|
Whats New 2002
The problem with gluten
If you suffer from a longstanding health problem like
psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune thyroid
disease, crohn’s disease, low platelet disease,
sjogren’s syndrome and diabetes then it is possible
that you have gluten intolerance and possibly even
coeliac disease. Gluten
is found in wheat, rye, oats and barley and the
incidence of coeliac disease, which is associated with a
gluten allergy is apparently more extensive than what
has been previously postulated.
This is because as Loren Cordain an expert on
Palaeolithic nutrition has explained that we are simply
not used to eating and digesting grains.
Not so long ago we used to survive on fruits,
vegetables and lean game meats and it is only in the
last 5, 000 years that we started consuming grains.
Genetically we are not yet adapted to deal with a
high consumption of cereal grains. Hence the widespread
prevalence of coeliac disease and a host of other
diseases that might be related to a gluten allergy or
intolerance.
Gluten would be found in breakfast
cereals, pasta, breads, biscuits and bagels but there
are many hidden forms of gluten such as that which is
present in malt, hydrolysed vegetables proteins, soy
sauce, modified food starch, grain alcohol and a host of
other substances that we consume regularly.
Kamut and spelt also contain gluten.
A naturopath friend of mine has
written an excellent book covering this whole area so
stay tuned for the imminent release of this extensive
treatise.
Autism, attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, gulf
war syndrome and fibromyalgia may all be related to a
problem with gluten although it is obviously naïve and
simplistic to imagine that this is the sole cause of
these complicated diseases.
An article in the Lancet one of the
three most prestigious medical journals dated April 2000
has demonstrated that coeliac disease is associated with
the presence of a protein called Zonulin which
compromises the lining of the bowel leading to the entry
of foreign substances into the body which trigger the
immune system. This process may lead to all those
autoimmune disorders mentioned at the beginning of this
article. For those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis avoiding dairy
would also be advisable.
Gluten intolerance is something
that I investigate in all my patients, even those who go
on the anti-aging programme.
Blood tests, which evaluate anti-gliadin
antibodies, are the mot useful and there are also tests,
which measure endomysial and transglutaminase antibodies
although these latter tests are often negative.
However blood tests might not always be positive
and if you have any chronic digestive problem or
autoimmune disease it is well worth trying a gluten-free
diet and see whether you improve.
see
archives
Spa
Chakra Wellness Centre
The
Wharf
Woolloomooloo
Sydney
2011
02
93680888
|
