Is a Gluten Allergy Affecting YOUR Health? (3 Easy Ways to Tell)

Is a Gluten Allergy Affecting YOUR Health? (3 Easy Ways to Tell)

You’ve seen stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Aniston touting the benefits. You’ve noticed dozens of new products lining the shelves of your local grocer. And you’ve probably even seen gluten free options popping up on restaurant menus and in bakeries.

And with all this fanfare, you may wonder if “going gluten free” is just another food fad… or if it could be a path to a healthier life.

The truth is, for most people, giving up gluten means gaining better health.

That’s because gluten – the protein found in grains including wheat, barley, rye, spelt, kamut, and oats – can contribute to a laundry list of health problems. These can include depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, OCD, autism, ADHD, autoimmune disorders and dementia… not to mention bloating, fatigue, gastrointestinal distress, nutrient deficiencies, respiratory difficulties, systemic inflammation and more.

And for those with celiac disease, the effects are much more dangerous. When people with celiac disease consume gluten, the body mounts an acute immune response. The inflammation this causes can damage the tiny finger-like projections (or villi) of the small intestine. The end result can be severe pain and gastrointestinal upset, as well as vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

But what is it that makes seemingly innocuous foods like bread and pasta so harmful to our health?

Quite simply: Your genetics.

Gluten Allergy… or Genetics? Why Grains Don’t Fit In Your Genes

Twelve thousand years ago our ancestors lived by foraging and hunting. The typical meal of the day might include fresh-picked greens, berries, nuts, seeds, eggs and anything our stone-age kin could catch or kill.

But with the advent of agriculture and the subsequent Industrial Revolution, grain-based foods (not previously on the menu) began to fill our plates, eventually ballooning to the current 6-11 daily servings now recommended by the USDA.

Many experts believe that it is this dramatic dietary shift that has caused the gradual decline of human health and the rise of chronic disease.

But why?

You see, our genetics have changed very little since the days of our hunter-gatherer ancestors. And while 12,000 years might seem like plenty of time for humans to adapt, this is just the blink of an eye in evolutionary terms. Scientific research shows that our genes have changed very little from that of our Paleo relatives.

Eating a diet that deviates from your “evolutionary blueprint” can have dire consequences.

English Muffins… with a Side of Chronic Inflammation

Cereal and toast for breakfast… a sandwich at lunch… a granola bar for snack… rolls at dinner. The Standard American Diet includes a hefty helping of gluten at every meal and snack.

But since gluten has only recently been introduced into our diet in the grand evolutionary scheme, our bodies haven’t developed the capacity to handle these “foreign” proteins.

At first, you may feel satisfied by these “comfort foods” (learn about the gluten addiction cycle here), only to succumb to post-meal bloating and fatigue. Maybe you chalk it up to old age, or just accept it as the norm.

But don’t: Symptoms are signs.

You see, as our immune system works to protect us against these foreign proteins, it creates inflammation throughout the body. Your digestive tract, heart, joints and brain can all be affected, creating a wide range of systemic effects.

What’s more, American strains of wheat (like those used to make fluffy white bread, and stretchy bagels and pizza dough) have been bred to contain much higher levels of gluten than those traditionally found in Europe.

Higher gluten content means more foreign proteins… and more inflammation.

Is Gluten Affecting YOUR Health?

So how do you know if gluten is affecting you and your family?

A simple way to find out is to remove gluten for two to four weeks, and take note of how you feel every day. Is your energy increasing? Are you sleeping better? Do you have less joint pain?

It’s important to note that during this trial period you must remove ALL gluten from your diet. Read labels carefully as gluten is hidden in salad dressings, sauces, lipstick, soups and other packaged items. (Here is a short list of common gluten-containing foods and ingredients)

After the gluten-free trial period, begin introducing gluten-containing foods to your diet for a day or two and monitor how you feel over the next 72 hours. If you notice any symptoms, this is an indication that gluten is an issue.

Another way to determine your reactivity to gluten is to get a full panel of IgA and IgG tests done for gluten and wheat. You may also consider the HLA DQ2 and DQ8 genotyping for celiac disease. Talk with your doctor about your risks and options. Some tests are covered by insurance.

Even if you don’t have celiac disease, you can still experience severe health problems from eating gluten. In fact, a large study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that people with diagnosed, undiagnosed, and “latent” celiac disease or gluten sensitivity had a higher risk of death, mostly from heart disease and cancer.