Leaky Gut....my IgG test... and My Primal Bircher Recipe

When I mention to people that I have "leaky gut" I get faces of sympathy, cos jeez...it sounds awful!  I remember reading about it prior to my diagnosis and thinking I know I feel horrendous but I definitely won't have THAT! But the reality is you may well have leaky gut too if you have any of these symptoms:

• fatigue
• low libido
• joint pain
• insomnia
• depression (even mild), anxiety, ADHD, ADD
• anaemia
• thyroid disorders
• autoimmune disease such as psoriasis, arthritis, Hashimotos, Celiac, Crohns, Lupus etc.
• acne or skin problems like dermatitis, or rosacea or eczema (all signs of inflammation)
• food allergies
• digestive problems like heart burn, constipation, diarrhoea, gas, bloating
• hormonal imbalances
• you catch whatever is doing the round illness wise
• Headaches, migraines, brain fog
• Sugar and carb cravings

Yeah, not feeling quite so leaky gut bulletproof now are you? So what even is leaky gut? Well leaky gut or intestinal permeability is a condition in which the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged causing undigested food particles, toxic waste (poo and parasites!) and bacteria to "leak" or pass through the gut wall and into the blood stream.  The foreign substances entering the blood stream can cause an autoimmune response in the body including inflammatory and allergic reactions some of which I listed above. 

With leaky gut, damaged cells in your intestines don't produce the enzymes needed for proper digestion, which means you don't absorb the nutrients from your food which leads to the hormonal imbalances and weakened immune system.

Diet plays a huge contributor to leaky gut, common food offenders, that is, the ones that make your gut leaky include gluten, alcohol (say it isn't so), soy, caffeine (woah nooo!) and dairy.  Over the counter NSAIDS such as ibuprofen and antibiotics irritate the gut lining and damage the protective mucus layers and this irritation can start or worsen the inflammation cycle that leads to a leaksome gut!  Phew!! Nasty stuff ey?

The four key things to heal a leaky gut are:

• eliminate the foods causing the problems
• add fermented foods with beneficial bacteria such as sauerkraut, Kombucha, kefir
• soothe with good fats such as coconut oil
• add broth or gelatine or L Glutamine to the diet to restore the gut lining

So, if you are a follower of my blog you know I did this AGES ago and have been feeling so flipping awesome that I've gone on to write this blog to spread the primal word so other people can shake those chronic niggling debilitating symptoms and reach their true potential in life.  I've created a line of Paleo approved alternatives to Cookies, Breads, Pizza Bases and gut nourishing Gellies so Primal peeps can have bread or pizza night when they want it and not reek havoc on their amazing bodies.  (sidenote:  I haven't blogged for ages, but I am compelled again and it FEELS SO GOOD to pen this to you....I seriously sat down to share my Primal Bircher recipe and here I am pouring our about Leaky Guts!!!!)

So anyway.....I decided to do an IgG test which basically screens my blood for 96 different foods to see if I have any sensitivities.  I was thinking, maybe a few minor reactions to I don't know...maybe honey or shellfish or maple syrup or something easy to eliminate.  Anyway I literally burst into tears when I got the result back, allergic to EGGS AND COWS MILK!!

Wahhhh what?  I am Primal not Paleo for the simple COWS MILK reason!!  I didn't eat major amounts to be fair but I did enjoy a bit of fermented full fat dairy here and there.  But eggs? That was a major blow to the guts (hoot).  Anyway, what this tells me...and I will check with my Naturopath soon, but it tells me my precious gut, although it's done some major repair work....she is still leaky!

So my eggs for breakfast are out, my staple and fave breakfast is sausages or bacon with avocado, spinach, sauerkraut and some mushies but I need a bit of variety in my life, so I've been looking for different options. 

And so finally my patient friends, I present to you...

My Primal Bircher Recipe...
My amazing friend Nadia (from my city girl days) first gave me this recipe, and I used to make a big batch on a Sunday and soak over night and take portions of it to work every day.  The original recipe uses oats but I have managed to tweak it to be Paleo friendly.  People are always looking for breakfast ideas, ones they can take to work or grab in a hurry and this one ticks all the boxes.

Ingredients
2 cups of a pre made Paleo Muesli such as the one from the Green Pantry OR
1/2 cup blanched almonds, almond flakes or activated almonds
1/2 cup chia seeds
3 tablespoons flaxseeds (linseeds)
1/4 cup of pepitas
1/4 cup of sunflower kernels
1/4 cup sultanas (optional)
Tablespoon of Goji Berries

Add:
250g dairy yoghurt, coconut yoghurt, nut milk, coconut cream or milk or a combo of all, whatever you have!
1 green apple, cored and grated
Juice of one orange

Mix well and leave in the fridge overnight.  Serve with a dollop or yoghurt or coconut cream, a drizzle of berry coulis or honey and sprinkle with some hemp seeds, cocoa nibs, or fresh fruit whatever you fancy!

Enjoy and happy breakfasting.