Health Issues and Whole Wheat
Q: What health issues are caused by whole wheat?
A: Whole grains are considered a part of
a balanced diet low in processed foods. For many people, wheat is a healthy grain. However, 30% of the population may have intolerance to gluten, the major protein found in wheat, rye barely, and spelt. For these people, eating a gluten containing grain even once a month can lead to inflammation and chronic disease. Below are a few common questions and answers to this issue.
Q: What is gluten?
A: Gluten is the major storage protein found in all forms of wheat including durum, semolina, spelt, kamut, malt, couscous, bulgar, and triticale, as well as in the related grains of rye and barley. While oats are considered OK, many oat products are contaminated with gluten. Bob’s Red Mill oats have been found not to contain any gluten. However, there are a small number of gluten sensitive individuals who also have an oat allergy.
Q: What is gluten sensitivity?
A: Gluten sensitivity or gluten intolerance is when the immune system reacts to the major protein found in wheat, spelt, barley, and sometimes oats. The most commonly recognized gluten intolerance is called celiac disease, which manifests as diarrhea, bloating, and digestive tract discomfort. Even though it is one of the most common life-long diseases, it is often 11 years from the onset of symptoms until properly diagnosed. Often the disease is misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome. The disease can progress to mal-absorption leading to weight loss, anemia, and even osteoporosis.
A silent form of the disease, without digestive symptoms, is also recognized. For every one person diagnosed with celiac disease, it’s estimated there are eight others that are not diagnosed and may have no gastro-intestinal symptoms.
Q: What is the danger of eating gluten if you are sensitive?
A: Gluten sensitivity is a heightened immune response to gluten in genetically predisposed people. The longer a sensitive individual eats gluten containing grains, the greater her risk for developing autoimmune diseases, such as thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus and scleroderma. It is estimated that 8.5% of the U.S. population or 24 million people suffer with autoimmune diseases of some kind.
Q: What are the results of untreated celiac disease?
A: Gluten sensitivity can increase the risk of serious complications from other diseases.
A study of 10,000 celiac disease patients in Sweden showed an increased risk of death from autoimmune diseases, asthma, diabetes, pneumonia, and kidney disease. A study in the journal Lancet stated that eating gluten once a month in celiac disease patients increased their overall risk of death by 600%.
Q: Is new testing available?
A: A new test measuring salivary antibodies to gladin and transglutaminase is 90% sensitive and 97% specific for gluten intolerance. This new tool should allow greater identification of those who should not be eating any wheat products. So if you are concerned about eating a diet that is healthy for you, ask you medical or naturopathic physician about this test.
One company that offers the test is Neuroimmunology Labs; for more information see Neuroscience at www.neurorelief.com. If your test is negative, then whole wheat bread is a good option for adding whole grains to your balanced diet.
— Arianna Staruch
Walking Is Great for Growing Bodies
Q: My 12-year-old son is motivated to lose excess weight and has begun run a lot. I have heard that it is possible for children, especially if overweight, to damage hip joints if they begin to run too much at an early age. My husband and I are avid walkers and would like to support him and we are not sure if walking with us would be effective. Can walking instead of running be enough to reduce weight?
A: Walking without running absolutely can be enough for weight loss. Duration and intensity are the key components of any exercise to increase fitness and consuming calories to reduce body fat. Even at 12 years old it is not too soon to look at monitoring heart rate and mileage during exercise as a way to track progress. Measuring heart rate in addition to wearing small pedometer helps to keep interest and focus on the long term outcomes of weight loss and fitness. Omron makes a $30-$35 electronic pedometer that downloads to a computer with a great graph for tracking mileage goals.
I think the hip problem you may be referring to from running too many miles at a young age is called “slipped capital femoral epiphysis,” which occurs most commonly within ages 10-15 years and is more common in obese boys. The condition comes from the growth plate at the top end of the femur slipping due to repeated high force from running. A plain film x-ray shows this readily when present. An individual with this would have a limp and complain of non-resolving hip pain with tenderness to touch and a decrease from full normal range of motion.
— Bryan Baisinger
This Issue’s Experts
Arianna Staruch, ND, is a naturopathic physician focused on women’s health issues and can be reached at 503-279-0205 or arianna@clearh2o.org.
Bryan Baisinger, DC, is a Portland State University Athletics team physician and is the owner of Clearwater Clinic and can be reached at 503-279-0205 or bryanb@clearh2o.org. |
