The Leaky Gut Theory is False

© Copyright Bee Wilder

Table of Contents

What Is The Leaky Gut Theory?

The theory is that the leaky gut syndrome (also called increased intestinal permeability), is the result of damage to the intestinal lining, making it less able to protect the internal environment [of the body] as well as to filter needed nutrients and other biological substances.

As a consequence, some bacteria and their toxins, incompletely digested proteins and fats, and waste not normally absorbed may "leak" out of the intestines into the blood stream.

This triggers an autoimmune reaction, which can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as abdominal bloating, excessive gas and cramps, fatigue, food sensitivities, joint pain, skin rashes, and autoimmunity.

Holes in the Intestines?

Leaky gut theorists believe that incompletely digested proteins and fats, and waste not normally absorbed may "leak" out of the intestines into the blood stream.  This doesn't make sense because of how digestion takes place in the body.

First of all, food is almost totally digested and broken down into small particles by the time it leaves the duodenum (the first of the small intestines which is between the stomach and the small intestines). After that the job of the intestines is mainly absorption of these particles. Here's an excerpt from "The Long Hallow Tube - A Primer in Digestion" by Sally Fallon:

"Absorption [of food] takes place via the villi, small projections in the mucous membrane. Each villus has a network of capillaries through which the broken-down components of the food are absorbed. The nutrients then pass through the epithelial cells in the inner lining of the villi, at which point they enter the capillaries.

The small intestine is attached to the rear abdominal wall by a thin sheet of membrane called the mesentery, which carries blood vessels to nourish the small intestine and carries absorbed nutrients to the liver and other parts of the body.

Villi in the intestines are covered by an outer layer of epithelium, which food must pass through before it gains entry into the villi. Epithelium is tissue composed of a layer of cells [note the word 'cells']. Epithelium lines both the outside (skin) and the inside (e.g. intestine) of organisms.

The outermost layer of our skin is composed of dead squamous epithelial cells, as are the mucous membranes lining the inside of mouths and body cavities. Other epithelial cells line the insides of the lungs, the gastrointestinal tract, the reproductive and urinary tracts, etc. [Please note that fungal/candida overgrowth infects the outer layers of the epithelium of mucus membranes.]

Functions of epithelial cells include secretion, absorption, protection, transcellular transport, sensation detection, and selective permeability.

Please note that food must pass through the outer layer of epithelium which is composed to several layers of cells. For example protein digestion starts with acid and enzymes in the stomach. The body first denatures dietary proteins, then cleaves (splits) them into polypeptides, then oligo-, tri-, and dipeptides, and some amino acids. Intestinal enzymes split these further, mostly to into single amino acids.

Then transporter proteins in the membranes of intestinal cells transport the amino acids into the absorptive cells (epithelium cells) of the small intestine, where they are passed through the cell and then they are released from the bottom of the cell into the bloodstream. Therefore particles must be able to pass into and through the epithelium cells.

Some leaky gut theorists believe that spaces open up between the epithelium cells which allow large particles of undigested foods to pass through to the blood steam. Even tiny holes in the villi made by candida/fungal hyphae (threadlike filaments it puts out when it changes and starts to overgrow) or damaged cells would not allow food particles to pass through them into the blood stream.

Damaged epithelial cells are incapable of absorbing any food particles, large or small. This, in addition to the fact, that there are several layers of epithelial cells lining the villi which are constantly being regenerated. Did you know that every four days the entire intestinal lining is completely regenerated!

Epithelial cells would have to enlarge in order to allow large undigested food particles to enter them, but they don't.

The "selective permeability" of the intestines that Sally Fallon writes about, means foods that are not broken down into small enough particles cannot pass through the epithelium cells of the villi, even if the epithelium cells are damaged. Therefore large undigested food particles pass through the intestines and out of the body, just like other indigested foods, such as fibers.

Selective Absorption of Large Food Particles?

Another argument against the leaky gut theory is even "if" large undigested food particles are able to get into the blood steam, then how does the gut or the blood stream select which types of undigested food are allowed entry, and which aren't?

Even though many people's food allergy tests indicate they are "allergic" to a wide variety of foods, they are not allergic to "all" foods that are tested.

So the question is: "How does the gut or the bloodstream decide it will allow entry of large particles of eggs or dairy, and yet not allow large particles of carrots, broccoli, oranges, etc.? The truth is they are not capable of making such decisions! The problem is the leaky gut theory itself and allergy testing which "supposedly" back it up.

