Gluten Sensitivity
There’s more to treating a gluten sensitivity than may initially meet the eye. At PrimeLife, we’ll help you look beyond notifications on food packaging and formulate an effective meal plan that is free of any gluten products.
What is Gluten?
While it is easy to dismiss gluten allergies as a new-age fad, there is actually significant science behind it that demonstrates the serious implications of gluten consumption on one’s health.
Gluten is a protein molecule that can be found in wheat, barley, rye, and the grains. Most breads you come across will likely have gluten in them. Consequently, most nuts, seeds, meats, eggs, dairy, fruit, and vegetables are gluten-free.
To be classified as “gluten-free,” a food must contain less than 30 parts per million of gluten. However, those who suffer from a strong allergy or Celiac’s disease (an autoimmune condition) have been known to develop reactions caused by foods with gluten levels as low as 3 parts per million.
More than 18 million Americans are currently suffering from some form of gluten sensitivity which has been linked in recent years to serious GI conditions such as Leaky Gut since gluten has been found to negatively impact the lining of the gut, even in those who do not have celiac disease.
Unfortunately, most conventionally trained GI doctors do not administer the correct testing for gluten sensitivity because it is not part of their training. This is why so many suffering from GI-gluten related issues are simply told that “they are fine” after receiving endoscopies that do not test for food sensitivities or for causes of serious inflammation.
Beyond a general gluten sensitivities that some individuals have, conventionally raised glutenous grains are an issues for everyone because they can cause havoc on your digestive system. Almost of these crops (and most non-organic crops in general) are sprayed with a dangerous herbicide called Roundup. This contains glyphosate which is very harmful when ingested. High levels of glyphosate in your diet are linked to a number of disorders and illness including leaky gut and cancer. If you must eat gluten consider organic options to avoid glyphosate.
Our team at Melanie Spencer approaches gluten sensitivity in a unique manner that differentiates ourselves from most conventional practices. While there are special blood tests and other GI testing that go further than the standard tests (analyzing a larger number of gluten peptides), we first help our patients determine if excluding gluten from their diet is a necessity.
Our approach oftentimes involves an elimination diet supported by targeted supplementation. We can also determine if gluten is one of the factors in cases symptoms and how your diet overall plays a role in your inflammation markers or other GI issues. While gluten issues frequently manifest in the GI tract, it’s important to note the commonly overlooked neurological effects of gluten such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and brain fog.
Over the course of several weeks, we will help our patients reintroduce certain foods… carefully monitoring for adverse reactions. If gluten is no longer an option, we provide patients with delicious gluten-free options to make a more seamless transition to a gluten-free diet.
Whether your digestive or neurological symptoms are caused by gluten, be sure to schedule a free discovery call to explore whether partnering with our team at Melanie Spencer is the right step!
