Amira Ayad, PhD
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Online Courses
  • My Books
    • Body Whispers Book
    • Body Whispers Journal
    • Healing Body & Soul
    • The True Secret
  • Resources
    • Chakra Self-Assessment
    • Boost Your Immunity
    • Videos
    • Find the cause & Fix the problem
    • Washwasha
    • kitchen Dispensary
    • My Library
  • My Blog

Should we all be gluten-free?

26/2/2015

4 Comments

 
I have always hated fad diets. I am a scientist at heart and do not believe in fads and trends based on opinions and biased emotions.  This is why when this whole idea of gluten-free started, the scientist in me strictly objected. I come from a culture where we use the same word for 'bread' and 'living'. To tell an Egyptian stop eating bread, is like telling him 'go die'. 
But, since I moved here to Canada, I started seeing client after client (myself included) with symptoms improving or even totally disappearing just by giving up gluten. So, what was going on here?

Picture
To reach the bottom of this highly controversial topic, I needed to learn from the expert and no one is more qualified to teach on the subject than Dr. Alessio Fasano, M.D. 
Dr. Fasano is a pediatric gastroenterologist. He heads the Center for Celiac Research at MassGeneral Hospital for Children in Boston, Massachusetts and He is a Visiting Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. His life-long research about celiac disease in the U.S. eventually led to his publication of the groundbreaking study in 2003 that established the rate of the autoimmune disorder at one in 133 Americans. He also discovered the molecule "zonulin," which regulates the impermeability of the intestine also known as "leaky gut."  

In a recent interview on the Autoimmune Summit, Dr. Fasano answered the question: 'after all what you know now, do you still eat wheat?” he non-hesitantly replied: "yes, I do".
Now, we're talking, I reasoned. This is no fad!

In his latest book, Gluten Freedom, Dr. Fasano explained that wheat is hard to digest for all human being; yet, only few of us genetically susceptible to its health-compromising effects. To develop an autoimmune disease, he says, three factors need to be present:
1.    Genetic susceptibility
2.    A trigger
3.    Increased intestinal permeability, or what is known as leaky gut.

If we apply this to gluten-related disorders, for someone to develop the myriad of health reactions ranging from celiac to neurological and behavioral disorders, one has to:
1.    Have the susceptible genes (HLA-DQ2 & DQ8 genes)
2.    Be subjected to the trigger which in this case is gluten protein from wheat, barley, rye, spelt, kamut, triticale or oat.
3.    Have a leaky gut for the gluten to cross the intestinal mucosa, get in contact with the immune system which identifies it as ‘foreign harmful entity’ and initiates the attack that damages body cells in the process.

This explained why many people have no problem eating wheat (they do not have the susceptible genes) and why many others develop the symptom at later age even though they have had the susceptible genes all along and have been eating wheat all their life (they did not have leaky gut until recently). 
If we remove one of the factors, the disease won't be manifested.

Although having celiac or other gluten-related autoimmunity is very restrictive in eating and lifestyle habits… it is still the only autoimmune disease that we know how to manage --- just remove the trigger (gluten) for life. Genes cannot be changed and the intestinal permeability factor is pretty variable and can only be controlled to certain extent.

So, to answer my first question: do we all have to be gluten-free? No we don't. 
But how do you know if you need to?
We know very little -if any- about the trigger in other autoimmune diseases. And although not all autoimmune diseases are triggered by gluten, it is well worth the try. So, if you suffer from any autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto or multiple sclerosis try to get completely off gluten for at least 2 months and see if your symptoms improve. This may be the key to your healing or at least one step forward.

Have a great day!


4 Comments
Mohamed El Laithy
26/2/2015 04:03:11 am

Thank you for sharing this interesting thoughts. This is a game changer for many of us. I just need to know how to rule out that one doesn't have the suspected genes? HLA-DQ2 & DQ8 genes. Is there any reliable lab tests for that? where to find?

Thanks

Reply
amira
27/2/2015 03:59:15 am

Thank you Mohamed. It was sure a game changer for me too! The science in this area is still advancing every day and new info and diagnostics are also developed everyday.
There are 2 companies that I know of and trust in Ontario, GTA that is performing nutrigenomic tests.
Nutrigenomix: https://www.nutrigenomix.com/
It is a U of T start up. It tests for gluten sensitivity genes and/or 7 other genes related to one dietary needs
There is another good company that performs nutrigenomic testing on broader range of genes but does not do the gluten sensitivity genes, Younique Genomics:
http://youniquegenomics.com/

You can ask for the tests through a registered dietitian or nutritionist in your area.

Reply
shameen iqbal
1/3/2015 09:17:32 am

I am also gluten tolerant I had a hair test done that showed that I am sensitive to wheat which has helped me alot since I stopped eating wheat and diary product's. .but in England they are very behind with supporting patience with this..I used to get severe headaches migraines bone pains shut my system down and messed my gut up yet I was told I was only depressed by doctors!! Being gluten free has helped alot do youre own research and get private tests done goodluck

Reply
amira
1/3/2015 10:01:08 am

Thank you for sharing your experience Shameen

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    About the Author

    Hi, I'm Amira... I'm all for simple, natural, uncomplicated life... My core values are derived from my Islamic faith... My definition of wellness includes lots of smiles, human interactions, delicious food, music, joy, colorful paint, Mediterranean sunshine, blue sky and turquoise sea, care, love, compassion and deep heart-felt peace.
    I love learning… I love books and art supplies… And, I am saddened by human conflict and intolerance.
     
    I am an introvert who loves being around people... I love building communities and gathering around the kitchen table... I am a teacher at heart... I simplify complex health science and speak openly about heart and soul stuff...

    I've been helping people on their health and healing journey for more than 20 years now and I am committed to be authentic, caring and a beacon of love and peace.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    July 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    May 2014
    February 2014
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Categories

    All
    Art Healing
    Body Whispers
    Emotional Healing
    Energy
    Functional Nutrition
    Holistic Healing
    Holistic Living
    Islamic Medicine
    Mental Body
    Mind/Body
    Nutrition
    Recipes
    Spirituality
    Stress Management
    Stress Mangement
    Workshops
    مدونات باللغة العربية

    RSS Feed

 Disclaimer
My wellness coaching, workshops, teachings, and all the services I provide are at all times restricted to education, teaching and training on the subject of natural health matters intended for general natural health well-being and do not involve the diagnosing, prognosticating, treatment, or prescribing of remedies for the treatment of any disease, or any licensed or controlled act which may constitute the practice of  medicine. 
Any questions? Please email me at info@amiraayad.com 

Privacy Policy    Terms of Service