ELEVEN Reasons why I don't eat gluten-containing products...
[1] It interacts with a gut protein called Zonulin which increases the permeability of our intestinal wall - this wall is THE barrier between the inside and outside of our bodies. Many molecules not yet completely broken down can then come in.
As a result of permeability, linked to:
- IBS, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis
- Systemic inflammation and auto-immunity, even psychoses from neurological auto-inflammation
(these conditions are at pandemic proportions, gotta be coming from somewhere right?)
[2] Compared to other whole foods it ranks lower in nutrient density - when I drop the gluten I’m forced to get these calories from other more dense sources.
[3] It cannot be eaten in its natural form, it has to be processed through a number of steps, into bread or pasta mostly - at least rice just needs to be cooked slightly to soften it.
[4] Gluten-containing grains have typically been the largest commercial crops - the epitome of factory farming. From high levels of chemical fertiliser and pesticide to soil degradation and environmental damage. Local is lekker.
[5] Grains were popularized through the food pyramid, which was promoted by the people that profit from these large crops (USDA). Conflict of interests.
[7] The reported benefits compared to other whole foods just are not convincing enough for me. A few vitamins and minerals (all plants have these) and fibre (much richer sources of fibre out there).
[8] If I’m strict with this one nutrient, the quality of my entire diet improves significantly - so many products pretending to be real food contain it.
[9] Inflammation is an accumulative insult, just because I'm fine at 30 doesn't mean I'll be fine at 50 - I don't want to wait to find out I've done irreversible damage.
[10] Any food we land up consuming on most days needs to earn its spot properly, gluten grains just don't IMO.
[11] I get gas and bloatedness, and my energy drops, when I eat gluten-containing products, doesn’t feel as light and as comfortable as when I don’t.
The first pillar of Functional Medicine: Biological Individuality, what's good for me is not necessarily what's good for you. Only you can know, through trial and error, lots of self-awareness, and self honesty, know what is best for your body.
If this interests you, please let me know - I will do a more formalised and referenced version of this soon.
