Diet-induced Changes in the Gut Micro-biome

Diet-Induced Dysbiosis of the Intestinal Microbiota and the Effects on Immunity and Disease

Read full article HERE

Kirsty Brown  †, Daniella DeCoffe  †, Erin Molcan and Deanna L. Gibson  *

Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada;

Abstract

The gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota is the collection of microbes which reside in the GI tract and represents the largest source of non-self antigens in the human body. The GI tract functions as a major immunological organ as it must maintain tolerance to commensal and dietary antigens while remaining responsive to pathogenic stimuli. If this balance is disrupted, inappropriate inflammatory processes can result, leading to host cell damage and/or autoimmunity. Evidence suggests that the composition of the intestinal microbiota can influence susceptibility to chronic disease of the intestinal tract including ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as more systemic diseases such as obesity, type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Interestingly, a considerable shift in diet has coincided with increased incidence of many of these inflammatory diseases. It was originally believed that the composition of the intestinal microbiota was relatively stable from early childhood; however, recent evidence suggests that diet can cause dysbiosis, an alteration in the composition of the microbiota, which could lead to aberrant immune responses. The role of the microbiota and the potential for diet-induced dysbiosis in inflammatory conditions of the GI tract and systemic diseases will be discussed.

Microbial changes in the GI tract have profound effects on host inflammatory and metabolic responses. For example, protein-rich diets increase the activity of bacterial enzymes such as β-glucuronidase, azoreductase and nitroreductase, which produce toxic metabolites that trigger inflammatory responses. Because of the intricate balance that exists within the microbiota, alterations in one group or species may not only affect the host directly, but can also disrupt the entire microbial community. For example, members from the phyla Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobium and Bacteroidetes can degrade complex carbohydrates not absorbed by the host and can also inhibit the growth of opportunistic pathogens such as Clostridium spp. and members of Enterobacteriaceae like E. coli . Dysbiosis can also alter the metabolic activity of other members of the microbiota in the gut. Thus, it is conceivable that some diets promote the growth of microbes that could have detrimental effects on their host while other dietary factors could promote beneficial microbes. It is unknown whether diet-induced dysbiosis is a transient or long-term event. If dysbiosis is a long-term event, then postnatal nutrition could be used to promote changes in the microbiota early in life during the development of a more stable microbiota. In support of this, consumption of formula supplemented with fish oil has the capacity to alter the microbial composition in the infant; however, it is unknown if these microbial changes would be long lasting or transient. Although this study did not identify the specific microbes that changed, nor did it examine the effect on intestinal immunity, it does suggest that the microbiota could be modified through dietary factors to enrich beneficial microbes and prevent diseases associated with dysbiosis.

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5 Tips to Safely Celebrate When You Have Food Allergies

Gathering with family is an important part of the holidays for most of us. If you suffer from food allergies or eat a restricted diet due to a health conditions, it can be especially tricky to navigate. I'm putting together a short list of tips and tricks to get through it safely and make sure you still have a wonderful family get-together!

Here's my top tips for celebrating with family if you have some dietary restrictions.

1. Talk to the host prior to the event - Ask ahead of time what is on the menu and if the host would like you to bring something. If possible you might ask them to prepare the main course in a way that fits your dietary needs. You should also figure out if there will be enough dishes that you can eat to fill you or if you will need to bring your own food. By all means, do offer to bring a dish or two that you know you can eat and then share the love with everyone! I'm always tickled if family raves over my grain-free paleo-style dishes.
2. Know what it's swimming in - I've found that most of the common food allergens come in the sauces, dressings or marinades. These culprits frequently contain gluten, dairy, egg, soy, or sugar. You may ask the host to hold aside a portion of undressed salad or fix your piece of chicken or fish with no marinade or sauce. I usually ask for olive oil, salt and garlic ...It's delicious every time and I know I'm not getting any hidden gluten or dairy in the sauce.
3. Send a package ahead of you - if you're traveling to an area where there is no Whole Foods or natural grocery nearby to accessorize your diet, you can often ship ahead a small box of essentials. You can either pack them yourself or you can use a service, like Amazon or Vitacost and have them ship the necessary items. I frequently do this with non-perishables, like coconut milk, sunflower nut butter, chia seed, and high quality coconut or olive oils. Plus you can leave any of the gourmet leftover items with your host to enjoy! Better yet, order enough to get free shipping and include a hostess gift of some special gourmet food item that he/she cannot purchase locally. Organic dark chocolate or specialty cooking oils are a wonderful gift idea!
4. Don't go hungry - When we are hungry our brains may bypass the filter of what we know to be a better choice. We'll often we end up eating too much and pick foods that we'd normally avoid. This is why I vow never take my husband grocery shopping on an empty stomach... you just never know what will make it's way into your shopping cart! ;-) Eat a small protein snack prior to heading out, like nuts/seeds, guacamole or jerky. If you know there will not be any safe options, it's ok to eat your entire meal before you go and just enjoy the company and not the food.
5. BYOBF (Bring your own back-up food) - whether traveling by plane or car or just driving across town for a holiday get-together, you can never go wrong by having a few nonperishable snacks or options with you. You never know when you'll get stranded in the car or in the airport for longer than expected. I carry things like packets of sunflower nut butter, coconut butter and shredded coconut, a piece of fruit, dried organic beef or bison jerky, Alter Eco 85% dark chocolate bar, and/or packets or tins of wild salmon or sardines. I can't tell you how many times I've been stranded somewhere longer than anticipated and hungry and so thankful for my little stash! As the true saying goes, "Fail to plan and plan to fail..."

