Gluten: What is it and should I avoid it?

As a holistic healthcare practitioner, I spend a lot of time considering the intricate connections between diet, lifestyle, and overall well-being. One topic that my patients repeatedly ask me about is gluten. In recent years, gluten has emerged as a focal point in conversations surrounding immune health, weight loss, and overall vitality. But what exactly is gluten, and should you avoid it?

At its core, gluten is a protein that lends elasticity to dough, providing the characteristic texture and structure to baked goods. While it serves as a staple ingredient in many culinary traditions, its pervasive presence in the modern diet has raised concerns regarding its potential impact on health.

For individuals with autoimmune diseases, gluten can often serve as an immune trigger, exacerbating inflammation and contributing to a cascade of symptoms. This immune reactivity extends beyond the confines of the digestive system, manifesting as diverse symptoms such as sleep disturbances, cognitive fog, anxiety, and depression.

Interestingly, the response to gluten can vary significantly between individuals and geographical regions. Anecdotally, I have seen patients’ gluten response vary when they eat gluten in the United States, where industrialized farming practices predominate, versus in Europe. This difference may be attributed to several factors, including the widespread use of glyphosate-based herbicides (such as Roundup) and the prevalence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in American agriculture.

So, should you avoid gluten? The answer, as with many aspects of health, is nuanced and individualized. For individuals with autoimmune diseases, inflammation, or unexplained health challenges, exploring a gluten-free diet under the guidance of a knowledgeable practitioner may yield profound benefits. However, it is essential to acknowledge that every person is unique and what works for one does not necessarily work for all. If you think that you may be experiencing gluten sensitivity, contact us today.

Here's to thriving, one mindful bite at a time.