Gluten facts, what it does to some and why

This is a copy of my comment on another gluten post, hopefully it will remove the mystery for some people. Is gluten free fact, fad or fiction?

"You don't need a gluten free diet unless you have been diagnosed with celiacs disease."

That is the misunderstood, outdated, conventional medicine point of view, and many will disagree with such a statement.

People with experience who have felt the symptoms will disagree. The symptoms are very real for some people, who are not by definition, celiac.

I will explain the true simple facts, which sides with the functional medicine point of view, based on the latest facts.

People are not either blind or 20/20, many need glasses. Gluten sensitive or intolerant is just like that, its the gap in between.

People that are gluten sensitive do have some obvious symptoms, ranging from skin problems, joint pain, mental fog, and most obvious; digestive issues from bloating to reflux soon after eating gluten - the later is right away.

And the key? This is not your grandfathers gluten. Genetically altered grain is different. Studies show it, but profits from these new grains are more important than our health.

So, what does this new grain do? It is very closely tied together with another misunderstood "theory" that is also actual fact. Leaky gut. There are lab tests to show this, Genova Diagnostics is a popular choice.

Some people with an array of obvious digestive issues, do indeed, have "leaky gut" and or digestive Candida (which can feed on old school grain as well). The delicate intestinal lining can get inflamed from this new grain, causing microscopic fissures in the wall, leaking microscopic protein particles into the blood steam. Someone with either or both of these issues will have digestive symptoms soon after eating gluten, I know from experience. Not as bad as celiac but still, It sucked.

Why is leaky gut bad? The after math is felt later on, Brain fog, skin issues, stuff that takes a while to surface and it can raise havoc on YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM, and even cause autoimmune disorders and diseases. As understood in functional medicine and recently conventional medicine as well (slow) your immune system starts in your digest tract.

As many have proven, leaky gut and or Candida overgrowth is not necessarily a permanent condition. Remove the fuel (gluten) and in time, the fire cools. And the leaky gut heals. Unless you still have digestive Candida, then sugar and all carb elimination is also needed till the Candida is under control (it never is gone all together). The saliva in water home test is a good way to monitor Candida, as will confirm any suspicions.

I healed it and now eat gluten in smaller proportions. When I over do it, I can feel it starting again. So maybe I should be 100% gluten free, but I'd rather not be, since I understand it, I'm no longer freaked out over it.

So you have the actual direct symptoms that gluten sensitive people CAN FEEL and the possible gluten immune issue that lingers over all of us.

I hope this makes a little more sense for some curious minds, while opening the eyes of doubters. I was once a Gluten Free doubter - no longer, and choose to eat gluten at less quantities.

Its easier for me to avoid sugar, we choose our own poison.

Its that simple folks. I could affect ones immune system, and might not. As for not, its probable just not as noticeable, but most likely does something. We no longer eat what we're designed for.

MIT researcher Stephanie Seneff believes that glyphosate, not gluten, may actually be the problem:

http://nhrighttoknowgmo.org/BreakingNews/Glyphosate_II_Samsel-Seneff.pdf

http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/15/4/1416

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/05/08/heavy-metals-glyphosate-health-effects.aspx

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/10/19/cholesterol-sulfate.aspx

Glyphosate is used at high levels in the production of all GMO crops, especially sugar beets. Even non-GMO crops are sprayed with glyphosate before harvest as a dessicant:

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/cpr/plant-science/glyphosate-as-a-pre-harvest-aid-in-small-grains-07-17-14

rowingmom- good dig

"MIT researcher Stephanie Seneff believes that glyphosate, not gluten, may actually be the problem:

Glyphosate is used at high levels in the production of all GMO crops, especially sugar beets. Even non-GMO crops are sprayed with glyphosate before harvest as a dessicant"

That's probably just the tip of the iceberg as to whats in or on these modern day grains! So if this glyphosate is the issue it is funny people dont get gluten symptoms from eating veggies. Maybe grains absorb it more somehow?

"This is not your grandfathers gluten. Genetically altered grain is different"

To summarize: My post is long, needs to be read entirely to make sense. Its all part of a puzzle for some people.

The point is if you have grain sensitivity, or symptoms of Candida overgrowth with or with out lyme, it is worth your while to go gluten free a few months to see if symptoms alleviate. If your better, your on the right track.