Wishing you a most delightful and delicious holiday season making many memories with your loved ones!

Dr. Jill's Top Ten Travel Tips

Dr. Jill’s Top Ten Travel Tips

Do you struggle with staying healthy when you travel?  From lack of healthy food options in the airport to being seated right next to the one person who is coughing in your face, there are many perils to your health.  If you are like me, you want to be able to travel as needed but remain in optimal health when you do.  That’s why I’m putting together a list for you of my Top Ten Travel Tips!  I’m a planner and the number one thing you can do is think ahead and take these few steps to make your trip a success!

Before you leave, your best bet is maintaining a baseline of adequate sleep and a strong immune system, nourished by minimal processed foods and sugars, and stress management.  If your immune system is suppressed before you take off by long-work days, poor sleep and junk food, you are setting yourself up for picking up a bug when you leave. 

1. Plan

Before you leave check out various options for hotels or rentals where you will be staying.  If you are staying in a hotel, request a small fridge and/or microwave in your room so that you can bring or prepare some of your own healthy meals.  Most hotels will accommodate you for medical necessity if you have gluten-intolerance or other food allergies.  Check to see where the nearest Whole Foods or natural grocery store is located.  Many will offer deliver service right to your hotel.  If you are staying for a week or more renting a condo or room with kitchenette is the best option purchasing and preparing healthy unprocessed meals.  You can also use online retailers like Vitacost.com and ship items directly to your hotel before you arrive.  For longer trips where there is no access to a healthy grocery, I frequently have coconut milk or other healthy non-perishable food items shipped directly to the hotel where I’ll be staying.

2. Pack food

They say, “Fail to plan and plan to fail”, for a reason, right?  Before traveling, pack items, like packets of nut butter, shredded coconut, nut and seed mixes, dried jerky, or packets of wild salmon and sardines in your carry-on.  Don’t count on the airport to have the healthy foods you need.  If you’re like me a plastic container of wilted iceberg lettuce and half-rotten cherry tomatoes just doesn’t hold any appeal.  Planning ahead and making sure you have food with you is especially important if you have celiac disease or severe food allergies.  There are very few airports restaurants that cater to those of us who demand whole organic unprocessed options.  Even if you find a sit-down restaurant or grill, they are likely serving you farm-raised chicken or salmon and not the pastured or wild-caught varieties. 

I frequently take some frozen, premade meals, like baked organic chicken, red peppers, broccoli, chives, garlic, ginger, basil and sea salt, drizzled with organic olive oil.  You can freeze them, like I do, in recycled jars.  They pack very nicely in your checked luggage with an ice pack will remain frozen or cold until you arrive at your destination to put them in the fridge.  Once there you can heat them up anytime for an instant healthy, home cooked organic meal.

Another trick I use is packing pre-made instant smoothies in a baggies.  I use the small ziplock bags and prepare my morning recipe of 1.5 scoops Thorne Vegalite protein powder, 1 scoop of L-glutamine powder, 1 scoop of Amino Complex, 1-2 teaspoons of organic cinnamon powder, 1 tablespoon of Upgraded Collagen powder,  and ¼ teaspoon of Klaire Labs Ther-biotic Complete probiotic powder.  If I’m traveling for more than three days, I’ll pack my trusty NutraBullet for delicious morning smoothies in my hotel room.  If it’s a short trip, I’ll use my Blender bottle and shake it up with ice, water and coconut milk for breakfast.

