Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share products I genuinely love and recommend. This content is also for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness or disease. Please consult your healthcare provider with any medical concerns or medication questions.
Gas, bloating, acid reflux, skin rashes, autoimmune issues, and low energy are often treated as separate problems. Many people manage these symptoms with acid blockers, over-the-counter products, prescription medications, or repeated diet changes. Sometimes those approaches help temporarily, but for many people, the symptoms come back.
The reason is most treatments focus on calming symptoms instead of addressing what is actually happening inside the gut.
Leaky gut is not just a digestive issue. It involves inflammation and changes in the gut lining that allow unwanted particles to move into the bloodstream, triggering a broader inflammatory response in the body. When the underlying causes are not addressed, inflammation remains active and symptoms persist.
In this post, we will walk through the hidden causes of leaky gut that keep inflammation going, and what you can do to finally heal it!
? Before we get started:
Be sure to grab access to my Free Wellness Library. It’s packed with e-books, gut health checklists, food trackers, and practical resources to help you feel better faster. You can get your free access below!
What is Leaky Gut?
Leaky gut refers to inflammation in the digestive tract that affects the gut lining. The intestines are about 26 feet long and are covered in small finger-like structures that help absorb nutrients. This surface area is very large, which means a lot can go right, but also a lot can go wrong.
The lining of the gut is only one cell thick. When that lining becomes inflamed, it can become more permeable.
This allows proteins, bacteria, and other substances that should stay inside the gut to move into the bloodstream.
When this happens, the body responds with inflammation. This inflammatory response is what connects leaky gut to many ongoing symptoms.
6 Hidden Causes of Leaky Gut
1. Inflammation That Makes the Gut Lining More Permeable
Leaky gut begins with inflammation.
The lining of the gut is only one cell thick. When that lining becomes inflamed, it becomes more permeable. This allows proteins and bacteria that should stay inside the digestive tract to pass into the bloodstream.
When this happens, the body responds with inflammation.
As long as this process continues, symptoms like gas, bloating, and acid reflux tend to persist, even when they are treated directly.
2. Biofilm That Protects Harmful Organisms
Often shows up as recurring or stubborn symptoms
Biofilm is one of the most overlooked causes of leaky gut.
It is a thick, mucosal-based layer that forms inside the intestines. This layer is created by living organisms such as yeast, bacteria, and parasites. Biofilm acts as a protective barrier, allowing these organisms to survive and continue irritating the gut lining.
Heavy metals, parasites, viruses, and harmful bacteria can exist within this layer. When biofilm remains intact, inflammation remains active, which helps explain why symptoms often improve briefly and then return.
3. Yeast Overgrowth in the Digestive Tract
Often shows up as bloating and skin rashes
Yeast is a living organism. When it overgrows in the gut, it contributes to irritation and inflammation of the gut lining.
Yeast also plays a role in creating and maintaining biofilm. When it is protected, it can survive treatments and continue driving gut permeability.
This ongoing irritation is one reason symptoms like bloating and skin rashes can be difficult to resolve.
4. Bacterial Imbalance and Overgrowth
Often shows up as gas, bloating, and digestive discomfort
When bacteria overgrow or are present where they should not be, the gut environment becomes imbalanced. This imbalance, often referred to as dysbiosis, contributes to irritation of the gut lining and ongoing inflammation.
In this state, adding more bacteria too early can worsen symptoms rather than improve them.
5. Poor Nutrient Absorption
Often shows up as low energy and lack of vitality
The intestines are lined with small finger-like structures that help absorb nutrients. When the gut lining is inflamed, these structures do not function properly.
As a result, nutrients are not absorbed efficiently.
Over time, this can affect energy and vitality. Low energy in this case is not a separate issue, but a downstream effect of ongoing gut inflammation and damage.
6. Treating Symptoms Instead of Addressing Causes
Often shows up as symptoms that continue or keep returning
Many common approaches focus on symptom relief.
Acid reflux is treated with acid blockers.
Bloating is managed with digestive aids.
Skin issues are treated externally.
While these approaches may reduce discomfort, they do not address inflammation, biofilm, or microbial imbalance. When the root causes remain, symptoms tend to return.
How to Heal Leaky Gut Naturally
Addressing leaky gut works best when it follows a clear order. This is the framework used in the CBO protocol, which is designed to be done over three months, with each phase building on the one before it.
