Wheat Intolerance

I want to have a look at a food intolerance that affects a large portion of society. There are three main culprits - 

• Gluten
• Wheat Germ Aggultinin (WGA)
• Opioid Peptides found in wheat

Gluten is a compound protein that composes about 80% of the protein found in wheat, barley and rye and WGA is a lectin found in wheat that can be particularly damaging. Opioid peptides are psychoactive chemicals and those found in wheat are similar to those found in other well known psychoactive drugs like opium or morphine.

Contrary to what is believed by many, wheat is not to be avoided only by those who suffer Celiac disease, the autoimmune disease caused by a reaction of the immune system against gliadin, a gluten protein. Those with Celiac disease only react more strongly to wheat and gluten than those without the disease, but most people have a reaction in some way or another to wheat consumption.

Gluten

• Gluten causes gut inflammation in at least 80% of the population and another 30% of the population develops antibodies against gluten proteins in the gut. Furthermore, 99% of the population has the genetic potential to develop antibodies against gluten. 
• Since gliadin, the main problem causing gluten protein, can be similar in structure to other proteins found in tissues of such organs as the thyroid or the pancreas, antibodies against gliadin can end up attacking those organs and ultimately cause autoimmune diseases like hypothyroidism and type 1 diabetes.
• Gluten’s inflammatory effect in the gut causes causes oxidation of intestinal cells which can lead them to die prematurely.  This effect creates a leaky gut which allows bacterial proteins and other toxic compounds to enter in the blood stream, leading to autoimmune attacks on the body. A leaky gut also means that food is not digested properly and nutrients are not absorbed fully, which can lead to nutrient deficiencies.
• Antibodies against gluten have also been shown to attack heart tissues and cause heart disease.
• Gluten has been strongly associated with cancer. It is potentially cancer causing, but at least cancer promoting.

WGA

• WGA, like gluten, irritates and causes premature cell death in the gut and leads to a leaky gut condition.
• WGA also disrupts the mucus membrane in the gut, which can cause bacterial overgrowth and lead to a host of digestive issues like GERD and ulcers.
• The lectin also often ends up circulating in the body and in the brain, where it can cause leptin resistance and cause effects similar to insulin. Those two factors could be a cause or promoter of obesity as leptin and insulin are the two most important hormones to properly regulate in order to maintain a normal weight and energy balance.
• WGA and another unknown factor in wheat cause vitamin D stores to deplete faster and can therefore lead to vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency can result in weakening of the bones, a weakened immune system and a vulnerability to infectious diseases and bacterial attacks.

Opioid Peptides

• The opioid peptides found in wheat are known to cause addiction to wheat in some people and withdrawal symptoms can happen upon the removal of wheat from the die.
• They have also been associated with Schizophrenia as a possible cause or at least as a promoter of the disease. Furthermore, Schizophrenics often see their symptoms reduce by a lot when removing wheat from their diet.

Even though most people can indulge in less healthy choices from time to time without negative consequences, wheat and other gluten containing grains should ultimately be completely avoided as is is done so when following a Paleotic diet. This is especially for those who suffer any kind of autoimmune disease or inflammatory condition.

I know personally that having cut it out of diet (due to being Ceoliac) I felt a thousand times better immediately and reduced my instances of colds and flus. While my elimination of any gluten from my diet was a medical necessity, limiting your gluten, WGA and opioid peptides may benefit your life in multiple areas. Including clearer skin, more energy and less illnesses. 

"Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" Dr Seuss

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With thanks to the Paleo Diet Lifestyle for their article found here. 

Feel free to ask any questions you have but please remember while I am a qualified personal trainer I am not a nutritionist. This is just my food intake based on what I have learnt from my own training, what works for my body and from various personal trainers I have work with. Any recommendations made are basic recognised recommendations for optimal health.