The OTHER 99%: It’s not just about celiac disease

I want to take this issue head on, since popular “wisdom” is that problems with consumption of wheat and related grains begin and end with celiac disease. The Wheat Lobby, for instance, frequently argues that, if you do not have celiac disease, you have no business avoiding wheat and related grains. Defenders of wheat, such as those cited in this New York Times article, argue that celiac disease affects 1% of the human population, but that the other 99% of people not only can consume wheat with impunity, but can actually do so and obtain health benefits due to fiber and B vitamin content. They say that eliminating wheat and grains is therefore unnecessary, unhealthy, even dangerous. Let’s therefore examine what health conditions can develop in the 99% of people who do not have celiac disease: Cerebellar ataxia–This is a condition in which antibodies to gliadin (though different than those occurring in celiac disease) damage the cerebellum, the part of the brain responsible for coordination, bladder control, and other bodily functions. People with this condition develop progressive incoordination, begin to stumble, lose control over their bladder, then end up in a wheelchair and experience premature death. Stop eating wheat and related grains and progression of the disease stops, and can partially reverse (only partially, since brain and nervous system tissue are poor at healing). Peripheral neuropathy–While most cases of peripheral neuropathy, o...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Wheat Belly Lifestyle ataxia autoimmune diabetes gluten grains Inflammation iron neuropathy skin rash Source Type: blogs