If you have been diagnosed with leaky gut syndrome or leaky gut disease, what you really have is what is known as an enhanced permeability of the intestine. If that sounds vague to you, read on to get a clearer picture.

A major element in the strength and effectiveness of our immune system is our intestinal wall or what is more commonly known as our gut. The walls of the intestines will prevent undigested food, toxins, and bacteria from passing through into the blood stream.

When this safety precaution is dismantled and is rendered "permeable", what does this mean for the body? Yes, when this wall becomes "leaky" in nature, the mucosal layer which had been standing strong as the barrier, breaks down and loses its capacity to produce Immunoglobulin - the antibody needed to ward off diseases. Because of this, some of these dangerous materials will get into your system, increasing your odds of contracting an infection. Leaky gut syndrome and its adverse effects were not taken too seriously as an illness several years ago. From recent research studies, it has been discovered that leaky gut is associated with a variety of different symptoms and also with the condition of autoimmune disease.

As of today, no medical procedure or remedy is able to provide an absolute cure for leaky gut syndrome. The medicines, to be very precise, treat the symptoms of the disease rather than the disease itself. Masking the symptoms does not cure the condition and it strikes back repeatedly, when the treatment is stopped. A lot of the drugs that are used to treat this disease also have a lot of dangerous side effects. Employing holistic techniques for treating the condition is the most strongly advocated advice in the medical community. A combined effort of diet modification, herbal supplements and exercise are the best option available to you as far as holistic methods are concerned.

It is important to remember, however, to stay focused on curing the disease rather than worrying about the symptoms or side effects. The gut area needs to be the primary area of concentration while it is being treated, as this makes things much easier on the patient. Your diet should incorporate a variety of lean meats, fresh produce, fish and foods containing fiber. Minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and proteins should be consumed in measured amounts as a part of a balanced diet. Including garlic in your daily diet (whether by capsule form or in food) will boost immune readiness and reduce the chances of acquiring Candida yeast infection.

Foods that are lacking nutritional value such as alcohol and junk foods filled with sodium and sugar, should be avoided because they act to remove nutrients from the body.

Stress is another important element that needs to be eliminated from your life as it can affect the efficiency of your immune system, making you more prone to contracting illnesses.

Cod liver oil, fish oil and primrose oil are natural supplements that can be used to bring positive results in tackling leaky gut syndrome. Additional advantages that are derived from taking these oils include the consumption of chlorella and spirulina. Anything containing L-glutamine, olive leaf extract or mineral selenium will be an ideal supplementary choice. Digestive enzymes in a pro-biotic formulation can strengthen your immune system and heal your gut in the natural way too. In fact, research has shown that this treatment can actually speed up cell repair and help to build up the mucosal wall, creating an active and healthy gut.

All these are tips that should be followed to provide an improvement in the condition of the intestine, but they should become a lifestyle change before they will provide a permanent cure for leaky gut.