Should You Eliminate Gluten?
Do you know someone who has eliminated gluten from their diet? Have you considered exploring this approach for yourself, or do you consider it going overboard? Why should you eliminate gluten?
I’ve written about the potential issues of consuming wheat-based foods in the past. To recap, the greatest concerns are the increased concentration of gluten in our modern wheat, and the use of glyphosate on wheat fields prior to harvest. That means that each bite of wheat comes with a dose of glyphosate.
I often find that my clients have some sensitivity to wheat or gluten, which is a protein in wheat. In the absence of testing for sensitivity, these are some situations where I recommend elimination of wheat from the diet….
An Autoimmune Disease Diagnosis
Consuming gluten can promote intestinal permeability (or leaky gut), which is a precursor of all autoimmune disease activation. In case you doubt this, I encourage you to listen to the first 20 minutes of this interview with Dr Allessio Fasano , a pioneering doctor who has identified gluten’s role in promoting permeability and how this permeability contributes to autoimmune activity.
Type 2 Diabetes
In this case, I recommend elimination of all wheat, though not all gluten-containing grains such as barley or rye. The primary concern with wheat is its high glycemic load in a diet for individuals with insulin resistance. This means that consumption of wheat spikes your blood glucose (sugar) levels which the Type 2 diabetic body cannot well manage.
An Overtly Obese Body
Similarly, I recommend eliminating wheat if you have an overtly obese body. The high glycemic load that comes with wheat consumption usually leads to insulin-mediated body fat increase. And that can lead to metabolic syndrome.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
For those suffering with IBD, the digestive system is already compromised, but the gluten and glyphosate from wheat (did you listen to Dr Fasano’s interview?) add fuel to the fire.
Struggle With Chronic Depression
There is increasing evidence that gluten can cause changes in brain chemistry which can lead to depression. Do you struggle with depression? Then I recommend eliminating it completely for at least 2 months before reintroducing to gauge the impact.
Do you find yourself in any of these conditions? Have you explored ways to support your body based on diet and nutrition in conjunction with your conventional medical treatment? You don’t need to find your way on your own. A Functional Medicine Health Coach can help you navigate the path. Let’s chat about your situation and how I can support you.
Are you wondering where the future will lead? The best way to get a different outcome is to change your approach. Should you eliminate gluten? Maybe. And you don’t have to go it alone.
