Gluten Myths: Understanding Gluten, Glyphosate and The Gut

Gluten Myths: Today is one of our favorite topics: gluten, and the myths surrounding this hot topic. There is no doubt that many people have found relief by removing gluten from their diet, but assuming gluten alone was the problem fails to take in the whole story. For those with coeliac disease, gluten is indeed an allergy (like a peanut allergy) that can lead to death. Still, for many people, the gluten problem is rooted in hybridization, genetic modification, and the presence of a nefarious pesticide called glyphosate.

Today we are going to explore how these players have caused the modern-day gluten epidemic, the real solution (why going gluten-free is not good enough), and how we can heal from the damage already done.

Gluten Myths: What is Gluten and Is it Evil?

Gluten is a mixture of two proteins present in cereal grains, especially wheat, and is responsible for the elastic texture of dough. In of itself, gluten is not at all evil and prepared properly has been consumed safely by humans for a very long time. Our great grandmothers and grandfathers consumed bread without any complaints of bloating—so what changed?

The wheat growing in the fields during the 1970s looked a lot different than the wheat growing in modern-day America, and this is thanks to Norman Borlaug, the scientist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his wheat hybridization techniques. Food scarcity has been a problem for a long time, and Borlaug invented modern hybridized wheat, which is easier to harvest, is more resilient to drought, and is more resistant to environmental stressors (like wind). Borlaug’s wheat was a product that would increase yields and simultaneously cut down harvest time and costs, which means more food and more profit for farmers.

All this seemed fine and dandy at the time. However, this modern wheat generated a dozen new strains of gluten. These strains are unrecognizable by the body, and these new proteins cause not only digestive distress but also damage to the gut lining and an antibody reaction (which leads to inflammation).

Symptoms of modern gluten intolerances:

• Bloating
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Abdominal pain
• Headaches
• Lethargy
• Inflammatory skin conditions (such as psoriasis)
• Depression
• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Anxiety
• Autoimmune disorders
• Joint and muscle pain
• Brain fog

Symptoms vary from person to person, and much of this is rooted in the individual’s own immune and gut strength. A robust immune system and gut can digest foreign proteins much more effectively than someone weak or sick.

Gluten Myths: Leaky Gut

A healthy gut is made up of tight junctions that act as bodyguards to the body’s bloodstream. When these junctions are compromised, things (food, bacteria, parasites) can enter the body that should not typically, resulting in antibodies that trigger inflammation and causing anything from a mild allergic response to a full-blown autoimmune reaction. People who have leaky gut are going to react more negatively towards the gluten. Considering it’s estimated that 95% of America has some leaky gut, this is a significant issue.

Gluten Myths: Why have we seen this explosion of leaky gut in the last 15-20 years?

The primary culprit of gut destruction is a chemical called glyphosate, which was introduced slowly into our food supply since the mid-’80s, rising dramatically in the ’90s and early 2000s. Glyphosate is produced by a company called Monsanto, under the product name Roundup, it is the #1 herbicide/ pesticide on the planet. Despite Monsanto’s claims (self-funded studies) that glyphosate is safe, new studies and even a court case have demonstrated that it is anything but safe.

Brilliant scientists like MIT based Stephanie Seneff have linked glyphosate to leaky gut, demonstrating how the herbicide opens up the tight junctions, creating a freeway into the bloodstream. Not only that, but glyphosate also kills your good bacteria, which creates dysbiosis and a host of health problems.

Psychotropic Medications, Or Glyphosate Poisoning?

Another interesting aspect of the leaky gut piece is the role that glyphosate plays in generating mental disease. You see, glyphosate interferes with the shikimate pathway in our gut. This pathway makes amino acids required for whole-body balance. It is here that the body’s most significant source of dopamine and serotonin are made. Both serotonin and dopamine play a role in many mental disorders we see today. There is a billion-dollar industry for the prescription of psychotropic drugs trying to heal symptoms like depression. How many of these people aren’t actually in need of mediation, but rather a gut healing protocol?

This problem doesn’t only affect adults but children. We live in the age of the Adderall epidemic of unfocused children. Many parents are reaching for medications instead of going upstream and addressing the problem itself.

Instead of understanding what’s going on upstream, we’re just drugging the children.

The glyphosate chemical is causing brain disruption, especially in our children, and we need to wake up as a country. We know gluten is very in fashion right now, but we need to wake up to the real cause: glyphosate. That is this chemical that is being sprayed on our food supply, and it goes far beyond gluten.

Gluten Myths: Gluten-free is Not Good Enough

First of all, most gluten-free packaged foods are more unhealthy than their gluten-filled alternative. They pump these foods with artificial flavors, sugar, and preservatives. Seeing the word “gluten-free” does not mean it’s a health food.

On top of that, glyphosate (the real problem) is in many non-gluten containing foods.

Say No To Glyphosate

If you’re eating non-100% organic grain—whether it’s oatmeal, rice, or wheat— you are getting exposed to dangerous levels of glyphosate. Glyphosate is not only used to grow but also to harvest these grains. Not just kill the pests or the weeds, farmers spray it on crops to dry them up and makes it easier to harvest. To make matters worse, they are genetically modifying plants to be able to use even more of this chemical. The levels of exposure in the last ten years have gone through the roof.

Great for profits, not so great for our health.

The Solution is Simple: Go Organic

In our modern world, there is no other answer than a 100% organic diet. Even so, there will still be a little exposure because glyphosate has made its way into our water supply. Glyphosate can also be detected in 60-70% of rainfall.

Crops that use irrigation techniques are inadvertently treated with glyphosate. Californian wines, which, although they are certified organic, still notoriously testing positive for glyphosate.

