Going Gluten Free Will Improve Your Life
Most people associate gluten sensitivity issues with digestive problems such as Celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome. While gluten does have a very negative effect on the digestive system it also inflames other regions of the body. The other regions that are often most affected are the brain, joints, and skin. This article will go over 6 major reasons why going gluten-free will improve your life.
It is estimated by many researchers including Dr Kenneth Fine, PhD, that 81% of the population has some level of gluten sensitivity. This means that the body produces antibodies to some sort of gluten derivative. This could be to the protein gliadin and its various forms or to a mechanism called molecular mimicry where the body produces antibodies to proteins that are similar to gliadin in its various forms.
Many researchers and healthcare practitioners believe that everyone on the planet is better off removing gluten from their diets. When individuals remove gluten they notice significant improvements in brain function, energy levels, breathing, immunity, pain levels, and skin health. After reading this research-based article, my hope is that you are convinced to try 30 days gluten-free and see what you experience!
Kicking Gluten Improves Your Brain:
When we eat gluten containing foods we increase a protein molecule called Zonulin. Zonulin works as a gatekeeper in both the intestine and the blood-brain barrier. The more zonulin in the gut the more permeable the intestinal cells become and the greater risk of developing leaky gut syndrome (1).
High levels of zonulin also loosen the tight junctions in the epithelium of our blood cells (1). This allows toxins and other molecules to slip through the blood-brain barrier. When the blood-brain barrier is permeable it activates an inflammatory response in the brain.
Your Brain Has No Pain But Still Suffers:
The brain itself does not feel pain and chronic inflammation is experienced with symptoms such as brain fog, slow mental processing, anxiety, depression, emotional disturbances, etc. Over time a brain that is chronically inflamed leads to neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease (2,3).
Individuals may also form specific antibodies to gluten molecules that mimic other regions of the body. One of the most common of these molecular mimicry patterns is Glutamate Decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies. GAD is an enzyme that helps metabolize glutamate and it is key for energy production in major regions of the brain.
The Problem with GAD Antibodies:
Individuals with GAD antibodies often form cerebellar ataxia where they are unable to maintain balance and have very poor coordination (4). GAD antibodies are also implicated in type I diabetes, adult autoimmune diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and Stiffman syndrome (5).
When we metabolize gluten we produce the opiates gluteomorphin and prodynorphin as a result. These opiates have an addictive effect and can often lead to food addictions to sugar and gluten containing carbs. Oftentimes people struggle to come off of these foods due to their addictions.
Dropping Gluten Gives You More Energy:
A gluten sensitive individual will constantly be triggering their adrenals to pump out stress hormones every time they consume gluten. The immune system has to crank up and go into hyper-inflammatory mode which utilizes a lot of vital resources as well. This taxes the body of raw materials and sets it up for adrenal exhaustion and chronic fatigue.
By eating an anti-inflammatory diet that takes out food-borne stressors like gluten, genetically modified foods, sugary foods, and pasteurized dairy you allow the adrenals to come down. This results in better sleep, more energy, and improved stress and emotional balance.
Gluten Free Improves Your Health:
One of the patterns of molecular mimicry is antibodies to transglutaminase. Transglutaminases are enzymes found throughout the body that bind proteins together and they are also key to the digestion of wheat. When the body forms an immune response to the gluten molecule it often creates sensitivity to transglutaminase molecules as well.
Transglutaminase-2 (TG-2) is found in the intestinal lining and antibodies to TG-2 are a marker for celiac disease (6). TG2 is a well-known marker for osteoarthritis severity as well (7). This is one of the reasons why individuals with celiac disease also have advanced degeneration in their spine. Many individuals with non-celiac gluten sensitivity also have major problems with joint pain, rheumatoidism, and osteoarthritis.
Transglutaminase-3 (TG-3) is found in the skin and anti-bodies can lead to chronic acne, eczema, and dermatitis. Transglutaminase-6 (TG-6) is found throughout the central nervous system and antibody formation leads to neurological disorders (8). Transglutaminase-7 (TG-7) is found in the lungs and antibody formation leads to asthma and other pulmonary challenges.
Go Gluten Free and Feel Better than Ever:
When you give up gluten, and sugar and minimize grains and other inflammatory agents you will notice that you look and feel significantly better. Your skin will get clearer, your hair more shiny and your joints will be stronger. Your brain will be sharper and you will have improved memory and emotional balance.
The benefits of an anti-inflammatory diet far outweigh the momentary glutinous or social benefits associated with eating gluten, sugar, and other inflammatory foods. Going gluten free will improve your life. Your greatest asset is the body God gave you and you have to take proper care of it to live out your full potential in life!
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Sources For This Article Include:
1. Fasano A. Zonulin and its regulation of intestinal barrier function: the biological door to inflammation, autoimmunity, and cancer. Physiol Rev. 2011 Jan;91(1):151-75. PMID: 21248165
2. Gorelick PB. Role of inflammation in cognitive impairment: results of observational epidemiological studies and clinical trials. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2010 Oct;1207:155-62. PMID: 20955439
3. Prakash A, Kumar A. Implicating the role of lycopene in restoration of mitochondrial enzymes and BDNF levels in β-amyloid induced Alzheimer׳s disease. Eur J Pharmacol. 2014 Oct 15;741:104-11. PMID: 25066110
4. Georgieva Z, Parton M. Cerebellar ataxia and epilepsy with anti-GAD antibodies: treatment with IVIG and plasmapheresis. BMJ Case Rep. 2014 Jan 13;2014. PMID: 24419643
5. Bender C, Schlosser M, Christen U, Ziegler AG, Achenbach P. GAD autoantibody affinity in schoolchildren from the general population. Diabetologia. 2014 Sep;57(9):1911-8. PMID: 24939430
6. Kumar V, Jarzabek-Chorzelska M, Sulej J, Rajadhyaksha M, Jablonska S. Tissue transglutaminase and endomysial antibodies-diagnostic markers of gluten-sensitive enteropathy in dermatitis herpetiformis. Clin Immunol. 2001 Mar;98(3):378-82. PMID: 11237562
7. Tarantino U, Ferlosio A, Arcuri G, Spagnoli LG, Orlandi A. Transglutaminase 2 as a biomarker of osteoarthritis: an update. Amino Acids. 2013 Jan;44(1):199-207. PMID: 22139411
8. Hadjivassiliou M, Aeschlimann P, Sanders DS, Mäki M, Kaukinen K, Grünewald RA, Bandmann O, Woodroofe N, Haddock G, Aeschlimann DP. Transglutaminase 6 antibodies in the diagnosis of gluten ataxia. Neurology. 2013 May 7;80(19):1740-5. PMID: 23576621
Could you feel me in what is the best diet to get rid of gluten I do not know about food without gluten. I would apreciate to find out more about this fantastic diet. Thank you and hope to hear from you.
Doris Bélanger
Hey Doris,
Here is the SuperCharged Energy Diet you can download and follow: https://drjockers.com/the-supercharged-energy-diet/
Hi
Dr jockers
Just want to thank you fir such in depth and understanding manner you present your emails
Thanks
Great reads
Extremely helpful and informative
Is oatmeal or steel cut oats not good for keto diet?
Those have too many starchy carbs!