Stress significantly affects the quality of gut functioning, and long-term stress can indeed increase intestinal permeability, also known as “leaky gut.”
Here’s a breakdown of how stress impacts your gut:

1. Impact on Gut Functioning:

Brain-Gut Connection: There’s a direct and powerful link between your brain and your gut, often called the “gut-brain axis.” The gut has its own nervous system, sometimes referred to as the “second brain,” which is highly influenced by your emotional state.
Altered Motility: Stress can change how quickly or slowly food moves through your digestive tract. This can lead to issues like diarrhoea (stress speeds things up) or constipation (stress slows things down).
Increased Sensitivity: The gut can become more sensitive to pain and stimuli, leading to abdominal discomfort, pain, and “butterflies” in the stomach.
Changes in Secretions: Stress can alter gastrointestinal secretions, potentially contributing to issues like acid reflux or heartburn.
Reduced Blood Flow: During stress, the body prioritises “fight or flight” responses, diverting blood flow away from the digestive system. This can impede proper digestion.
Impact on Microbiome: Stress can disrupt the delicate balance of your gut bacteria (microbiome), reducing beneficial bacteria and allowing harmful ones to thrive. This imbalance (dysbiosis) can further contribute to digestive problems and inflammation.
Organic Food: Conventional food contain pesticides and herbicides and this activates the immune system because they are toxic. This can also lead to increased intestinal permeability.

Exacerbation of GI Conditions: Stress doesn’t typically cause underlying conditions like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), but it can significantly worsen their symptoms and trigger flare-ups.

2. Long-Term Stress and Increased Intestinal Permeability (“Leaky Gut”):

Weakened Gut Lining: The lining of your intestines is made up of cells joined by “tight junctions” that act as a barrier, controlling what passes from your gut into your bloodstream. Chronic stress, particularly through the release of hormones like cortisol, can weaken these tight junctions over time.
Passage of Undesirable Substances: When the gut lining becomes more permeable, it allows larger, undigested food particles, toxins, and bacteria to “leak” through into the bloodstream.
Immune Response and Inflammation: The body’s immune system recognises these foreign substances as threats, triggering an inflammatory response. This chronic, low-grade inflammation can contribute to a range of health issues beyond the gut, including food sensitivities and potentially autoimmune conditions.
Vicious Cycle: The digestive symptoms caused by stress can, in turn, increase stress levels, creating a negative feedback loop that further compromises gut health.
In summary: Stress has a profound and multifaceted impact on gut health, ranging from immediate digestive discomfort to long-term changes in the gut barrier and microbiome. Managing stress is a crucial component of maintaining a healthy gut.