(If you want to purchase my smoothie recipe items from Thorne, here’s how…)

3. Sleep

It’s essential to make sure you get 7-8 hours the night before you travel.  I specifically avoid scheduling my flights prior to 10am so that I can get adequate sleep the night before and have my morning routine before a big trip.  While you are gone make every effort to maintain good sleep hygiene and get 7-8 hours per night.  If you must have a sleepless night, take a quick nap to catch up.  If you are traveling overseas or crossing time zones, try melatonin 3-6mg one an hour before planned bedtime beginning one day prior to leaving and continue for one to two weeks after you return home.  Melatonin is excellent remedy to help you adjust your circadian rhythms for the new time zone.

Still not sleeping?  Check out my 12 Tips for Banishing Insomnia here!

4. Wi-fi

Many people are very sensitive to wi-fi in the environment.  If you live in a condo complex or apartment, you may notice the effects from the many other wi-fi signals around you.  At home, be sure to put your phones and iPads on airplane mode at night if they lie on your bedside table.  If you are in a plane with wi-fi, as most have nowadays, then you captive in a long metal tube which large wi-fi exposure as you fly.  Hydrating at a cellular level can keep you from feeling symptoms, like fatigue, headache or brain fog from this exposure. 

I recommend drinking 1 liter of filtered water prior to boarding and 1 liter for every hour you are on the plane (you might want an aisle seat because you will be using the restroom J)  Drink another liter once you land.  I also recommend taking Coenzyme Q10 200-400mg prior boarding the plane.  In addition, the plane is grounded but you are not unless you are touching the metal of the frame.  Try taking off your socks and shoes and putting your bare foot on the metal seat base in front of you during the flight.  This way you are grounded along with the plane as you are flying.  It’s pretty simple with potentially profound benefit… just make sure you are wearing clean socks or you might just have one unhappy neighbor!

5. Coffee

Yes, coffee!  If you read my blog, you know I'm a fan.  Click here to read my article on  Bulletproof™coffee and my specific coffee travel tips (hint, buy these Upgraded coffee cartridges).  I recommend avoiding caffeine during the flight itself so that you are not  dehydrated.  Once you land, you can drink a cup of you prefer.   Avoid instant coffees as they are more likely to cross-react to gluten for those of you who are gluten-intolerant.  They are also more processed and more likely to contain pesticides and mold toxins.

6. Exercise

Just because you are on vacation doesn’t mean you are excused from moving your body! Start your day with yoga, take a walk, go for a jog and explore the city or surroundings!  I always pack my running shoes, sunglasses, Garmin watch and workout clothes so that I am ready for any adventure.  Don’t forget your bathing suit if you swim!  Most hotels offer fitness centers and a pool where you can stretch, swim laps, lift weights or use the treadmill.  I find one of the best ways to explore the location I am visiting is to go for an early morning jog and see the nearby sites.  Stop in a local café for a coffee or tea and ask the locals what the best sites to see are.  Usually the hotel concierge will be able to advise you of jogging trails or best paths to take to avoid heavy traffic.    If all else fails, make time to stretch and do sun salutations on a mat in your hotel room… and no need to bring your own.  Hotels, like the Westin will bring a mat, fitness gear, even tennis shoes to your room if you’ve forgotten yours!

7. Hydration

While we can survive days without food, pure clean water is essential and without it we would not survive long.  Purchase several liters of water before you get on the plane and once you debark, be sure to pick up another.  If possible, carry a glass or aluminum re-fillable water bottle to avoid the BPA in plastic bottles.  This will save you money and time and can easily be refilled at any public drinking fountain.  In your hotel room, be sure you have plenty of bottled water on hand so that you are not drinking out of the nasty bathroom faucet.  This can be delivered to your hotel before you arrive if you are staying for a few days.  Most hotels also have a lobby sundry shop where you can purchase water, as well.  Don’t forget to use the filtered water to brew your coffee and tea in your room.  One of my favorite tips for hydration is using electrolytes added to my water.  You can purchase travel electrolyte packets from Emergen C ElectroMix and pour them into your water bottle for extra potassium and magnesium.

