Gluten and Your Gut

Gluten and your gut.  In the past decade the idea of gut health and inflammation have been  hot topics of wellness conversations.  I’m sure you’ve heard the terms “gluten free” and “leaky gut”, but did you know that the two may be linked?  With probiotics and immune shots on the rise, and for good reason, it’s good to understand how processed, gluten-heavy foods can be super bad for your belly.

Let’s start with what gluten is.  It is a split protein made up of gliadin and glutenin, which is a fraction of wheat, barley and rye gluten.  It is not fully understood why some have such a hard time digesting it or are unable to at all, however it is widely accepted that between celiacs disease and gluten intolerance, it is a tricky substance.  When flour mixes with water it has a glue-like property, which is actually where gluten gets its name.  This glue quality is what allows bread to rise and gives it that doughy, chewy texture. 

Leaky gut refers to a weakened stomach lining, which can allow for foreign substances to enter the bloodstream.  A healthy stomach lining does not have large cracks or holes in it, but when that tight barrier is permeated, it can leak toxins and partially digested food into the body which can cause changes in gut flora and lead to inflammation.  Now this barrier, our stomach lining, is not meant to be completely impenetrable, but it is meant to protect your body from foreign substances that could cause harm, so when it’s not at its peak health, we can experience varying health problems.

So what does gluten have to do with leaky gut?  It is widely accepted in the medical community that a leaky gut plays a role in gastrointestinal illnesses such as Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome and celiac disease, but studies have shown a potential correlation between other autoimmune disorders and leaky gut, such as arthritis, asthma, chronic fatigue, obesity, acne and various others.  Several studies have shown that gluten can increase that intestinal permeability, triggering autoimmune responses in the body.  If it is causing large cracks or holes in that lining, it can also lead to increased inflammation.  This is our body’s attempt to fight the foreign substances entering our bloodstream through that permeated lining, when they should be being filtered out through our intestines.

All of this is to say that if you suffer from an autoimmune disorder or problematic inflammation in your body, see what cutting down on gluten looks like in your life.  With the wide acceptance of gluten-free as a common diet preventing illness for some, it can be found almost everywhere; restaurant menus, eateries, varying grocery products.  The Organic Krush family has always been incredibly amenable to gluten-free and anti-inflammatory lifestyles, understanding that inflammation is an important health battle to wage.  Whether you decide to cut out bread, pastas, and wheat products for a bit or just opt for the gluten-free option on the menu instead, why not see if you reap some health benefits from its exclusion?  It can’t hurt, but it may help!

Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash