Education

Gluten sensitivity can present as a wide array of symptoms, often mistaken for other health issues. 

Not only can gluten cause multiple health problems, but gluten is a poor source of nutrition overall. 

Gluten sensitivity is NOT the same as Celiac disease or a wheat allergy. They are all gluten-related disorders but act differently in the body.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that presents a very distinct digestive pathology, that those with gluten sensitivity do not have. A wheat allergy is an actual allergy diagnosed by an allergist, causing some symptoms like gluten sensitivity, but with other more common allergy symptoms as well.

Gluten and Leaky Gut

Even if you do not suffer from a typical "gluten sensitivity" it would be wrong to conclude that gluten is "safe". It's not healthy food. Gluten stimulates an immune reaction in the gut and is impossible to tell if/when symptoms will present. Gluten is a known offender in stimulating Leaky Gut Syndrome.The lining of the gut should be composed of tightly packed epithelial cells that selectively allow certain things to pass while limiting the passage of others.

In the case of gluten, when it comes into contact with the intestinal cells, a substance called zonulin is produced that disrupts the tight junctions of the lining of the intestinal tract. This causes food and proteins to be absorbed into the bloodstream stimulating an immune response and causing all types of funky symptoms. 

Whether you have gluten sensitivity or not, gluten is an inflammation-inducing food and should be avoided. Read more about leaky gut here.

Identifying Gluten Sensitivity

Lab tests are available to identify gluten sensitivity. If you decide to test, make sure that it is a detailed panel covering ALL the many variations of the gluten proteins.

Dietary Challenge Test:

• In a dietary challenge test, all gluten and refined carbs are eliminated from the diet for 7-10 days.
• You then would buy the purest form of gluten, seitan, and consume it.
• Simply put, after removing ALL gluten-containing foods and refined carbs, then eating the purest form of gluten, Seitan, you have a reaction, you could logically assume you have some sort of gluten sensitivity.

However, a sneaky little disorder called SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) can mimic gluten intolerance and should be excluded through something called a "potato test". 

To exclude SIBO as the culprit of distress, a dietary challenge is necessary:

• For at least 3 days consume ONLY meat, fish, eggs, chicken, vegetables, nuts, fats, oils, and spices.
• On the 4th day, breakfast should consist of one small white potato.
  • Since the potato is a very high glycemic food, that doesn't contain gluten, the test allows us to differentiate between gluten-causing disorders (celiac, gluten insensitivity) and SIBO by exposing the gut to a high glycemic food that does NOT contain gluten.

• After eating the potato, if bloating, fatigue, pain or other symptoms occur the cause of symptoms could be SIBO and NOT a gluten intolerance issue.

SNEAKY SOURCES OF GLUTEN

It may not be immediately apparent what is a source of gluten and what is not. These items and more contain sneaky sources of gluten:

• Lipstick
• Lip balm
• Stamps
• The flap of an envelope
• Play-Doh
• Toothpaste
• Pharmaceuticals
• Supplements

Make sure that if you have a confirmed case of gluten intolerance you are removing the "sneaky sources".