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Whole grains may be harmful to your health

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Contributed by: Connie Sanchez, ND on 11/9/2007

Dr. Connie Sanchez, ND
www.TheNutritionDoc.com

Danger: Whole Grains May be Harmful to Your Health
Some dieticians and health authorities encourage us to follow the USDA Food Pyramid guidelines and eat 6-11 servings of bread, cereal, and pasta daily to improve our health. Currently, the new buzz word is "whole grain" and food manufactures are jumping onto the nutritional bandwagon again and are enticing you with their "whole-grain" goodies. However, Is this good advice for everyone?

Gluten Intolerance and Associated Diseases
Truth be told, gluten (gliadin), a protein found in many common cereal grains such as wheat, barley, rye, spelt and oats (cross-contamination with gluten) may be causing us more harm than good. There are various levels of gluten intolerance ranging from sensitivities all the way up to full-blow Celiac Disease (CD). CD tends to be most common among people of Irish, English, Scottish, Scandanavian, and Eastern European decent. However, gluten-sensitivities can affect us all.

Gluten sensitivity has been associated with many health disorders such as:
* Allergies
* Autism
* Depression
* Anorexia/Bulemia
* Rosacea
* Diabetes
* Osteoporosis
* Ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's Disease
* Candida (yeast)
* Hypoglycemia
* Iron deficiency anemia
* Autoimmune thyroid diseases (Hashimoto's thyroidistis & Graves' Disease)
* Autoimmune liver disease
* Cognitive decline, Alzheimer's
* Celiac Disease

What's the Cause?
Gluten sensitivity is caused by the inability to digest the protein portion of many commonly eaten grains. When this protein is ingested it combines with an enzyme known as tissue-transglutaminase and forms an immune complex which deposits in the lining of the small intestine where absorption of nutrients occur.

The body does not recognize this complex and as a result the immune system kicks into action to eliminate this "foreign invader". Immune cells, called lymphocytes, are recruited to the small intestine where these complexes have been deposited and release a series of toxins in an attempt to "destroy" what the body perceives as a foreign invader. The toxins released cause the digestive system to become inflamed and damage the intestinal lining. This destruction results in many of the digestive symptoms (i.e., bloating, diarrhea, constipation, gas and cramping) experienced by people with gluten sensitivities.

When someone is sensitive to gluten and continues to eat it, antibodies, known as anti-gliadin antibodies (IgA, IgG) become elevated in the bloodstream and can be detected by a simple blood test. Tissue-transglutaminase antibodies may also be detected when there is damage to the intestinal lining. If positive for these antibodies the only treatment is to go totally gluten-free, avoiding all gluten grains and products that contain it.

It has been shown that a gluten-free diet is the only cure for gluten sensitivities and Celiac Disease. A gluten-free diet allows the body to repair and heal itself because it is no longer being challenged and attacked by the immune system.

Autoimmune Thyroid Disease
Oprah Winfrey recently went public and announced that she has been diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune hypothyroid disorder. This, she said was the "cause of her extreme fatigue and weight gain" over the last year.

It is good that Oprah revealed her story and perhaps this will shed some light on this devastating disorder. However, what wasn't revealed is that millions of Americans are walking around with autoimmune thyroid disease and don't even know it. What is also not well known is the connection between gluten sensitivity and autoimmune thyroid disease, such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Common Symptoms of Hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's)
* Fatigue
* Weight gain
* Inability to lose weight
* Hair loss
* Constipation
* Edema (swelling)
* Low body temperature

Common Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance
* Fatigue
* Weight gain
* Feeling tense
* Depression
* Digestive problems (gas & bloating)
* Hormone imbalances
* Muscle or joint pain
* Cravings for sweets, bread or carbohydrates
* Abdominal pain or cramping
* Abdominal bloating or distention
* Skin problems, rashes

Gluten Intolerance & Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
Studies reveal a connection between gluten sensitivity and autoimmune thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis. In Hashimoto's, the immune system is making antibodies against thyroid tissue. The most common antibody associated with Hashimoto's is the anti-TPO (thyroid peroxidase) antibody. Elevations of this antibody in the bloodstream may be the first and only indication of an autoimmune thyroid problem. However, the good news is that by going gluten-free, antibodies to the thyroid peroxidase enzyme (TPO) have been shown to go down and may even become undetectable in the bloodstream in a matter of weeks on a gluten-free diet. When antibodies against the thyroid gland are elevated, over time the thyroid gland becomes scarred and damaged and loses function. It can no longer make thyroid hormone and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) tends to go up. High TSH levels indicate that the thyroid gland is not making enough thyroid hormone to meet the demands of the body. When antibodies against thyroid tissue are no longer detected in the bloodstream this may allow the thyroid gland to heal and regain function if not damaged beyond repair.

If you have been diagnosed with a thyroid disorder and/or autoimmune thyroid problems, it would serve you well to undergo further testing for thyroid and gluten (gliadin) antibodies. A Celiac Profile may be performed and should include both IgA and IgG anti-gliadin and anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies. Elevated antibodies always proceed the disease, as many as seven years, before the official diagnosis of disease. It is very important to get tested because If left untreated it will eventually go on to full-blow disease.

Therefore, going gluten-free is good preventative medicine with only good side-effects.

Dr. Connie Sanchez, ND
Center for Health
www.TheNutritionDoc.com

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Connie Sanchez, ND

Lakewood , CO

Connie Sanchez, ND has posted 25 stories and 0 comments since joining on 7/10/2007. Connie Sanchez, ND 's average story rating is 5.

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