The biggest way to tell if your leaky gut is healing is when your energy and vitality have returned, you've regained mental clarity, your mood has improved, you've returned to your ideal weight, and you feel like your best self. It's important to remember that, as with most health concerns, gut health is on a spectrum.
We recommend staying on the diet for at least 3-4 weeks as it will take about that long to “heal the gut.” Some patients may take up to 3 months to reestablish a normal functioning intestinal mucosa.
To heal the gut, most people need to first implement an anti-inflammatory diet and make lifestyle changes to prioritize rest, relaxation, and joy. Next, probiotics and (in some cases) digestive aids like enzymes and betaine HCl are helpful to increase good gut bacteria and strengthen digestion.
Eat an organic, fibre-rich diet (vegetables, sprouts, lentils, beans, whole grains such as buckwheat, millet, brown rice) as fibre promotes healthy gut function. Include prebiotic and probiotic foods in your diet.
To combat leaky gut, eat foods that promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria, including fruits, cultured dairy products, healthy fats, lean meats, and fibrous and fermented vegetables. Avoid processed and refined junk foods.
Signs Your Probiotics Are Working
Oftentimes, the first and most immediate change individuals notice is improved digestion. The probiotic bacteria work to rebalance your gut flora, which can quickly improve things like frequency and regularity of your bowel movements and alleviate bloating or gas.
Fasting during prolonged periods gives the gut the time it needs to restore its integrity. This is especially important for those with “leaky gut”, also called intestinal permeability, where the gut lining is weakened thereby allowing toxins, partially digested foods and pathogens to enter the bloodstream.
It takes about 36 hours for food to move through the entire colon. All in all, the whole process — from the time you swallow food to the time it leaves your body as feces — takes about two to five days, depending on the individual.
Gut resets aim to restore the balance of the microbiome by: removing foods that feed harmful bacteria and cause inflammation. introducing plenty of prebiotic foods, which feed beneficial bacteria. encouraging healthful practices, such as getting enough sleep and exercise and staying hydrated.
"Leaky gut syndrome" is said to have symptoms including bloating, gas, cramps, food sensitivities, and aches and pains. But it's something of a medical mystery. “From an MD's standpoint, it's a very gray area,” says gastroenterologist Donald Kirby, MD, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the Cleveland Clinic.
The microbiome can be aided or weakened by many factors. One of these factors is the food you eat. Foods that can ruin your gut health include refined carbohydrates, red meat, fried foods, spicy foods, lactose, high-fructose fruits, and certain drinks.
Your doctor may suggest fecal testing to help diagnose certain gut issues, such as infections or gastritis. Temporary, daily samples may be required to make a more accurate diagnosis. You can also ask your doctor directly for a stool test if you're interested in learning more about your gut flora.
So to answer the question…to kill off dormant bacteria it can take up to 6 months. This highlights the importance that if any healthy habits are being adopted they must be sustained for at least this amount of time to result in permanent shifts in your microbiome.
The Bottom Line
What comes out of your body when you detox? Numerous waste products such as urea, uric acid, creatinine, excess sebum, dead skin cells, and industrial toxins. Your body can signal you it needs to detox with signs such as fatigue, poor sleep quality, infrequent bowel movements, and skin issues.
In saying that, there is no magic number for how often you should cleanse, and some people prefer to do a cleanse every 3 months to keep their liver and gut toxin load down.