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Gluten

In the constant battle that the gut and the gut microbiome fight against ill health and disease, what controls the opposing armies of good and bad bacteria is the food we eat.

Grains such as wheat, barley, spelt and rye contain gluten, a mix of two kinds of proteins (glutelins and prolamins). Gluten is what gives flour its elasticity and allows it to be kneaded and made into a variety of products.

but gluten is also the protein responsible for food sensitivities and intolerances (see more in Chapter III, ‘Why Wheat-related disorders are on the rise’). Its presence in the diet can be the spark that sets off inflammatory reactions for those who react adversely to it because of a genetic disposition. plus, it can lead to a range of disorders, from celiac disease to non-celiac wheat sensitivity (NCWs), wheat allergy and the itchy and blistery skin condition dermatitis herpetiformis— celiac disease outside the gut.

according to studies, nearly 30 per cent of people believed they were gluten-sensitive. There is also a sizeable number of silent, asymptomatic patients whose sensitivity is only discovered by chance, or the sensitivity appears outside the gut and you can see other manifestations like skin disorders. With gluten sensitivity, you may experience difficulty in losing weight, bloating, digestive disorders, obesity or the other end of the spectrum—you may be morbidly thin and unable to gain weight.

Not only does gluten cause adverse effects but it is also morphine-like in its addictiveness. The reason is that when gluten is digested, it’s broken down into gluten exorphins, which are opiate-like proteins that imitate the effect that opiates have on the body. These highly addictive components perpetuate our craving for excess food. They also explain the need for more and more.

The good news is that it is possible to break the vicious cycle of gluten inflammation and addiction. When I advise my clients to begin using alternative flours like millets or pulse flours, they feel better, lighter, more energetic, and their biomarkers (blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, etc.) improve dramatically .

To be continued.....