Do You Have IBS or Leaky Gut?
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According to the American Gastroenterological Association, between 60 and 70 million Americans suffer from gastrointestinal diseases—including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which affects between 25 and 45 million people. Statistics show that about 2 in 3 IBS sufferers are female—looking at us, ladies—but not everyone who thinks they have IBS actually has IBS. In some cases, that IBS-looking condition is actually a different condition called Leaky Gut, which can have similar symptoms, but requires a different approach to fix it.
In this blog post, I’ll show you the difference between IBS and Leaky Gut, with hopes of helping you understand which you’re dealing with (and hopefully giving you good info that you can use to improve your symptoms!). This isn’t a comprehensive guide by any means, but it’s a good place to begin your research and get clear on what you’re dealing with.
What is IBS?
Irritable Bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that comes with a whole host of unpleasant symptoms. As Dr. Vincent Pedre, a renowned physician who specializes in gut health, describes it, IBS is a condition characterized by a cluster of symptoms including abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or some combination of all of the above. Contrary to its name (to me “irritable” feels adjacent to inflammation), IBS doesn’t cause inflammation or lasting damage to the digestive tract. Despite how common IBS is, the cause of it is still unknown. Experts believe that there are a number of factors that may contribute to IBS development, from changes in gut bacteria and nervous system abnormalities to abnormal muscle contractions in the intestines and inflammation. (For more info on inflammation, I’ve got a whole blog post here.) In short: There is no concrete cause of IBS. The same isn’t necessarily true for Leaky Gut, also referred to as Leaky Gut Syndrome.
What is Leaky Gut?
IBS is certainly uncomfortable and can cause a lot of disruption to a person’s life—I know a lot of IBS survivors, and all of them have stories of when their digestive symptoms betrayed them. But unlike IBS, Leaky Gut is a result of damage in the body, and it leads to even more damage in the body. Leaky Gut Syndrome is a condition that occurs when the lining of your small intestine is damaged, which then allows undigested food particles, toxins, and bacteria to leak into your gut. (Material is literally leaking from your gut, hence the name.) This leakage triggers an immune system response, which manifests in inflammation and a lot of symptoms that may seem unrelated to the gut, even though they are. Leaky Gut symptoms can take the form of fatigue, joint pain, skin issues (rosacea, acne, psoriasis), autoimmune disorders, cold-like symptoms, headaches, and more. As Pedre says in his book “The GutSMART Protocol,” everything starts in the gut.
What’s the difference between IBS and Leaky Gut?
The key to identifying whether you have IBS or Leaky Gut is in your symptoms—there can be some overlap in them which can be confusing, but in general they present differently.
IBS symptoms occur primarily in the gut and digestive tract, meaning they’ll present as changes to your bowel movements and bowel patterns. Usually, this looks like diarrhea, constipation, and alternating between the two. These changes can also be accompanied by bloating and cramping, as well as gas/flatulence.
On the flip side, Leaky Gut may cause bowel issues, but they’re not usually the main symptom. Here’s what Leaky Gut can look like:
Fatigue - you’re constantly tired or lethargic, no matter how much you sleep
Joint pain - caused by inflammation from leaky gut
Skin issues - rosacea, eczema, acne, or psoriasis
Autoimmune diseases - you may develop symptoms of disorders like lupus, celiac disease, Hashimoto’s, or rheumatoid arthritis
Mental health issues - anxiety, depression, brain fog, or mood swings
Allergies and/or respiratory issues - your existing allergies or asthma may be exacerbated
Weight changes - weight gain or loss that’s unexplained
Food sensitivities - development of new food sensitivities or worsening of existing ones
As you can see, the symptoms of Leaky Gut have a farther reach in the body, which can be frustrating and confusing. How are you supposed to know that your anxiety is a gut issue? Or your acne or dairy intolerance? Hopefully, knowing that a lot of issues can stem from the gut empowers you rather than confuses you—because the good news is that by improving your gut health, which is well within your capabilities, you can alleviate many of these symptoms! Here’s how I would go about it…
Treating IBS and Leaky Gut
The existing treatments and approaches to alleviating IBS and Leaky Gut are similar—your goal should be to improve and fortify your gut health. In practice, this can involve:
Dietary modifications → Reining in your diet and making healthier choices can be a godsend for IBS and Leaky Gut. For a free two day meal plan click here!
Managing your stress → Meditation, exercise, and breathing exercises can help tame your overall stress and thus reduce stress on your body
Supplements → Magnesium, probiotics, and other supplements can improve your gut health drastically. Here’s a full list of the supplements I recommend for women over 50.
It’s going to take a little trial and error to figure out what works best for you, but fortifying your gut health is going to do wonders for your body, even outside of your IBS or Leaky Gut.
Here are a few other gut-boosting blog posts I’ve written:
As always, if you're experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms, I recommend consulting with a healthcare professional to get a diagnosis. After that, try these different approaches and see how your body responds! And if you want more support or information about gut health, make sure to join the Pure Joy Squad!
Xo,
Renata