CBS: Modern wheat a "perfect, chronic poison," doctor says

[The Evil Genius]

Of course, people will claim it's a fad (like they claim nut allergies are).

Here's the thing - it's finally being properly diagnosed. I can't tell you how many years I've been told I had irritable bowel syndrome and gout. I eliminate all wheat (gluten) from my diet and 2-3 weeks later all the symptoms are gone.

Coincidence?

[Sticksboi05]

Yeah maybe. But take it from someone who knows what eliminating wheat (and not the other grains listed) has done for them.

BTW - it's not the grain - but the protein in it that's the problem with wheat. What's being modified in the gluten. Something (gluten) that doesn't exist in millet, quinoa, rice, etc...

Every single person's body is different. That's the problem whenever a study comes out. So what works for you may not work for anyone else or it may work for some or a lot etc. That said, genetically altering plants obviously will produce negative effects at some point. So, not surprised.

[pointyfootball]

Ridiculously small sample, but the only person I know who went to a gluten-free diet is also one of the most unhealthy people I know. He/She is always researching "5 Super Foods" or "These Foods Will Kill You" type articles/books. That being said, celiacs (?) definitely benefit from a wheat-free diet.

[pointyfootball]

Of course, people will claim it's a fad (like they claim nut allergies are).

Here's the thing - it's finally being properly diagnosed. I can't tell you how many years I've been told I had irritable bowel syndrome and gout. I eliminate all wheat (gluten) from my diet and 2-3 weeks later all the symptoms are gone.

Coincidence?

It's psychological.

Just kidding. There are definitely people, like you (and celiacs), that significantly benefit from a gluten-free diet. However, the craze encompasses many that are unnecessarily following gluten-free just because it is the latest fad, IMO.

[PeterMP]

So, you think this guy is sort of full of it?

Well, I KNOW gliadins are old proteins. At least old enough to be in your grandmothers and even great great grand mothers wheat.

I don't know of any evidence that they bind to opiate receptors or that they survive the digestive system and make it accross the brain blood barier to affect opiate receptors in the brain.

---------- Post added November-26th-2012 at 02:27 PM ----------

Of course, people will claim it's a fad (like they claim nut allergies are).

Here's the thing - it's finally being properly diagnosed. I can't tell you how many years I've been told I had irritable bowel syndrome and gout. I eliminate all wheat (gluten) from my diet and 2-3 weeks later all the symptoms are gone.

Coincidence?

Who claims nut allergies are fad? People DIE from nut allergies.

There are people out there that glueten intolerant. My daughter has two different friends that don't eat any gluten.

That isn't a fad, but just like nut allergies that doesn't mean it affects everybody.

Celiac's disease was first recognized in the early 1900's and first tied to gluten in the 1960's according to wiki.

Celiac is tied to diabetes, which is then tied to gout. If you've been complaining of gout and abdoninal/intenstial problems for years to doctors, and they didn't put it together for you, you haven't been going to very good doctors.

[The Evil Genius]

Who claims nut allergies are fad?

There are people out there that glueten intolerant. My daughter has two different friends that don't eat any gluten.

That isn't a fad, but just like nut allergies that doesn't mean it affects everybody.

Oh I agree and I would never wish a gluten free diet on anyone who didn't need it. That said, I recognize that my intolerance is probably caused by wheat being produced nowadays that is extra-gluteny (yeah I know, not a word).

As for the nut allergies comment - it was hyperbole on my part - but I too thought for a long time that the explosion in allergies in the last 20 years was a fad. I'm on the other side of that "fad" now.



---------- Post added November-26th-2012 at 11:39 AM ----------

There are people out there that glueten intolerant. My daughter has two different friends that don't eat any gluten.

That isn't a fad, but just like nut allergies that doesn't mean it affects everybody.

Celiac's disease was first recognized in the early 1900's and first tied to gluten in the 1960's according to wiki.

Celiac is tied to diabetes, which is then tied to gout. If you've been complaining of gout and abdoninal/intenstial problems for years to doctors, and they didn't put it together for you, you haven't been going to very good doctors.

I'm not sure that I would go that far although I do think that IBS is the cop-out when doctors either don't care, don't have the time, or lack the resources to figure it out. I do recognize though that the gamut of blood and biopsy tests for me show no celiacs or other auto-immune diseases. Nor do I ever get a 100% positive allergy result for wheat.

That said, I positively know that through the elimination of wheat from my diet my stomach problems and gout have disappeared.

[PeterMP]

Oh I agree and I would never wish a gluten free diet on anyone who didn't need it. That said, I recognize that my intolerance is probably caused by wheat being produced nowadays that is extra-gluteny (yeah I know, not a word).

As for the nut allergies comment - it was hyperbole on my part - but I too thought for a long time that the explosion in allergies in the last 20 years was a fad. I'm on the other side of that "fad" now.



---------- Post added November-26th-2012 at 11:39 AM ----------



I'm not sure that I would go that far although I do think that IBS is the cop-out when doctors either don't care, don't have the time, or lack the resources to figure it out. I do recognize though that the gamut of blood and biopsy tests for me show no celiacs or other auto-immune diseases. Nor do I ever get a 100% positive allergy result for wheat.

That said, I positively know that through the elimination of wheat from my diet my stomach problems and gout have disappeared.

I probably went over board. I don't really know that much about things on that level.

You do seem to have a combination of related symptoms that suggesting a gluten issue would have been reasonable.