8. Vitamins

Perhaps the most powerful immune supporting vitamin is none other than Vitamin D3.  If you feel the onset of a cold or flu bug, you can take high dose Vitamin D3 (25,000-50,000IU daily) for 2 or 3 days to knock out the virus out.  You can also take that dose one time on the day you travel to help your immune system fight anything it might encounter.  Warning:  Do not take this dose of vitamin D3 for longer than 3 days as you may become toxic, since vitamin D is stored in fat tissue.  

Be sure to pack any other supplements that you take regularly.  I recommend getting snack-size Ziploc baggies.  To differentiate your morning and evening pills, get the snack baggies with fun graphics, like moons and stars, so that you can easily differentiate your day from evening pills.  Pack your pills for the number of days you will be gone and put all of these small individual prepared baggies in one large quart-size bag and toss it in your carry-on or checked luggage.  You could use one of the 7-day pill organizers, of course, but if you’re like me that reminds me of granny AND my pills don’t come close to fitting in those tiny boxes J

If you have prescription medications, it is best to keep this in their original bottle with instructions from the pharmacy.  Check airline guidelines for international travel as some countries have restrictions on what you can carry in.  If in doubt, ask your doctor to write a note that you can carry through security that you are allowed to carry food or vitamins due to medical necessity.

9. Travel Remedies

Expect the unexpected is a good motto to have when traveling.  Here’s a list of things you may want to pack in case of illness:

• Boiron Osccillococcinum – I take one vial prior to boarding plane to prevent flu.  You may also take 1 vial up to 3X daily for acute flu symptoms.
• Boiron ColdCalm and Sinusalia – use these tabs for natural symptomatic relief of cold or flu symptoms.  Take 2 tabs every 2-3 hours or until your symptoms are gone. 
• L-Lysine – Take 4-6 grams daily for acute outbreak of stress-related cold sores or 1 gram daily to prevent outbreak.
• Upgraded charcoal tabs – I don’t leave home without these fantastic binders.  Great for exposure to harmful chemicals or if you suspect you might have food poisoning.  Also helpful if you ate something you shouldn’t and experience gas & bloating or diarrhea.  Take 500-1000mg with large glass of water two or three times daily as needed.
• Magnesium Citrate – the dirty secret no one likes to admit is that many people experience constipation when traveling. 
• Vitamin C – Extra vitamin C is helpful to keep your immune system in tip-top shape.  I suggest taking a little extra when you travel.  It also has a nice anti-histamine affect if you experience allergies.
• Hyland’s Motion Sickness tabs or Sea Bands are essential if you suffer from motion sickness during travel.

10. Travel with comforts

Have a favorite pillow?  A soft, snuggly sweatshirt or throw?   How about your favorite relaxation playlist?  Don't forget to pack a few things that make you feel comfortable on the plane or once you arrive to your destination.  My essentials are a travel blanket to roll and put behind my back for lumbar support and my husband always carries an inflatable travel neck support, like this one.  In addition, it’s a good idea to wear layers since airplane temperatures vary and the climate of your destination may vary dramatically from home.  Pack an extra pair of socks, underwear, toothpaste, and other essentials in your carry-on in the slight chance your checked luggage is lost or delayed.  My favorite part of airline travel getting to enjoy a good read, guilt free… so don’t forget to pack your favorite book or download one on your iPad before you go.  Unless you are prepping for a big presentation, relax and let yourself enjoy the flight, work-free and guilt-free!  I like to use the time to prayer or meditate, too. 

With a little planning, even those of us with food restrictions or health issues can have a great time!  Hope you find my top ten tips helpful… and Bon Voyage!

Zonulin & Leaky Gut: A discovery that changed the way we view inflammation, autoimmune disease and cancer!

An amazing discovery a few years ago revolutionized our ability to understand the gut and permeability and how this impacts a wide range of health conditions from cancer to autoimmune disease to inflammation and food sensitivities. 

This little molecule, zonulin, has quite a story...

Zonulin is the "doorway" to leaky gut

Zonulin opens up the spaces between the cells of the intestinal lining. That normally occurs, in order for nutrient and other molecules to get in and out of the intestine. However, when leaky gut is present, the spaces between the cells open up too much allowing larger protein molecules to get into the bloodstream where an immunologic reaction can take place. Once that happens, the body is primed to react to those proteins each and every time they appear.  It can also cause leakage of intestinal contents, like bacteria into the immune system creating inflammation and overloading the liver's ability to filter out this garbage.

