they react to what they think are foreigners in our system, but they are just cells passing through the gut lining into the red blood cells where they should not be. Our body launches an attack on these presumed “foreigners” and it shows up as an immune reaction which we call a sensitivity to the food.

For more information on this topic, check out our article on the Top Food Sensitivities and How to Know if You Have One.

Action Steps

In order to address the root cause, we need to open drainage pathways to make sure toxins are able to leave the body instead of building up and/or being recirculated, heal and seal the gut lining, reduce Inflammation and ultimately get rid of the toxins and infections. This is how we help decrease food sensitivities.

Elimination diets can be helpful during this process to limit inflammation and are most effective when done in conjunction with healing — otherwise we find ourselves with a progressively restrictive diet if we’re not addressing the underlying reason for the original food sensitivities. Below are my favorite supplements to help with the process of healing the gut:

Supplements

When digestion is lacking, certain supplements can be introduced to help break down food. HCL is commonly used to help the stomach in producing more acid in order to break down foods, especially proteins. Broad-spectrum enzymes such as lipase, amylase, and protein aid the pancreas in breaking down food in the small intestine. The gallbladder can also be helped by supplements than can thin the bile, allowing it to flow freely to break down fats.

Glutamine

Glutamine is an amino acid that is the primary fuel for enterocytes (intestinal cells). When under stress or inflammation, glutamine can be pulled away from the gut, leaving the intestines without their primary fuel source. 

Colostrum

Colostrum powder contains immunoglobulins, proline-rich polypeptides (PRPs), growth factors, and vitamins and minerals to support a robust and balanced immune system.

Collagen

Collagen protein contains amino acids such as glycine and proline; which are essential for repairing damaged gut lining. Collagen protein also has benefits for the skin ,hair, and nails. 

Anti inflammatories

Anti-inflammatory herbs likes turmeric, ginger, DGL, and boswellia can be beneficial in reducing inflammation in the gut. You can put them on food, use in a smoothie or tea, or take as a supplement.

Probiotics

Probiotics have been shown to be powerful in decreasing inflammation in the gut, crowding out bad bacteria, and setting the stage for good bacteria to grow and proliferate.