Some
of the basic lifestyle factors that contribute to leaky gut include chronic
alcohol consumption, chronic smoking, intense exercise, lack
of sleep, and overuse
of medications like antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and proton - pump inhibitors (PPIs).4 However, one
of the major contributors to overall gut dysfunction is stress.1, 5 Whether it's mental, physical, or emotional, too much stress can have
detrimental effects on your health.
If the problem seems to be one
of the inflammatory conditions such as IC it would seem reasonable to follow a plant based diet with an emphasis on foods that improve the immune function and emphasize antiinflammatory over inflammatory foods while avoiding substances such as caffeine and
alcohol which can have a
detrimental effect.