6 Critical Reasons to Eat Gluten-Free

Here Is Why Gluten Matters for Your and Your Child's Health

Many people of all ages with chronic health conditions benefit significantly from removing gluten from their diets. These proteins cause unwanted symptoms and health issues that can dramatically impact quality of life, particularly for children with neurodevelopmental and behavioral conditions. This is why I include removing gluten as part of a foundational, healthy diet.

Gluten-containing grains are one of the most misunderstood issues in diet today. Let me clarify the truth about them and explain why they may be affecting your and your family’s health more than you realize.

What Is Gluten and Where Is It Found?

Gluten is the protein found in wheat and other grains. Gluten is present in wheat, rye, spelt, triticale, kamut, farro, semolina (wheat pasta), couscous, einkorn, and barley. It's also found in oats that have been processed alongside gluten-containing grains, so only purchase certified gluten-free oats to be safe.

Who Benefits Most from Removing Gluten?

If you or your child has any of the following conditions or behaviors, keep gluten-containing grains out of your diet consistently:

• ADD/ADHD

• Autism

• Tourette Syndrome

• OCD or ODD

• Sensory integration dysfunction or sensory processing disorder

• Allergies

• Anxiety or depression

• Digestive problems

• Learning disabilities

• Sleep issues

• Aggression or violence

• Autoimmune conditions

• Metabolic disorders, such as Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, hyper or hypo thyroidism, and high blood pressure

• Obesity

That's a long list, and you might be wondering why gluten affects so many different conditions. The answer lies in how gluten impacts the body on multiple levels.

Six Critical Reasons to Remove Gluten

1. Blood Sugar Spikes and Crashes

When we consume carbohydrates, they break down into glucose (sugar) in the body. Wheat is a high glycemic food, just like all grains. This means it causes a rapid spike in blood glucose levels, followed by a drop. The high carbohydrate count forces the body to release significant amounts of insulin to keep blood glucose in a safe range.

This results in weight gain, as well as behavioral and emotional instabilities. To put this in perspective: one bagel contains 50 grams of carbohydrates, while a teaspoon of sugar contains only 4 grams. That plain bagel is the sugar equivalent of over 12 teaspoons of sugar!

2. Leaky Gut and Inflammation

Gluten can penetrate the intestinal walls and enter the bloodstream, causing an immune reaction and widespread inflammation. Here's how this process works:

Gluten contains a protein called gliadin. Gliadin increases a group of proteins called zonulin that modulate the tight junctions in the lining of the gut. When there's too much zonulin, intestinal permeability (also known as leaky gut) results each time gluten-containing foods are consumed.

When leaky gut is present, the body cannot break down food properly through digestion, and particles leak into the bloodstream. Once this happens, the immune system treats these particles as invaders and goes into overdrive, resulting in inflammation throughout the body.

The gut cannot heal as long as gluten continues to be consumed because this cycle with zonulin opening the tight junctions will continue. To heal and reduce symptoms, inflammation needs to be reduced. Removing inflammatory foods like gluten is an essential piece in opening the door for healing to happen.

3. Opiate-Like Effects on the Brain

This is where things get really interesting and explains why so many children (and adults) crave bread, pasta, crackers, cookies, and other wheat products.

Many kids and adults, including those with autism and ADHD, lack enough enzymes to break down the proteins in gluten (and casein from dairy, too). These enzymes normally break down long peptides into small, digestible molecules. However, due to either insufficient enzymes or intestinal permeability, gluten and casein don't break down properly during digestion.

These undigested peptides pass into the bloodstream and create opiate substances called gluteomorphins and casomorphins. These opiates travel to the brain, where they bind to opiate receptors.

Yes, you read that correctly. Gluten and casein have effects on the body similar to taking opiate drugs. They affect behavior, thinking, emotions, and are highly addictive.