But clearly, I don't know your medical history and what tests you've had done. I also don't know the range of things from celiacs vs. just wheat allergies.

I apologize.

[The Evil Genius]

I probably went over board. I don't really know that much about things on that level.

You do seem to have a combination of related symptoms that suggesting a gluten issue would have been reasonable.

But clearly, I don't know your medical history and what tests you've had done. I also don't know the range of things from celiacs vs. just wheat allergies.

I apologize.

No need as nothing you said was offensive.


Now..if people knew the amount of things (almost everything frozen that's quick to eat and/or delicious) that contain wheat in one form or another - and then they tried to eliminate it - they would see why this "fad" as some are labeling it isn't as easy and/or great as they think.

Hell, even simple stuff like most over the counter soy sauces contain wheat flour as an ingredient.

I pity my wife when we grocery shop because I have to read every damn label when we buy stuff for us.

[SnyderShrugged]

I've heard that Gluten allergies are commonly reversed over a long period of avoiding gluten. Is this true? I mainly ask because I've so tired of preparing "special" meals for my strange sister every time our family gets together.

[Special K]

While there is still scientific debate about the merits of these types of theories, my experience in public health and nutrition has led me to fully believe these claims.

This past couple years I've seen more and more evidence as to how crucial proper nutrition is for optimal health. I've worked on switching over to organic fruits and vegetables and buying local produce (reason being fruit grown locally has less distance to travel to get to the supermarket, therefore, these batches of produce have less chemical proliferation via chemical preservatives).

Crops grown these days are genetically altered to 1) keep costs down 2) increase production therefore increasing profits. Corn and wheat crops are the worst as far as genetic engineering go, so I try my best to stay completely away from corn and minimize my wheat intake.

Before I turned vegetarian, I only bought organic poultry and meat as well, due to the hormones pumped into the livestock.

One very interesting documentary I encourage people to watch is "Forks Over Knives." It interviews some of the top cardiologists in the country, including the physician who invented the CABG procedure, and the evidence is pretty overwhelming that having a plant-based diet is the best for cardiovascular health and greatly decreases risk of developing other chronic diseases. When I had my sister and her boyfriend (who's a cardiologist) watch the documentary, they decided they were switching almost exclusively to a vegetarian diet.

I'm not saying everyone should switch to real food/plant food based diet, that's just the decision I made for myself after a lot of research and testimonies I've heard from various cardiologists and public health physicians. I would, however, encourage watching the "forks over knives" documentary, it's very enlightening.

Damn, whole grains are supposed to be good for you, I thought. I eat a lot of wheat products to get fiber.

How do you get fiber without eating whole grains?

You can get fiber through a lot of other "real food" avenues. Fruits and vegetables provide decent fiber, as do all kinds of beans.

---------- Post added November-26th-2012 at 01:27 PM ----------

Coincidence?

Nah, it's a conspiracy

jk

By what you described, it's pretty reasonable to think you have a wheat/gluten sensitivity. Everyone has unique nutritional needs, so it probably shouldn't be applied across the board...but I'm very happy to hear you seem to have found a solution to your digestive issues.

[The Evil Genius]

I've heard that Gluten allergies are commonly reversed over a long period of avoiding gluten. Is this true? I mainly ask because I've so tired of preparing "special" meals for my strange sister every time our family gets together.

Reversed isn't really the proper word. The inflammation of the small intestine that gluten causes in some people might be lessened if they avoid gluten for long periods of time. However, I suspect the immediate introduction of gluten into a diet that hasn't had any for quite awhile might not be the best thing.

[MattFancy]

Until next week when a study concludes that brown rice, quinoa, and millet are poison just like everything else is.

Pretty sure I read something not long ago that there were traces of arsenic in rice. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/Cons.../ucm319827.htm

So yeah, just don't eat or drink anything but water

[renaissance]

If you've been complaining of gout and abdoninal/intenstial problems for years to doctors, and they didn't put it together for you, you haven't been going to very good doctors.

I don't think this is necessarily true. The two people I personally know with celiac's, both suffered for years before any doctor was able to identify their issue.From what they tell me, this was a common issue until more recently, when there is more awareness about the disease.

[Botched]

Pretty sure I read something not long ago that there were traces of arsenic in rice. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/Cons.../ucm319827.htm

So yeah, just don't eat or drink anything but water

Just make sure not to drink tap water, and definitely make sure not to drink water from a plastic or metal container. Ridiculous amounts of contaminants in those.

As far as food, I'm switching to a diet of organic vitamin-fortified oxygen breathed in through a HEPA filter.

[PeterMP]

I don't think this is necessarily true. The two people I personally know with celiac's, both suffered for years before any doctor was able to identify their issue.From what they tell me, this was a common issue until more recently, when there is more awareness about the disease.

How old are they?

If they have full blown celiac's disease, and they weren't diagnosed, then that is being a poor doctor.

The general symptoms, "treatment" (in terms of avoiding gluten), and a biopsy diagnosis for celiac has been around for at least 25 years.

If your doctor can only diagnose "common" issues, then you don't have a very good doctor IMO.

I backed off my previous statement because of things like the possibility of having a difficult or un-detectable allergy (an inconsistent test on an allergy test) or some non-allergy, but very uncommon and therefore undescribed disease.

If I knew somebody was a doctor and even fifteen years ago, they failed to diagnose full blown celiac's disease in a patient over a period of time, I wouldn't go to that doctor.

At a certain point in time, a failure to properly diagnose is a failure as a doctor.