Triggers that open the zonulin doorway

Based on Dr. Fasano's research, we know that the two most powerful triggers to open the zonulin door are gluten and gut bacteria in the small intestine.  Gliadin causes zonulin levels to increase both in those people who have celiac disease and those who do not.  As the zonulin level rises, the seal  between the intestinal cells diminishes, opening up spaces between cells that allow all sorts of things to pass right through.  This is called "leaky gut".  Its as if the security guard that keeps the bad guys out is taking a nap! Sometimes large food molecules will pass through to the immune system.  The immune system thinks they are foreign invaders and will mount an immune response leading to food sensitivities.  In addition this immune activation leads to more damage to the intestinal cells (called enterocytes) and the gut becomes more inflamed and more permeable or "leaky".  As the damage continues, the microvilli that line the intestines and absorb nutrients become damaged, leading to other nutrient deficiencies.  

Top causes of increased zonulin and development of leaky gut:

1. Overgrowth of harmful organisms, like bacteria or yeast in the intestine 
1. SIBO = small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
2. Fungal dysbiosis or candida overgrowth
3. Parasite infections
2. Gliadin in the diet (gluten containing foods)

Gliadin is a protein in wheat, that like gluten, is a trigger for people with celiac disease. However, a study published in the Scandiavian Journal of Gastroenterology in 2006 clearly showed that gliadin can affect zonulin even in people without the gene for celiac. The researchers concluded that

Based on our results, we concluded that gliadin activates zonulin signaling irrespective of the genetic expression of autoimmunity, leading to increased intestinal permeability to macromolecules.

The significance of this is that gluten affects intestinal permeability in all persons to different extents.  It also means that 100% of patients with autoimmune disease or leaky gut could potentially benefit from a gluten-free diet.

Elevated zonulin levels and leaky gut are also associated with the following:

1. Crohn's disease
2. Type 1 Diabetes
3. Multiple Sclerosis
4. Asthma
5. Glioma
6. Inflammatory Bowel Disease

In conclusion the article states: 

Genetic predisposition, miscommunication between innate and adaptive immunity, exposure to environmental triggers, and loss of intestinal barrier function secondary to the activation of the zonulin pathway by food-derived environmental triggers or changes in gut microbiota all seem to be key ingredients involved in the pathogenesis of inflammation, autoimmunity, and cancer. This new theory implies that [once this path is activated] it can be... reversed by preventing the continuous interplay between genes and the environment.

Zonulin and Its Regulation of Intestinal Barrier Function: The Biological Door to Inflammation, Autoimmunity, and Cancer

Alessio Fasano

Abstract:
The primary functions of the gastrointestinal tract have traditionally been perceived to be limited to the digestion and absorption of nutrients and to electrolytes and water homeostasis. A more attentive analysis of the anatomic and functional arrangement of the gastrointestinal tract, however, suggests that another extremely important function of this organ is its ability to regulate the trafficking of macromolecules between the environment and the host through a barrier mechanism. Together with the gut-associated lymphoid tissue and the neuroendocrine network, the intestinal epithelial barrier, with its intercellular tight junctions, controls the equilibrium between tolerance and immunity to non-self antigens. Zonulin is the only physiological modulator of intercellular tight junctions described so far that is involved in trafficking of macromolecules and, therefore, in tolerance/immune response balance. When the finely tuned zonulin pathway is deregulated in genetically susceptible individuals, both intestinal and extraintestinal autoimmune, inflammatory, and neoplastic disorders can occur. This new paradigm subverts traditional theories underlying the development of these diseases and suggests that these processes can be arrested if the interplay between genes and environmental triggers is prevented by reestablishing the zonulin-dependent intestinal barrier function. This review is timely given the increased interest in the role of a “leaky gut” in the pathogenesis of several pathological conditions targeting both the intestine and extraintestinal organs.

A Quick Start Guide To Paleo Diet...

You may have heard the recent buzz about Paleo Diet... so what's all the fuss about?

There are far reaching health benefits to eating more like our grandparents would have eaten...   That means real food, not the packaged processed stuff that has become norm in the Standard American Diet, or SAD for short.