Symptoms of reactions to gluten and casein include:

• Addictions and cravings for wheat and dairy foods

• Hyperactivity and irritability

• Aggression and self-injury

• Foggy thinking and language impairments

• Dark circles under the eyes

• Stimming behaviors

• Digestive issues and weight gain

• Sleep disturbances and ear infections

• Depression and anxiety

• Difficulty with hunger regulation

  
  

The reason so many people crave wheat and dairy products is because of this addictive cycle. Soy requires the same digestive enzymes as gluten and casein, which is why it's encouraged to be removed as part of a gluten-free and casein-free diet.

4. Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA)

Gluten contains another type of protein called wheat germ agglutinin. WGA is an anti-nutrient that contains a toxic factor that damages the small intestine, crosses the blood-brain barrier, clumps together red blood cells, and has neurotoxic effects. It's present in higher amounts in sprouted wheat and is also found in wheat grass.

5. Toxic Herbicide Exposure

In addition to these intense effects, wheat, other grains, and beans are often desiccated with toxic herbicides before harvesting to hasten the drying process. These chemicals, including glyphosate, are absorbed into the plant and cannot be washed off. The consumption of non-organic grains exposes your children to glyphosate and other harmful chemicals, which further damages the gut lining and the body's ability to heal and be healthy.

6. Modern Wheat is Different

Modern wheat has been hybridized to be shorter and yield more. However, it is more difficult for our bodies to digest, and this causes issues for many people. This is because it has a different chromosomal structure than ancient wheat, such as Einkorn. Modern wheat has 42 chromosomes, while Einkorn has only 14. Some people find that they feel better when they consume ancient wheat varieties rather than the type of wheat found in grocery stores and restaurants in the U.S.

Why Organic Wheat Isn't Enough

Eating organic wheat, barley, rye, spelt, and other gluten-containing grains is not enough, although it does reduce glyphosate exposure. You have to remember about zonulin, leaky gut, and opiate reactions. When you consume pasta, bread, cookies, or crackers made with wheat, it's a double whammy of toxic effects on the body.

All of this causes inflammation, and chronic inflammation results in not only physical illness, but emotional and mental problems as well. With the consumption of gluten, you and your sensitive child is not going to be able to function to their highest capacity for thriving.

Who Absolutely Must Avoid Gluten?

A gluten-free diet is vitally necessary for people with Celiac Disease, an autoimmune condition in which the body cannot process gluten. Some other people have a sensitivity to gluten that can sometimes be measured through a sensitivity or allergy test, but not always.

Individuals with genetic mutations in the HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQA2, IL21, and LPP genes should avoid consuming gluten, as these mutations are associated with gluten intolerance.

Beware of "Gluten-Free" Products

Watch out for products labeled "gluten-free." This is simply another confusing marketing ploy. Many processed food products labeled as "natural" are actually full of GMO ingredients, such as corn and sugar, as well as simple carbohydrates like processed grains and tapioca. These ingredients act like sugar in the body upon consumption and contain little to no nutritional value.

Simple carbohydrates cause a blood sugar spike, which can result in symptoms such as behavioral and emotional changes, fatigue, pain, and brain fog. You're better served by buying or baking bread and crackers made from nutritionally dense ingredients, such as almond flour or coconut flour, or by eliminating bread altogether.

I've been making almond flour breads and cookies for my son for years, and he loves them. In fact, his favorite bread is made of cashew butter. There are numerous options for making delicious, nutrient-dense foods that kids will love.

This Isn't Just About Kids

Please remember that what you're reading here applies to the human body, not just children's bodies. When you make changes to lower inflammatory foods for your kids, it will also benefit you. Many adults report dramatic improvements in energy, mood, focus, joint pain, digestive issues, and overall well-being when they remove gluten, casein, and soy from their diets.

The connection between what we eat and how we feel is profound. Removing gluten, casein, and soy may be one of the most powerful steps you can take to support your child's health, behavior, and ability to thrive.