A gluten-free diet could be key in resolving long-term symptoms. Most people don’t know just how widespread the gluten problem is. It could also explain why schizophrenia is so rare in places like the Pacific Islands (where a study found only two in 65,000 people had psychotic schizophrenia symptoms). Keep reading to get the scoop on gluten… and why eliminating it from your diet is one of the best moves you can make for your health. There are several reasons why most people feel better on a gluten-free diet. It might be time to change your “prescription”. Just because you don’t have celiac disease doesn’t mean you’re immune to gluten’s harmful effects. Here’s a list of foods and drinks in which gluten is usually found: A 2013 survey found that about one in three Americans are trying to avoid gluten in their diets. A lot of people are under that impression. And focusing on celiac disease alone misses the bigger picture. Wheat is the most well-known gluten source, but you can also find it in rye, barley, spelt, and all kinds of other grains. They take medications to minimize the symptoms of the condition, but they have to keep taking these medications because they never get to the root of the problem. Wheat itself has changed dramatically over the past few decades. Ever since he discovered the ancestral health movement five years ago, he has explored different ways to incorporate ancestral wisdom into his nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle at large. (14), “I don’t have celiac disease. Buying something just because it’s gluten-free (or because there’s a fancy new gluten-free version), doesn’t magically make an unhealthy food healthy. There’s a spectrum of gluten tolerance. Gluten makes IBS symptoms worse and, in some cases, might cause IBS in the first place. You’ve seen it on restaurant menus and grocery store shelves. Corey Pemberton is a freelance writer, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner, and Paleo health enthusiast. (5, 6), About 14 percent of Americans suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (“IBS”), which causes all kinds of digestive problems. If so, what happened? (12), Eliminating gluten can also reduce symptoms of depression. That doesn’t sound so terrible, so why is gluten getting so much attention? What’s not great about gluten is that it can cause serious side effects in certain individuals. padding: 5px; (4), More and more research is coming out naming gluten as one of the major culprits here. Bottom line: you don’t have to have a celiac diagnosis – or even gluten intolerance – to be affected. Not exactly. Is gluten a bad fit for you? Research from Australia found it’s much more widespread than experts thought: about 50 percent of the population has genetic markers linked to gluten sensitivity. Eliminating gluten can also reduce symptoms of depression. This stuff is everywhere. Have you tried cutting gluten out of your diet? And it didn’t take long for food companies to notice. And more and more scientific research is proving he was right. (20). (24) Going gluten-free is one of the most popular trends in health…. Gluten is in plenty of foods, of course, but you can also find it in everything from toothpaste and beverages to medications and cosmetic products, (23). (16), Skeptics point out that only about one percent of the population have been officially diagnosed with celiac disease, so most people don’t have to worry about gluten. We might not even realize the damage it’s doing because we just think of the way we feel as “normal”. What is gluten? }. The gluten in the foods you’ve been eating all your life could be behind that mysterious inflammation or digestive problem your doctor can’t figure out. [tweet_quote]The New England Journal of Medicine listed 55 diseases that can be caused by eating gluten.[/tweet_quote]. Gluten causes trouble by making the body inflamed, resulting in effects all throughout the body. That means the upside of eating gluten is nonexistent. They’re creating new gluten-free versions of processed foods and emphasizing existing products which happen to be gluten-free. Gluten is a protein composite found in grains. (9), Scientists have explored the link between mental health and wheat consumption for over 50 years now. Because gluten causes your system to become inflamed, the negative effects aren’t limited to specific places in the body. Of the gluten-containing grains, wheat is by far the most common. dataLayer.push({'eventCategory': 'leadbox', 'eventAction':'show', 'eventLabel':'Digestion Guide Lead Magnet', 'nonInteraction':'Yes'}); Paleo Diet Recipes, Information, and Tips. (21, 22). Feel free to stop by his website or say hello on Twitter. Here are just a few ways eating gluten can jeopardize your health: Millions of us struggle with digestive issues or “leaky gut” syndrome. Why is gluten bad? Let’s talk about why. Flip open a page of your favorite magazine, and you’ll find a story about a celebrity going gluten-free. It disrupts the barrier of the intestine, which allows harmful substances to leak through into the bloodstream. (10) Some research found that some schizophrenia patients experienced huge improvements when they stopped eating gluten. The only way to know for sure is to check your labels religiously. Less than one percent of the world’s population suffers from celiac disease, which is a life-threatening allergy to gluten.However, most people only think of the dangers of gluten or wheat in relation to gut health issues and other common symptoms associated with “gluten … A lot of gluten-free versions are heavily processed and still junk foods. Do you struggle with bloating, gas, constipation, or other digestive issues? (7). border: 1px solid #e5e597; Many have changed their strategies to meet the demand. Seriously, you're the best. Leave a comment below and share your experience. Gluten is made up of two proteins: gliadin and glutenin. One of his favorite topics is challenging long-held nutrition myths. Click here to get your FREE copy of our Digestion Guide! Your family, friends, and coworkers are talking about it. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder whereby your immune system attacks the small intestine whenever you consume gluten. If you liked that article, you'll absolutely LOVE our daily newsletter -- with more recipes, workouts, and tips and tricks to be the healthiest version of yourself. The only way to know for sure is to eliminate it from your diet for at least a month, reintroduce it gradually, and pay attention to the effects. (3) This means gluten can affect your brain just as well as it can affect your joints or digestive tract. (11) A gluten-free diet could be key in resolving long-term symptoms. Gluten intolerance (or gluten sensitivity), another disorder where you react badly to gluten, is much more common than celiac disease. Unfortunately, a lot of people are getting fooled at the grocery store. The number of people with gluten intolerance will probably keep increasing as wheat’s nutritional profile is changed. Perfectly Crispy Cauliflower Waffles with Zero Gluten, How To Save Money Going Gluten-Free - Jennifer Fugo, How to Make Perfect Gluten Free Pita Bread, The 12 Best Low Carb Vegetables and Their Benefits, The 7 Best Natural Substitutes for White Sugar, The Easy Guide to Baking with Gluten-Free Flours, Baked goods (cakes, cookies, donuts, muffins, pretzels). (17) However, it’s estimated that 83 percent of celiac disease sufferers either haven’t been diagnosed or have been misdiagnosed with other conditions. Focus on the basics. Like us on Facebook for delicious recipes and a lot more! .postLeadbox{background: #ffffa0; Your brain can suffer just like your body can. What’s going on here? Quality animal protein and fruits and vegetables were enough for our ancestors to thrive on. They’re on to something deeper. Without an official diagnosis, they think the dangers of gluten just don’t apply to them.