Gluten has been the topic of hot debate by a growing number of healthcare providers. Me included! I have been GF for over 10 years and feel it has greatly improved my quality of life. When I was eating and drinking whatever I wanted, I had many random health symptoms. Body pain, gut disturbance, sinus congestion, poor sleep and brain fog. It takes 90 days (3 months) of being gluten free for it to completely get out of your system. Once I did this, it became very obvious that many of my health problems were tied to gluten. Once I re-introduced it, all of my symptoms came back. This correlation made avoiding gluten that much easier. Going GF is a LOT easier than it sounds and I have a ton of advice to give on the topic if you are interested in learning more.
The literature is overflowing with the detrimental impact gluten has on the intestinal wall.
When you eat gluten, your body produces a molecule called zonulin. The increase in zonulin is linked to increased intestinal permeability aka: leaky gut. I test for Zonulin levels and gut integrity that can point to a gluten allergy or sensitivity on a functional test.
Leaky gut can create a cascade of damaging health issues including autoimmune disease and many inflammatory diseases.
Reasons to avoid gluten:
1: Most of the wheat (gluten) eaten today is termed dwarf wheat and contains amylopectin A. This is a super starch worse than sugar. Of special interest, amylopectin A is a trigger of small LDL particles. When wheat is removed from the diet, these small LDL levels reduce by 90 percent. Amylopectin digestion may raise blood sugar and insulin levels, causing an increase in triglycerides and cholesterol and leading to fat accumulation
2: Most wheat has been sprayed with the weed killer, glyphosate. There is growing evidence linking glyphosate to cancer, endocrine disruption, fertility and reproductive concerns, kidney disease, heart disease, liver disease, microbiome disruption and neurotoxicity.
3: Most wheat contains a preservative called calcium propionate which has been linked to mood, behavior and attention problems.