What is leaky gut?

Your gut lining is designed to act as a selective filter, allowing nutrients into the bloodstream while keeping bacteria, toxins, and undigested food inside the digestive tract.

This lining can become more permeable under certain circumstances, such as:

• High stress levels

• Poor sleep

• Episodes of inflammation

• Frequent alcohol use

• Certain medications (e.g., NSAIDs)

• Gut infections

• Untreated coeliac disease

• Chronic diarrhoea

When permeability increases, the gut barrier can become “looser” than normal, and this is what people often refer to as “leaky gut.”

However, and this part is important:

• It is not a standalone diagnosis

• It does not automatically cause symptoms

• It cannot be diagnosed from online stool tests, urine tests or home “leaky gut” kits

• Many treatments sold for it (e.g., extreme detoxes, powders, elimination diets) are not evidence-based

In IBS, increased gut permeability is often linked to stress and the gut–brain axis, which means that supporting the nervous system is just as important as supporting digestion.