Gluten, a protein composite, is a vital element found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye. However is gluten bad for you?  For many individuals in the United States, a gluten intolerance is a common term.  Comprising gliadin and glutenin, gluten provides elasticity to dough, enabling it to stretch and rise during baking. Gliadin contributes to extensibility, allowing the dough to stretch without breaking, while glutenin provides elasticity, forming a matrix that captures gases produced during fermentation. This gas-trapping process gives bread its characteristic texture. Despite its essential role in baking, gluten poses health challenges for individuals with conditions such as celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. In these cases, the immune system or other mechanisms can react negatively to gluten ingestion, leading to symptoms and potential health issues, necessitating a strict gluten-free diet for affected individuals.  Please note while Celiac disease may be a condition for some with a gluten intolerance, many users do NOT have celiac disease.  We recommend reaching out to a functional medicine doctor for gluten sensitivity testing or to learn more about our whole body approach to health.  Educate yourself on gluten, gluten intolerances and functional medicine today!

Why May Gluten Be Bad For You

Is gluten bad for you? The truthful answer is that maybe it is and maybe it isn’t. At Naperville Integrated Wellness, we have been working with gluten intolerance issues for over 15 years. Let’s break this down and take a closer look at what gluten really is and how it might cause health problems for you or your loved ones. What is gluten? Gluten is a protein found in certain grains; the most common grains that contain gluten are wheat, barley and rye. This is the traditional explanation for gluten. It should however be noted here that most grains (not just those listed above) contain protein that are very similar to “gluten.” For this reason, “gluten-free” grains might also cause health

Which foods contain gluten? 

Many foods naturally contain gluten due to their composition of grains such as wheat, barley, and rye. Traditional staples like bread, pasta, cereal, and crackers are obvious sources of gluten. Beverages like beer and certain spirits distilled from gluten-containing grains can also pose challenges for individuals seeking to avoid gluten. Additionally, popular items like pizza, pancakes, and waffles are typically made with gluten-containing flours.

Gluten Appears In Unlikely Places

However, gluten can also hide in less conspicuous places, making it important for individuals with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease to scrutinize ingredient lists. Foods like soups, sauces, and salad dressings may use gluten-containing thickeners or additives. Lunch meats and sausages can be processed with ingredients that contain gluten. Even seemingly innocent products like seasoning packets, candies, and certain processed snacks may include gluten or be subject to cross-contamination during manufacturing.

Focus On Being Gluten-Free

To navigate this complex landscape, many people turn to online resources that offer comprehensive lists of gluten sources and guidance on gluten-free living. These resources often provide detailed information about safe and unsafe ingredients, gluten-free alternatives, and tips for avoiding cross-contamination. It’s crucial for individuals with gluten-related disorders to educate themselves about the intricacies of gluten in various foods and to stay vigilant about checking labels to maintain a gluten-free diet. Understanding the nuances of gluten in food preparation and being aware of hidden sources can significantly contribute to the success of a gluten-free lifestyle.

How does gluten cause health problems?

Gluten itself does not cause health problems. I know this statement might be contrary to what you have read about gluten, but it’s the truth. Gluten is only a problem for people if it triggers an immune system response. Remember when I told you that gluten is a protein? Proteins are very common triggers for the body’s immune system; if gluten initiates an immune system response in your body, it can cause health problems. So really, gluten is not the problem; it’s how your immune system responds to gluten. The immune system causes the health issues including but not limited to pain, inflammation, swelling, tissue damage, depression, weight-gain, migraines, insomnia, anxiety, thyroid disorders and autoimmune diseases. In our next blog series we will discuss this in greater detail.

How can I find out if I have a gluten intolerance?

If you want to know for sure if you have a gluten problem, then blood tests should be performed. You must however have the RIGHT TESTS performed by a doctor who UNDERSTANDS gluten intolerance and takes a functional medicine approach to diagnosis and treatment. The most common test for gluten intolerance is a celiac disease test and odds are, your doctor won’t run this test unless you have severe digestion problems and weight loss! Most people with gluten intolerance DO NOT have celiac disease and so the tests results come back “negative” and their doctor will tell them that gluten is not problem. This is a tremendous disservice to the patient because now they believe gluten is not a problem for them and they dismiss it as a possible cause for their health issues. This patient will never get well because the only true solution to their health problem has now been “proven” to be false. If you are gluten intolerant, the ONLY solution is to avoid gluten and possibly other foods that have proteins similar to gluten. At our office, we run a very comprehensive blood test for gluten intolerance that not only includes the tests for celiac disease but many other gluten intolerance tests. We offer a single blood test will test over 20 different ways gluten may be triggering an immune system response in your body.

Celiac Disease Blood Test

A celiac disease blood test involves a simple blood sample, typically drawn from a vein in the arm. The primary antibodies tested for celiac disease are anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-tTG) and anti-endomysial antibodies (EMA). Elevated levels of these antibodies may indicate an immune response to gluten. Results are usually available within a week, and if the antibody levels are elevated, it suggests a potential risk of celiac disease. However, a positive blood test alone is not a definitive diagnosis. Additional evaluations, such as an intestinal biopsy, are often recommended to confirm celiac disease and assess the extent of any intestinal damage. It’s crucial to maintain a regular diet that includes gluten-containing foods before the blood test to ensure accurate results, as a gluten-free diet may affect the reliability of the test. Consulting with a healthcare provider is key for proper interpretation of results and further guidance on the diagnostic process.

Gluten Sensitivity Test

Diagnosing gluten intolerance, or non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), lacks a definitive test, making the process more complex. Initially, a medical evaluation involves discussing symptoms with a functional medicine doctor to rule out other conditions with similar manifestations, such as celiac disease or wheat allergy. If gluten sensitivity is suspected, an elimination diet, removing gluten-containing foods for several weeks, may be employed. Monitoring symptoms during this period and reintroducing gluten can help assess if there is a correlation between gluten consumption and symptoms. Additionally, a healthcare provider may conduct a double-blind, placebo-controlled challenge to determine if symptoms are specifically triggered by gluten. Keeping a detailed symptom diary aids in providing valuable information for the diagnostic process. It’s crucial to seek professional guidance to navigate the complexities of gluten sensitivity testing and avoid self-diagnosis or self-treatment, which may hinder accurate evaluation.

Great Foods To Eat To Replace Gluten

The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness estimates that 18 million Americans have non-celiac gluten sensitivity. This means 18 million people are suffering from the effects of gluten and they do not have celiac disease. Identifying gluten intolerance in yourself and your family can have a huge impact on your health and wellbeing. If you are suffering from a gluten intolerance and need answers, reach out for a gluten sensitivity test today.  Functional medicine looks to the root of the problem of any condition.  With our functional medicine testing, we will look to understand the source of the issue.  A gluten sensitivity is no different!  For more information about functional medicine and our clinic go to napervilleintegratedwellness.com