This is not the first time I have posted about gluten, but it is a topic and interest of mine that I am very passionate about. Had I not gone through several health issues last year and in the course of my life, I’m not sure I would have become as interested and invested in the facts. Fortunately, I did, and I would love to spend some time to debunk some myths about gluten with you!

I recently finished reading, Gluten Freedom by Dr. Fasano. Probably my favorite more medically-minded, research-based book on the topic so far. Every book I read about it I learn something new! So much interesting information and research here. But I’ll start small by cracking down on just a few myths about gluten:

Myth # 1: Gluten-Free is just a Fad diet. I hear this all the time. What this reflects to me is someone who is not very informed on gluten and its components. Not a bad thing, just an opportunity to learn. First of all, nobody can completely digest gluten. Studies show that gluten proteins are not metabolized by the intestines. While all the proteins we ingest can be completely dismantled, there is an exception: the protein is gluten and more specifically its components, gliadins, and glutenins. The presence of these undigested gluten peptides in the upper small intestine is perceived by our gut immune surveillance system as a potential enemy, and its interpreted as a component of a possible dangerous bacteria. This response is elicited by everyone, not just people with gluten-related disorders. So wouldn’t it make sense that everyone should follow or attempt as best as possible to engage in a gluten-free diet? The evidence suggests it.

Myth #2: Our ancestors ate gluten and never had a problem, so why can’t I? First of all, this ancient and complex protein developed alongside humans for thousands of years. For the majority of our human evolution, we ate gluten-free diets up until 10,000 years ago when the agricultural revolution was born. As early as 2000 years ago, cases of celiac disease are reported. As cultures became exposed to wheat who had previously based their diet on non-gluten ingredients like meat, milk, vegetables, and fruits, gluten sensitivity, and celiac disease developed. Gluten and its close relatives secalin and hordein from rye and barley are the only proteins our bodies cannot digest. Interestingly, staple cereals and grains in other cultures, such as millet and rice, are mostly gluten-free, and the genes related to celiac diseases in those cultures are much less than in Western countries. This explains why China, a country’s diet that before introduction to Western foods largely consisted of rice, has a much lower incidence of celiac and gluten sensitivity.

Myth #3: If I don’t have any negative symptoms, why should I stop eating gluten? Most people assume that if they have celiac or gluten sensitivity, then they would just be experiencing abdominal pain and symptoms. Unfortunately, gluten is not that kind. Keep in mind as well that the small intestine is 18 to 23 feet long, and it can easily evade clinical symptoms. While abdominal symptoms present in 70% of patients, this number is followed by eczema (40%) and/or rash, migraine/headaches (35%), “foggy mind” (34%), chronic fatigue (33%), diarrhea (33%), depression (22%), anemia (20%), tingling of fingertips (20%), and joint pain (11%). A person can have one or a multitude of these symptoms. Also worth mentioning is how gluten affects the reproductive systems of both women and men. Studies have found that couples with unexplained infertility have a higher rate of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity than the general population. This is no small percentage; it has been found that the population in America affected by gluten sensitivity is 6%; that’s at least 20 million people! The verdict is still out whether gluten sensitivity has a genetic component, though this has already been proven for those with celiac disease.

Interested in genetic testing? Fortunately, this is a lot more accessible now than in previous years. Testing for HLA-DQ (serotyping system that is from your immune system) is now much more affordable, and the ability to rule out celiac disease by HLA-DQ testing is impressive and the proportion of false negatives is extremely small. So HLA testing is useful to rule out celiac disease but not to confirm the diagnosis.

How complex is wheat? Well, each human has 25,000 genes, while wheat has five times as many. Wowsers!! It’s hard to know where to start, what to avoid, and what to eat when you engage in the gluten-free journey. However, I can promise you it is a very rewarding and health-enriching journey

Things to avoid (Grains that contain gluten): wheat (this includes spelt, seitan, couscous, einkorn, emmer, Kamut, and durum), barley, barley malt, rye, triticale

Things that are questionable and could vary person to person: imitation bacon, imitation seafood, marinades, soups, candy, seasonings, salad dressings, sauces and gravies, low-fat foods, packaged foods (ex. flavored potato and rice mixes), herbal supplements, vitamins, prescription/over-the-counter meds

Gluten-free grains, flours, seeds, and starches: amaranth, arrowroot, buckwheat, cassava, corn, flaxseed, nut flours, millet, montina, gluten-free oats, quinoa, rice, sago, sorghum, tapioca, teff, and wild rice

Keep in mind that just because an item is labeled “gluten-free” does not necessarily mean it is completely gluten-free. This is extremely important for people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. The FDA allows a product to be labeled “gluten-free” as long as it contains less than 20 ppm (parts per million) of gluten, as research shows that consuming products containing up to 10 mg (approximately 1/8 tsp of flour) of gluten per day is safe for most people with celiac disease.

Much more research and information is out there, but I hope this myth-debunking provides a good place to start. Great literature resources I have found with sound and evidence-based research on gluten include:

Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis

Grain Brain by Dr. David Perlmutter

Gluten Freedom by Dr. Alessio Fasano

The Autoimmune Solution by Dr. Amy Myers

The Paleo Approach: Reverse Autoimmune Disease and Heal Your Body by Dr. Sarah Ballantyne

Great blogs to follow include The Paleo Mom, Against All Grain, Elana’s Pantry, Gluten-Free Goddess, Gluten-Free Girl, and Gluten-Free Mommy…just to name a few! Hope this helps at the beginning of your gluten-free journey or just to learn more about gluten and gluten-free! <3

Blessings,

Lindsay