The Paleo Diet may be beneficial in reducing your risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease and many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.   I frequently use the principles of the paleo diet to help patients re-learn how to eat healthy, maintain ideal weight, and feel fabulous!

You shouldn't be surprised to find a lack of packaged foods on the Paleo Diet menu. There were no convenience stores or super-sized grocery chains in the Stone Age.   And if you're one of the 31% of Americans who eats more packaged foods than fresh foods in your daily diet, it could be an adjustment.  What is amazing, however, are the profound benefits to your health that come from these changes.  If you suffer obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol, central weight gain, or autoimmune disease, like Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or multiple sclerosis, you greatly benefit from eliminated all processed grains & sugar from your diet.  Plus you will not be eating two of the most common food allergens: gluten and dairy.  If you suffer from a leaky gut or gastrointestinal dysbiosis, the Paleo Diet will naturally restore the healthy microbial balance since there are no refined sugars or grains to feed the abnormal bacteria or yeast.

The Paleo Diet is basically this:  No sugar, No flours, No processed foods, No grains, no legumes (lectins), no dairy.  What you CAN eat is lean, clean (organic) unprocessed meats (chicken, fish, turkey, beef, bison, elk, lamb, etc), all fruits and veggies in moderation.  And coconut, nuts & seeds are to be eaten freely in unprocessed state.  If you need to make something special, almond or coconut "flour" can be used.

CORE PALEO DIET:

• Meat - GRASS-FED, not grain-fed. Grain causes the same problem in animals as they do in humans.  (bison, elk, buffalo are WONDERFUL red meats to incorporate)
• Fowl - Chicken, duck, hen, turkey…things with wings that (try to) fly.
• Fish - Wild caught fish (mercury and other toxins, like PCBs may be an issue in farmed fish)
• Eggs - Look for Omega-3 enriched eggs raised without hormones or antibiotics from free-range chickens
• Vegetables - As long as they’re not deep-fried, eat as many as you want.
• Oils - Olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil – think natural.  No soybeans oil or processed oils.
• Fruits - Have natural sugar, and can be higher in calories, so limit if you’re trying to lose weight.
• Nuts - High in calories, so they’re good for a snack, but don’t eat bags and bags of them.
• Tubers - Sweet potatoes and yams.  Higher in calories and carbs, so these are good for right after a workout to replenish your glycogen levels

What's not allowed when following the Paloe diet?

• Grains (including popular cereal grains such as barley, corn, oats, rice, rye and wheat)
• Beans or legumes
• Dairy products
• Refined salt
• Refined sugars or artificial sweetners
• Refined fats
• Canned or processed meats
• Soda and fruit juices
• All chemicals, additives, artificial flavorings, MSG, yeast.

Perhaps the most important thing about Paleo is it encourages you to get back to whole delicious real food!  It will allow you to feel better, lose weight easily and maintain muscle at any age.  I challenge you to give it a try for yourself for 30 days and see if it doesn't change your life!


More Resources for Paleo Diet:

http://paleophysiciansnetwork.com
http://www.marksdailyapple.com
http://www.westonaprice.org/

Celiac Disease & Gluten Intolerance... What's up with wheat?

Have you been told you have "gluten-intolerance" or worse... that you have celiac disease?  Many people go for years without knowing the connection between gluten and their gastrointestinal symptoms, autoimmune disease (thyroiditis, arthritis, lupus etc), skin disorder (eczema, acne, psoriasis), and even neurological disorders (epilepsy, ADHD, autism, etc) 

What is gluten?

It's a protein found in wheat grain and part of "gluey" proline and glutamine rich proteins known as prolamines. Prolamines are found in all cereal grains, even rice, corn and oats. Gluten ingestion in susceptible individuals is assosiated with the serious neurological and autoimmune reactions often linked to autism spectrum disorder.  

Historically, we can see a large increase in chronic degenerative diseases, like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and bone loss/tooth decay when societies start to increase intake of grains and especially wheat.  I have seen remarkable improvement in many patient's illnesses, especially skin disorders and autoimmune disease on a grain-free diet.

 Here is a must watch video from Peter Osborne, D.C. that does a very nice job of explaining the differences between gluten intolerance and celiac disease and explaining how this could be contributing to your symptoms...

If you want to know more about YOUR PERSONAL RISK, just ask Dr. Jill about how you can be tested for HLA typing DQ2/DQ8 genes to determine if you are at risk!