As noted, my leaky gut and digestive Candida over growth started to get better in a few months. I very slowly added a grains back. I did this off and on testing my symptoms.

I DO consume gluten today, but at lower levels.

Bottom line: If you dont seem to have any digestive issues, no need to suspect grain/gluten sensitivity or digestive Candida overgrowth. Then its entirely optional.

@ astroman - Your post is a good review of the ideas summarized in Wheat Belly. But if you take the time to read the articles I provided above there is good reason to believe that gluten is not the only culprit when it comes to intestinal inflammation.

Glyphosate selectively destroys helpful gut microflora allowing pathogenic organisms such as C difficile and candida to proliferate. This causes inflammation, destruction of the mucosal barrier, changes in neurotransmitter production and dysregulation of detoxification pathways. All implicated in production of chronic disease.

Modern gluten containing grains may be one cause of gut inflammation, but with it's ubiquitous use in agriculture, glyphosate can not be discounted.

Lots of good info shared here! Thanks to everyone who posted!

I've read enough about GMO foods to know that the whole "Roundup-Ready" concept behind them is backfiring....horribly. Those Roundup-Ready crops require increasingly larger amounts of Roundup (large percentage is glyphosate) to be effective so we are literally being poisoned when we consume GM foods.

Most corn and soy sold in the US is GM and sugar beets aren't too far behind......these items seem to be in EVERYthing - especially processed foods.

Eating organic (automatically non-GMO) is really the only way to escape this....yes, it's more expensive than "conventional" eating. However, for me, I consider the purchase of organic foods as an investment towards my long-term health since we all know ill health costs a LOT of money.

What Razzle disagreed with - is true: re: if you don't have digestive issues.....then it's entirely optional. You may not have obvious digestive signs/symptoms.

My son has celiac disease. The first sign he had was symptoms/signs of low iron...that was attributed to him being a vegetarian...but I knew it wasn't that...as I made sure he got plenty of iron from non-meat sources. He was 5 years old and was tired when outside playing, along with chipping of his fingernails...and then lots of hair on his shoulders. Then he was supplemented on a liquid iron - two times per day, his hemoglobin went up, but the ferretin (sp?) levels remained very low.
To make a long story short...a locum at the medical clinic tested him when he was 14 for gluten antibodies...and oh boy, he was over the top. They stop counting at 200 i think it is. You're supposed to be less than 20.
Took him off gluten, and it took over a year for his antibodies to go into normal range, and his iron stores to reach the right range.

Looking back, we realized that although no stomach pain, bloating, discomfort...he would bring a comic book into the bathroom...as it took him awhile to get the job done. And, they were on the constipated side. He never needed laxatives...but it was borderline.

So, I guess you could call that digestive issues...but because there was no pain/discomfort...the Dr.'s just said...everyone's is different.

Thank goodness...the Dr.'s are now realizing that the intestinal health is very important to our overall health.

@ cd3764 - "Eating organic (automatically non-GMO) is really the only way to escape this...."

Unfortunately this is no longer the case. Uncontrolled cross-pollination with GM plants and use of contaminated (glyphosate, fluoride etc.) groundwater for irrigation decreases the amount of uncontaminated food available.

The EPA has developed allowable tolerance limits for natural and synthetic pesticides. If these tolerance limits are met, even though pesticides may still be present, the food is allowed to be labelled as organic.

@ Pirouette - right you are. Not many greens available in Ontario this time of year. Even my dandelions are hiding.

I've tried growing all the food I and my family needs - not an easy thing! We raised all our own meat, eggs, milk and grew all our own veggies, beans, potatoes, and that. The only thing we bought were paper products (toilet paper!!), and whole red wheat kernals, that we had to sift in the wind and then grind for our wheat.

I now know why people died at an early age when this was the norm!!! Saying that it's hard work is more than an understatement!!

So there has to be a compromise somehow. I don't have the organic foods available to me like many do - but, I do have the opportunity (when I'm up to it) to grow a good deal of our own veggies!

I got lucky last spring and had a lot of kale and collard volunteers and some of it is still going. Another dip below freezing will get the last of them.

Wow. good for you. Nothing better than homegrown food. And you're lightyears ahead of most of us if the world comes to an end. ;)

-p

Ha! So true… so true…

-p