This is the exact same protocol I recommend to people who are ready to stop chasing symptoms and finally get to the root of their gut issues.
Month 1: Remove Biofilm and Reduce Overgrowth
The first month focuses on clearing obstacles that keep inflammation active.
Step 1: Address Biofilm
Biofilm is addressed first because it protects yeast, bacteria, parasites, and other irritants. A protease-based enzyme is used to dissolve this biofilm.
Biofilm is not supposed to be present. It is created by living organisms as a protective layer. As long as it remains, inflammation continues and treatments do not fully work.
Removing biofilm exposes what has been hidden underneath.
Step 2: Reduce Yeast and Bacterial Overgrowth
Once biofilm is disrupted, natural antimicrobial compounds are introduced to reduce yeast and bacteria that should not be present.
The goal is to reduce overgrowth while leaving beneficial organisms intact.
Step 3: Use a Temporary, Non-Pathogenic Yeast
During this phase, a specific non-pathogenic yeast is used. It temporarily occupies space in the gut, helps push out harmful yeast, and then leaves the body on its own after a short period.
This helps reduce yeast overgrowth without adding permanent bacteria too early.
Month 2: Prevent Adaptation and Begin Restoring Balance
The second month focuses on preventing organisms from adapting and continuing to drive inflammation.
Step 1: Change the Biofilm and Antimicrobial Approach
Yeast and bacteria are living organisms. Over time, they can adapt.
For this reason, a different enzyme blend is used to address remaining biofilm, and a different antimicrobial approach is introduced.
Changing strategies helps prevent adaptation and keeps progress moving forward.
Step 2: Begin Supporting the Gut Environment
At this stage, balance is beginning to return. A single strain of beneficial bacteria is introduced to help support the proper environment in the digestive tract without overwhelming it.
This step helps discourage overgrowth while the gut continues to calm.
Month 3: Repair the Gut Lining and Rebuild
The third month focuses on strengthening and stabilizing the gut so results last.
Step 1: Support and Rebuild the Gut Lining
After overgrowth has been reduced, attention shifts to the gut lining itself.
Support is provided to help calm inflammation and strengthen the tight junctions between gut cells. This helps reduce permeability and supports long-term healing.
Repair comes after removal, not before.
Step 2: Final Cleanup of Remaining Overgrowth
Any remaining yeast, fungus, or bacteria are addressed using a different blend than earlier phases. This final step helps bring the gut back into balance rather than wiping everything out.
Step 3: Reintroduce Beneficial Bacteria
Only after balance and repair are underway are probiotics fully introduced.
Multiple strains of beneficial bacteria are added to help repopulate both the small and large intestine. Introducing probiotics at this stage supports stability instead of feeding overgrowth.
Quick Recap
✅ Leaky gut is driven by inflammation and increased gut permeability
✅ Biofilm protects yeast and bacteria and keeps inflammation active
✅ Yeast overgrowth and bacterial imbalance irritate the gut lining
✅ Damage to the gut lining can affect nutrient absorption and energy
✅ Treating symptoms alone does not resolve the root causes
✅ Leaky gut is addressed by breaking down biofilm, restoring balance, and rebuilding the gut lining.
Final Thoughts
If symptoms like bloating, reflux, skin issues, or low energy keep coming back, it usually means the deeper drivers of inflammation have not been addressed. Leaky gut is not caused by one single issue, but by a combination of inflammation, biofilm, and microbial imbalance that develops over time.
When these factors are handled in the right order, the gut has a better chance to restore balance instead of cycling through temporary relief.
Now I’d love to hear from you! Which of these causes do you recognize most in your own experience? Let me know in the comments below.
? Still dealing with bloating, fatigue, or gut issues, no matter what you try?
If you’ve been chasing symptoms and nothing seems to stick, it’s time to look deeper. I’d love to help you uncover the root cause of your digestive + hormone issues so you can finally get the answers you’ve been looking for.
? To get started, learn how private coaching and functional lab testing can help you.
Additional Resources
- 7 Things You Need To Know About Leaky Gut
- How to Repair Leaky Gut Naturally in 4 Simple Steps
- 5 Hidden Causes of Leaky Gut Hurting Your Immunity
- How to Heal Your Gut by Calming Stress and Histamines
- 13 Hidden Reasons You Still Have Acid Reflux
? Like this and want to save it for later? Tap the Pinterest Pin button below—it’s an easy way to keep it on hand when you need it.