Why Is Gluten Such a Big Deal?

Have you seen all the gluten-free foods these days?

It seems like a brand new thing but really, gluten-free foods have been around for while. Go into any grocery store today and you’ll see whole sections dedicated to shelf after shelf of gluten-free breads, cookies, cereals and lots more.

It’s literally an explosion of products, the majority of which didn’t exist five or ten years ago.

So what gives?

Is this gluten-free trend just another fad? And why should you even consider taking gluten out to begin with?

 

What’s the big deal?

Gluten is a unique protein, which can be broken down further into smaller proteins, or peptides. The most common of these proteins is referred to as alpha gliadin – or gliadin, for short. But there are many others!

Sidenote: This happens to be one of the BIGGEST problems when it comes to accurate testing, the issue being that most labs are ONLY looking at gliadin – when there are hundreds of other peptides you could be reacting to. That’s why Wheat Zoomer has become my go-to test for accurate results!

Gluten is found in wheat and other grain products and also crops up in hundreds of unexpected items and sneaky places, such as salad dressings, deli meats, soy sauce, cosmetics and lots more.

 

What does gluten do inside the body?

Once inside the body, gluten triggers an immune response. What this means is that – if you’re at all sensitive – your body will go on high alert.

For people with Celiac Disease, in addition to activating your immune system and creating system-wide inflammation – your digestive health is also compromised.

You’re unable to properly absorb your food because of how severely gluten damages your digestive tract. Unfortunately, a damaged gut typically leads to nutritional deficiencies that can cause serious health conditions.

 

More interesting facts about gluten

You don’t need a diagnosis of celiac disease in order to have an immune reaction.

In other words, if you’re at all sensitive to gluten – you’ll still have an immune reaction, and it will be triggered every.single.time you eat it, no matter how tiny the amount.

(Research has shown there isn’t a single human being on the planet who can properly digest this protein, even though it’s so ubiquitous in our food supply).

Here’s another way to look at it:

While celiac disease is known to affect about 1 in 100, non-celiac gluten-sensitivity (NCGS) is known to be 6 – 20 times MORE common!

In other words, non-celiac gluten sensitivity is potentially just as serious, and requires the removal of gluten from the diet for improved health – digestive and otherwise.

For the sensitive among us – eating even the smallest amount of gluten can result in all kinds of symptoms from immediate gas and bloating, to more delayed reactions such as skin breakouts, joint pain or a migraine headache.

For this reason, my Gluten Primer –Everything You Wanted to Know From A – Z video series and tutorial, includes many topics BEYOND gluten alone: inflammation, leaky gut, the neurological component, along with symptoms that can literally appear system-wide.

 

Put out the fire

The simple act of removing an inflammatory food like gluten from your diet can help to:

• Heal your digestion
• Boost your energy
• Leave you with clear, glowing skin
• Help you think more clearly (no more brain fog)
• Less pain and achy joints
• Help with weight loss
• And lots more…

 

ACTION STEP

For 5 days, try removing all sources of gluten from your diet.

I give you the perfect opportunity to do this in my upcoming 5-Day Spring Detox for Beginners – if you’re not a Beginner, that’s OK too!

Here’s the scoop:

• This group detox will be 5 days long, from May 1 – 5, 2017
• This detox is whole foods based, meaning you’ll be eating lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins. You won’t starve, I promise.

When you sign up, you’ll get:

• A full meal plan, brand new recipes, and a shopping list so you’ll know exactly what to eat at every meal
• A proven protocol that can help you drop weight, sleep better and get more energy in just under a week
• A pre-detox training call where I’ll walk you through what we’ll do and what to expect
• Tons of support from me and from the detox community via our members-only Facebook forum
• If these dates don’t work for you, you’re welcome to sign up for the detox anyway and run it on your own. Email me if you need support!

Details coming soon!