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Interesting article on Genes, the Immune System and Food

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/12/2015 11:02 AM (GMT 0)
This article really resonated with me mostly because it provocatively changes the question from what's wrong with what we eat to what's wrong with our immune systems:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/05/opinion/sunday/the-myth-of-big-bad-gluten.html?_r=0
Posted 7/12/2015 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
Yes interesting article (posted earlier by another HW'er, but worth reposting).
My gut got whacked-out by who knows what (I have those genes described in the article), enough to cause UC and make me much more sensitive to certain food now.
I don't blame the food, just need to avoid what my gut cannot handle or symptoms get bad.

The article suggests that the reason for the genes causing celiac disease is to provide a different sort of protection against dirt/bacteria that could kill us. Similar to the sickle cell gene providing protection against malaria. Mother Nature is such an enigma.

I won't get into the "gluten" argument (i.e.: is it actually gluten causing the problems) all I know is that when I don't eat wheat products my gut is much happier. But wheat is only one of my many sensitivities.
What amazes me is how emotional some people get about other people choosing to be gluten-free. Can't we all just get along and let people eat what they want to?
Posted 7/12/2015 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
The thing that actually stood out to me in this article is that, even to this day, there are so many if's and very few provable facts. Most all of this is just guessing and not even educated guessing, just guessing. Of course both sides of the argument can cherry pick information and twist it to their advantage and that's exactly what they do. Humans are so diverse I don't know if you can relate things happening to one set of humans to another set of humans. Then again, maybe you can. But, it's very possible that none of this has anything to do with what's wrong with what we eat or what is wrong with our immune systems. It could be what is wrong with what's behind door #3.
Posted 7/12/2015 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
With Celiacs just like with lactose intolerance it's the enzyme lacking to break wheat and gluten down just like the enzyme missing to breakdown lactose for those of us that are lactose intolerant, IBD CD/UC isn't the same issue, it's the immune system, not a lack of enzymes.
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