It’s hard enough walking around with a chronic illness, like leaky gut syndrome or hearing loss, but knowing that your malady is invisible makes everything so much worse. There’s a sense of helplessness, not to mention a weird feeling you have to prove your illness to people. If you had a broken leg, everyone would help you across a room or open doors for you. But that’s not the case. Instead, you and your leaky gut have to figure things out for yourselves.
It’s not an easy cross to bear, but it can be made easier with a few tips and tricks. You’d be surprised to know how many people out there suffer from invisible conditions—fibromyalgia, endometriosis, autoimmune diseases, and various mental health disorders. In fact, the National Institute for Mental Health reports that one in five adults in the U.S. live with a mental illness, and the Illinois Department of Public Health states that anywhere between 10 and 20 percent of American women have endometriosis. You’re not alone out there, even though it may feel that way.
If you’re looking for ways to take care of your gut lining and lower inflammation so that you can feel better, or exploring methods of managing hearing loss, read on. Here are some ideas you can put to use.
1. Use supplements, like probiotics and turmeric.
Leaky gut is one syndrome that traditional Western medicine doesn’t quite know what to do with. However, many people experience mysterious inflammations in their digestive tract and intestinal lining, with few concrete answers as to how a leaky gut can be fixed. One idea is that intestinal permeability and tight junctions in the intestinal wall may be letting substances that should stay in the intestine straight into the bloodstream and hindering the absorption of nutrients. Hence the term leaky gut syndrome—your gut is literally leaking.
One thing that has been seen to help with gut repair is removing toxins and difficult to digest foods from your intestines. Adding taking out things like gluten and adding digestive enzymes, probiotics, and a gut repair supplement is a good idea for lots of people, not just those whose intestinal wall is malfunctioning. To improve gut health and get rid of a leaky gut, you should consider changing which nutrients you ingest and search for a supplement that’s proven to help.
2. Boost your immune system.
Whether you have food sensitivities or not, boost your immune system with nutrients and supplements that can help you stay strong. The gut microbiome is a delicate thing and whether you’re fighting fibromyalgia or leaky gut syndrome, keeping your immune system strong will help all your systems work better. You may even find that, with more strength and better immune function, you have a better hearing as well. This is not to say that you suddenly won’t need a hearing aid, just that a holistic view is beneficial. Digestive issues and immune function are linked to every system in your body because your nutrients fuel you.
3. Find an audiologist and see about hearing aids.
If you suffer from hearing loss and think you may benefit from hearing aids, don’t hesitate. Just like you wouldn’t hesitate to take medication for constipation or a headache, you should take care of your hearing health. If you’re nervous about what hearing aids may mean for your quality of life, you should discuss that with an audiologist at a hearing care centre near you. Plenty of people are dealing with declining hearing, especially as they age, and the side effects of impaired hearing aren’t worth living with. Whatever your invisible malady is—you know it’s real, regardless of what others may think. To find professionals who can get you the help you need.
4. Add fiber and good fats to your diet.
Like boosting your immune system, it’s a good idea to give your boy the nutrients it needs to fight whatever ails you. You can add fiber to your diet to help move things along in your digestive system. This helps eliminate inflammation and allows you to digest foods more quickly, which is good news for anyone (especially those with a leaky gut). Probiotic supplements affect your gut microbiome, but healthy fats like the kinds found in coconut oil and bone broth give you fuel for hours and are easy on the intestinal lining. Instead of eating a lot of gluten, which causes inflammation and allergy, opt for avocado or coconut snacks and some high fiber foods like fresh vegetables. Your gut health will thank you, and your whole body will feel stronger. You’ll even find that you sleep better, which will also help you heal.
Whatever you suffer from, know that you’re not suffering on your own. By taking a holistic approach to your health, adding a supplement where necessary, and eating well, you’ll be feeling better sooner than you may have imagined.
