Restore Gut Health with 6 Herbs and Nutrients
Science Based
Written by Amy Myers, MDIf you’re experiencing symptoms such as seasonal allergies, brain fog, skin issues, or hormonal imbalances, the root cause could your digestive system — specifically, leaky gut. Fortunately, you can restore gut health with 6 herbs and nutrients.
Your gut is the gateway to health. Nearly 80% of your immune system lives within it! Yet, every day, millions of people are struggling with leaky gut and other GI issues without even realizing it! Restoring gut health can considerably improve every area of your health, particularly digestive issues and autoimmunity. I say it all the time – the key to optimal health is to heal your gut.
One of the most effective ways I have found to do this is by adding specific herbs and nutrients that have powerful gut-repairing properties to your regime. If you haven’t heard of slippery elm and marshmallow root, make sure to read this article!
The Leaky Gut Epidemic
Leaky gut is one of the most common gut problems I saw in my practice. It’s directly related to conditions on the Autoimmune Spectrum®. Here’s why: your gut is like a drawbridge. When functioning normally, your gut is semi-permeable to let teeny-tiny boats (micronutrients) pass from your intestinal tract into your bloodstream so they can nourish your body.
However, certain foods such as gluten, as well as toxins, infections, and stress can cause the tight junctions in your gut wall to break apart. Then, much larger boats, including toxins, microbes, and undigested food particles, can get into your bloodstream. Your immune system immediately recognizes that these substances shouldn’t be there. It attacks them!
Unresolved leaky gut can cause inflammation and a host of symptoms in the short term. It also creates the potential for autoimmune conditions to develop in the long-term. In fact, I believe leaky gut is one of the major contributing factors to the widespread epidemic of chronic disease we are seeing today.
Symptoms of Leaky Gut:
- Gas, bloating, diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Food sensitivities or allergies
- Brain fog, difficulty concentrating, ADD or ADHD
- Depression and anxiety
- Acne, rosacea, or eczema
- Seasonal allergies
- Asthma
- Irregular periods, PMS, or PCOS
- Diagnosis of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia
- Rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s, lupus, psoriasis, celiac disease, or any other autoimmune condition1
Use Herbs and Nutrients to Restore Gut Health Naturally
In functional medicine, we use a special approach to overcome leaky gut and restore gut health naturally called the 4R program. Healing your gut is the final step of this program. At this step, you’ll seal the leaks in your gut lining, repair damaged cells, and build new tissue. You can do this by incorporating powerful herbs and nutrients. These will nourish and soothe your gut cells, restore your gut’s natural protective mucosal lining, and maximize the production of gut-mending fatty acids.
The great news is that you can restore gut health very quickly. Every gut cell in your digestive system can turn over in just 48 to 72 hours. You can support your gut with supplements that can help speed this process up even further. Here are some of my favorite herbs and nutrients for repairing a leaky gut. I use these every day to restore gut health and keep it healthy!
6 Herbs and Nutrients to Restore Gut Health
1. L-Glutamine
L-Glutamine is one of the absolute most important nutrients to restore gut health because of the way it speeds up gut cell regeneration so profoundly. This amino acid helps to mend the broken junctions in your intestinal wall so they can function normally.2,3 L-Glutamine can also be used as a preventative nutrient, minimizing the damage caused by the food, toxins, infections, and stress that can lead to leaky gut in the first place.4,5
2. Arabinogalactan
Arabinogalactan is a type of prebiotic fiber found in abundance in larch trees. Research suggests that arabinogalactan promotes a balanced microbiome, which is a key to helping you restore gut health and to keeping viruses, Candida, and bad bacteria in check.6,7
Native Americans chewed the bark of the larch tree and used its resin to immune function. Today we know they were onto something! However, it is still unclear whether arabinogalactan supports the immune system solely through the effect it has on the gut or if a combination of factors is at play.8What we certainly do know is that probiotic bacteria in your digestive system can ferment the arabinogalactan. In the process, it produces fatty acids that help repair your gut lining and restore gut health.
3. Marshmallow Root
Marshmallow root has a high mucilage content, which covers your digestive tract with a protective lining. It can support your gut’s reaction to inflammation, which in turn can impact ulcers, diarrhea, and constipation. Further, marshmallow root can help restore the integrity of the tight junctions found in your gut wall.
This is one of the reasons why marshmallow root has been found to be so beneficial in helping people restore gut health.
4. Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL)
Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) helps your body repair your gut lining and heal your gut by replenishing the mucus that creates a healthy intestinal barrier. DGL is made by removing the glycyrrhizin — which can raise blood pressure — from whole licorice while retaining its nutritional benefits.
It was first used more than 3,000 years ago as a treatment for digestive issues such as ulcers and indigestion. Again, ancient wisdom proves right! We now believe that DGL promotes a robust mucosal lining to help restore gut health.9
5. Slippery Elm
Slippery elm is another effective herb for gut repair that has been used for centuries in the United States. It works to your advantage in three ways. Slippery elm:
- Increases the mucilage content in your digestive tract
- Stimulates nerve endings to boost mucus secretion, which neutralizes excessive acidity in the gut and soothes ulcers
- Provides antioxidants
These properties make slippery elm a great addition to a protocol to restore gut health.
6. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is soothing and protecting. It helps your body replace the lost mucus associated with gut damage and leaky gut. Aloe vera supports your immune system, improves water balance within your intestines, and aids in controlling Candida overgrowth.10 It also provides a wide range of nutrients and antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E.
Studies show aloe vera’s beneficial effect on IBS and its ability to boost the number of good bacteria in your gut.11,12
A Comprehensive Formula to Restore Gut Health
Because leaky gut plays such a key role in autoimmunity and other chronic illnesses, I developed a comprehensive supplement to restore gut health. Leaky Gut Revive® combines all of the nutrients and herbs I mentioned in a single supplement. This powerful powder reestablishes a healthy mucosal lining and enhances gut barrier function. I take at least two servings per day to keep my digestion in the best shape possible and to protect and restore gut health.
I recommend Leaky Gut Revive® to anyone who is experiencing digestive issues such as leaky gut, food allergies or intolerances. Add it to your routine if you have seasonal allergies; chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, or autoimmunity; and hormonal or mood imbalances.
It supports your body in counteracting gastrointestinal symptoms such as indigestion, heartburn, reflux, ulcers, constipation, and diarrhea. Leaky Gut Revive™ also helps guard against sugar cravings. And all while providing a truly effective tool to restore gut health!
How to Restore Gut Health with Leaky Gut Revive®
Leaky Gut Revive® tastes great and contains no fillers or ingredients that don’t directly help repair your intestinal lining and restore gut health.
Per one-scoop serving, Leaky Gut Revive® contains:
- L-Glutamine
- Arabinogalactan
- Soothing marshmallow root
- DGL
- Slippery elm
- Aloe vera
To take it, simply add a scoop to 8 oz of water, stir and enjoy. I drink a glass of Leaky Gut Revive® every morning, mixed with a scoop of Organic Greens and ice. It is so delicious, even my daughter, Elle, loves it! You can also throw in a scoop of Collagen Protein, which further helps to restore gut health and seal the leaks in your gut by repairing damaged cells in the lining of your digestive tract and building new tissue.
Providing your body with the nutrients it needs to heal your gut is essential for optimal health. So if you’re dealing with a leaky gut and you want to restore gut health and get on the path to lifelong wellness, Leaky Gut Revive® is a must-have!