Food Allergy Tests Are Not Foolproof

Food allergy tests do not prove you are allergic to any foods. The medical community itself agrees that food allergy tests are inconclusive, and that clinical evidence must also be considered before making a final decision about whether a person has a "true" allergy or not.

The Medical Encyclopedia on Allergy testing states:

"The accuracy of allergy testing varies quite a bit. Even the same test performed at different times on a person may give different results. A person may react to a substance during testing, but never react during normal exposure. A person may also have a negative allergy test and yet still be allergic to the substance."

Also doctors know that some tests assess levels of immune responses which are not necessarily related to allergies. Such immune responses are healing reactions created by the immune system to either eliminate toxins, germs, bacteria, and viruses, or to heal the body.

Healing Reactions Are Not Allergic Reactions

Did you know that allergic reactions are exactly the same list of symptoms as the list of healing reactions created by the body itself? Such reactions include, but are not limited to, upset stomach, diarrhea, rashes, hives, itching, increased heart rate, fever, etc.

Not all reactions means a person is allergic, but it has led many people to erroneously eliminate good unadulterated foods that the body needs to affect healing.

When the body receives foods it needs to heal it will go into high gear, producing healing reactions. After all the body only has one immune system which responds exactly the same whether it is handling or trying to minimize the effects of toxins or poisons, or it is trying to heal the body. See "Allergies, What They Are and How to Treat Them"

The Antibody Theory Is False

The antibody theory is the basis of food allergy testing but antibodies are tested only in a laboratory, and as Michael Nightingale states in his article "Jabs and Journeys":

". . . vaccinations [to build up antibodies] are artificial procedures which can be found to be protective in artificial situations. What we want to know is how effective are they in the natural situation of the real world? The laboratory can tell us little about this."

This, in addition to the fact that the medical community follows these antibody rules:

  1. High antibodies equal an allergy.
  2. High antibodies equal immunity.
  3. However, in the case of HIV high antibodies means you are infectious!

That doesn't make sense! The rules change when it comes to HIV, yet the opposite is true for all other diseases? However, the truth is:

  1. People who are the most immune have low antibodies levels.
  2. If HIV tests were not diluted to a ratio of 1:400 everyone would have infectious HIV.
  3. Antibody allergy tests are based on the theory that high circulating levels of IgG antibodies correlate with clinical allergy signs and symptoms, however high serum levels of IgG and other allergy tests have not been studied, nor verified, therefore it is quite a leap to conclude that IgG to food antigens correlates to signs and symptoms of food allergy.
  4. Laboratories do not use pure food antigens to test against blood samples from patients. The foods to make the antigens were obtained from a local market (they tried to buy organic foods whenever they could). The foods were then chopped finely and diluted to make the antigens.

    Then the foods are rinsed several times with an organic solvent (acetone), with these solvents still adhering to them, and the food antigens are not purified. The problems that may be associated with this preparation are enormous. For one, all foods (organic and non-organic) are coated with micro-organisms. The most common of these include bacteria and fungi, but viruses and parasites may also be found on fruits, vegetables, grains, etc., and in milk, egg, and meat products.

    Micro-organisms have many antigens that are highly immunogenic, and since solvents still adhere to the antigens, these two major factors totally negate any food allergy test results.

Conclusions

Not only is the entire antibody theory false, but the whole leaky gut theory is full of holes [pun intended]. In summary we conclude:

  1. It is impossible for large undigested food particles to pass through the many layers of cells into the bloodstream.
  2. The gut, nor the blood stream, is capable of selecting some large food particles which are allowed entry and not others.
  3. Food allergy tests cannot accurately detect allergenic foods.
  4. Healing reactions are not allergic reactions!

That blows the whole leaky gut theory out of the window, doesn't it?

References

  1. What Is Leaky Gut? (drweil.com)
  2. The Long Hallow Tube - A Primer in Digestion
  3. Medical Encyclopedia, Allergy Testing
  4. Everybody Reacts Positive on the ELISA Test for HIV
  5. IgG Food Allergy Testing by ELISA/EIA - What Do They Really Tell Us? by Sheryl B. Miller, MT (ASCP), PhD, Clinical Laboratory Director, Bastyr University Natural Health Clinic
  6. Bee Wilder, "Allergies, What They Are & How to Treat Them"
  7. Antibody Theory