By Dr. Andrea Wick EBS CONTRIBUTOR
Wheat and gluten have received a lot of press
in the last few years and odds are you may know someone or be someone who has
opted to go gluten-free. What is gluten and why has it been given a bad rap?
Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat.
Gluten is literally the “glue” that holds breads together. The reason why more
and more people may be gluten sensitive is that gluten has a difficult time being
broken down by protease, a protein in the digestive system. This can create
symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, gas, nausea or skin reactions.
However, research is finding that glyphosate
may be the culprit to gluten sensitivity.
What is glyphosate? Glyphosate is an
insecticide and is found in a popular weed killer known as Roundup. Spraying
Roundup on wheat crops helps protect the expected yield and helps the crops
stay alive and healthy until they are harvested for the season. However, Roundup
is detrimental to our health.
A new analysis done by researchers at the
University of Washington found that glyphosate increases the risk of cancer by
41 percent. This includes non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This study was done on 54,000
participants that are exposed to the insecticide.
The issue with going gluten-free is that many
gluten-free products are processed and filled with corn and soy instead of
wheat. Corn and soy are nearly impossible to be all organic and are also often contaminated
with glyphosate.
Corn is also high in sugar, specifically, high
fructose corn syrup, which is converted into fat because of the large amount of
fructose it contains. Fructose is okay in small quantities, such as fruit,
however high fructose corn syrup cannot be broken down by the liver and causes
many health problems including diabetes, fatty liver disease, weight gain and
obesity. It is found in soda, sweets, soups and crackers. Be mindful by reading
labels to avoid this ingredient.
Many people with digestive disturbances may actually
have an issue digesting fructose, which can be misunderstood as a gluten
sensitivity. Trouble digesting fructose can lead to malabsorption and the
inability to break down carbohydrates, leading to irritable bowel syndrome.
Following a FODMAP—fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides and polyols—diet can
be helpful in treating IBS. For more information about following a FODMAP diet,
visit ibsdiets.org.
The best solution to all of this: Eat organic
whenever possible. For those who love their breads—who doesn’t—try sourdough
and organic wheat.
Eating organic can be expensive, so to help on
the pocketbook, try switching to organic options for foods that are known for
pesticide exposure. The Environmental Working Group updates a list every year
called “The Dirty Dozen,” which is a compilation of the foods that were grown
using the most pesticides. The 2019 Dirty Dozen list includes strawberries,
spinach, kale, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes,
celery and potatoes. Whenever possible, try to buy organically grown variations
of these products.
A good rule to live by: We are what we eat and
our food is thy medicine.
Dr. Andrea Wick is a chiropractor and applied kinesiologist. She graduated from Life University in Marietta, Georgia, and now practices in Big Sky. She has a passion for holistic health care and being active in the outdoors. Her practice, Healing Hands Chiropractic, is located in the Meadow Village Center. Visit drandreawick.com to learn more.