Eating 100% organic is the best avoidance you could have, and it’s particularly important to avoid all glyphosate-saturated GMOs, so going organic with corn, soy, and wheat are non-negotiables. If those big three aren’t organic, they are GMO, as are animal products that are fed GMO grains. Those are the biggest offenders when it comes to GMO (and glyphosate sprayed) crops. You can also look up the “dirty dozen,” which is a rotating list of plants that are highly sprayed depending on the season.

At the end of the day, eating 100% organic should be at the top of your health priority list.

Eating organic can be more expensive, but know that your shopping behaviors are influencing the market prices. How you spend your money is a vote for how producers should produce, which in time brings down the costs. Organics are growing and taking over market shares; even low-end grocery stores like ALDI and Costco have begun to ban certain products if they contain certain harmful pesticides. They are providing a lot more organic produce and health-orientated products that wouldn’t usually be there—things are changing. This awakening that’s happening with the local farmers and organic is a significant and positive movement for mankind.

Detox

As we have explored, it’s almost impossible to avoid glyphosate altogether, which is why detox should be incorporated into our modern lives. A couple of products we love and are being used in doctors practices’ around the country (and in my own home!) are CYTODETOX, BIND, and ION.

It’s no secret that the popular weedkiller Roundup (aka, glyphosate) increases your risk of cancer. One meta analysis concluded that it can increase risk of non-hodgkin’s lymphoma by up to 41%. While that’s scary enough, even more researchers are starting to look at the herbacide’s effects on the gut microbiome.

Your gut bugs are like the master regulators of your brain and body. Frankly, we’ve just scratched the surface of what the gut microbiome is truly capable of.

The truth is — glyphosate can infiltrate your food, water, and even your clothing. Even if you’re careful to eat only organic foods!

If that’s the case, then how can you possibly protect yourself and your family from exposure?

The answer is detox.

CytoDetox

We’re not talking juice cleanses and harsh supplements that make you feel worse before you feel better…

We’re talking a gentle, yet powerful way to support the removal of toxins like heavy metals, chemicals, pesticides, and biotoxins at the cellular level.

>> CytoDetox is a must-have for a 100% safe cellular detox.

And for a truly unstoppable combination, grab Ion — a mineral-based supplement scientifically proven to protect your gut from toxins.

>> This is a must-have for anyone who wants a healthy, vibrant gut and mind!

BIND

The BIND formula contains extremely specialized activated carbon and powerful humates (humic and fulvic acids) that attach to and eliminate toxins — and it does so more effectively than any other formula ever created. BIND is used to bind up to and eliminate toxins (including glyphosate) from the body.

BIND serves as a master drainage formula that attracts toxins and binds them so they can’t be reabsorbed and escorts them out of the body. Besides the super-activated charcoal that absorbs up to 300 times its weight in toxins, bind contains a wide array of potent toxin fighters, including:

• Cascara Sagrada, to bring water into your intestines and dilute the toxic load.
• Apple and Flax to provide beneficial fiber for elimination.
• Probiotics, for added to support leaky gut.
• Humic acids, which help smothers viruses and prevent their attachment to cell membranes.
• Humates, which provide over 70 plant-sourced trace minerals.

ION

Air pollution, GMOs, antibiotics, herbicides, and harmful food additives all wreak havoc on your gut microbes and intestinal lining. So we found a daily supplement designed to support the protection of your entire gastrointestinal tract against common toxins found in food and the environment. ION is a mineral-based supplement scientifically proven to heal your gut, repairing damaged cell membranes and strengthening intestinal tissue.

Your gut is the gateway to your health. By repairing and restoring gut integrity, you’re automatically helping to:

• Strengthen your immune system
• Improve brain health
• Prevent illness and infection

References:

1. Batra, Akshay. “Coeliac Disease.” Oxford Medicine Online, 2018, doi:10.1093/med/9780198759928.003.0038.
2. Cabot, Sandra, and Emma Alessandrini. Gluten: Is It Making You Sick or Fat? WHAS – Women’s Health Advisory Service, 2014.
3. “Gluten Intolerance, Celiac Disease, and Wheat Allergy.” Gluten-Free Baked Products, 2014, pp. 1–13., doi:10.1016/b978-1-891127-80-9.50001-7.
4. Hadjivassiliou, Marios, et al. “Gluten Sensitivity: from Gut to Brain.” The Lancet Neurology, vol. 9, no. 3, 2010, pp. 318–330., doi:10.1016/s1474-4422(09)70290-x.
5. Leonard, Maureen M., et al. “Celiac Disease and Nonceliac Gluten Sensitivity.” Jama, vol. 318, no. 7, 2017, p. 647., doi:10.1001/jama.2017.9730.
6. Perlmutter, David. Grain Brain. Yellow Kite, 2015.
7. “Presentation of Coeliac Disease.” Coeliac Disease, pp. 31–52., doi:10.1002/9780470987926.ch3.
8. Rivera, Howard. Gluten: Food Sources, Properties and Health Implications. NOVA Publishers, 2017.
9. Sollid, Ludvig M. “Coeliac Disease: Dissecting a Complex Inflammatory Disorder.” Nature Reviews Immunology, vol. 2, no. 9, 2002, pp. 647–655., doi:10.1038/nri885.
10. Tanner. “Gluten, Celiac Disease, and Gluten Intolerance and the Impact of Gluten Minimization Treatments with Prolylendopeptidase on the Measurement of Gluten in Beer.” Journal of the American Society of Brewing Chemists, 2014, doi:10.1094/asbcj-2014-0129-01.
11. Verbeke, Kristin. “Nonceliac Gluten Sensitivity: What Is the Culprit?” Gastroenterology, vol. 154, no. 3, 2018, pp. 471–473., doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2018.01.013.