It's true I have been going on a lot lately about low-carb diets. But it is a very hot topic at the moment and from what I see on a day-to-day basis with my clients just seems to back up the theory that refined and non-refined carbs are just not a good idea for human consumption - at least not on an everyday basis.
The Basics.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye grains. Wheat is the most common form of gluten in our diets; bread, pasta, pizza, etc..
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder, this means the immune system reacts to gluten as if it were a threat which leads to the villi, the finger-like structures that line the small intestine responsible for the absorption of nutrients, to be destroyed. This means that the nutrients will not be absorbed properly which can lead to malnutrition, and other serious health consequences which include permanent damage to the intestinal tract.
Some of the symptoms of celiac disease are;
- Chronic Diarrhea and/or constipation
- Pale, horrible-smelling stools
- Bloated abdomen and gas
- Stomach pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Failure to thrive in children
- Delayed puberty in adolescents
- Weight loss
- Dental enamel defects
- Short stature
- Irritability and mood swings
- Fatigue
- Anemia
- Depression and anxiety
- Headaches
- Joint pain
- Infertility and frequent miscarriages
- Tingling in the hands and the feet
- Osteoporosis
As recently as 2015 in the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, it was finally announced that Intolerance to Gluten without being Celiac DOES exist.
Symptoms of non-celiac gluten sensitivity are:
- Brain for or mental fatigue
- Physical fatigue
- Abdominal pain, bloating and gas
- Frequent headaches.
However, according to Dr. David Perlmutter, an American neurologist, has a lot more to say about the real effect of gluten on our brains - and not just those who have Celiac disease, or are intolerant to gluten, but the population in general.
According to Dr. Perlmutter, carbs... even the healthy ones such as whole grains not only cause all of the symptoms listed above, but also cause; dementia, ADHD, anxiety, chronic headaches, depression, Alzheimer's, Tourrette's syndrome, and dystonia, among others...
To me this is shocking. He has worked with many patients who had been unable to find and answer to their many medical problems until they removed gluten from their diets. I highly recommend his book Grain Brain if you would like more in depth information on the subject. If I try and do it here, I'm afraid this post will go on forever..
However, what I found even more shocking recently, is just how gluten infested our lives really are. Most people who have celiac disease or are gluten intolerant or just want to live a gluten-free lifestyle, buy gluten-free bread, pasta, cookies, etc.. But did you know, gluten can also be found in:
- Shampoos
- Cosmetics, lipsticks and lip balm
- Play-doh
- Some medications
- Some vitamins and supplements
- Stamps and envelopes that you have to humidify or lick to stick them on or closed
And, there is a LONG list of words that are generally used on the ingredient section of products that are "other" names for gluten, such as:
- Dextrin
- Acena Sativa Cyclodextrin
- Fermented grain extract
- Hydrolyzed malt extract
- Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
- Hydrolyzed soy protein
- Maltodextrin
- Secale cereale
- Tocopherol/Vitamin E
- Yeast extract
- Modified food starch
- Brown rice syrup
- Caramel coloring - frequently made from barley
- Triticum aestivum
- Triticum vulgaire
- Hordeum vulgar
And I'm afraid the list just goes on...
You see, it isn't easy to be gluten free.
I can help you improve your health. If you would like to make an appointment with me either in person or via Skype, just send me an email to lucycarr@socialnutrition.com
I can help you improve your health. If you would like to make an appointment with me either in person or via Skype, just send me an email to lucycarr@socialnutrition.com
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