Before we close out this section on our glorious gut
barrier, it’s important to note that gluten isn’t the only
potential instigator of increased permeability. Here are other
factors that can lead to a more porous gut:
Alcohol consumption. In healthy nonalcoholics, a
single vodka binge dramatically increases endotoxin
and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the blood.^28 That’s
because alcohol has been shown to inflame and
produce a more permeable gut, explaining in part the
harm that chronic alcohol consumption confers on the
liver and other organs.^29
Fructose. When fructose is removed from the matrix
of fiber and phytochemicals that is normally found in
whole fruit, it can increase intestinal permeability.
High-fructose corn syrup or agave syrup, which are
widely used to sweeten commercial beverages, may
be particularly bad news.
Chronic stress. Public speaking (a common stressor
for many) has been shown to momentarily induce gut
permeability in humans, pointing to a new mechanism
through which chronic stress can harm our health.
Excessive exercise. Endurance athletes may
experience gut permeability due to the stress of
sustained aerobic training.^30 In chapter 10 I’ll share
new research on exercise that renders those long,
grueling cardio sessions totally unnecessary.
Fat, when consumed together with sugar. In animal
models, high-fat diets (which often include sugar)