Low level gluten intolerance

[Beeherder]

Perhaps eye am seeing a way out of some of my health problems. Been struggling with increasing pain levels and depression lately so in yet another attempt to find my way i started eliminating wheat from my diet. Yikes, what a change, me a baker who loves his bread, trades his bread, and wraps his protein in bread. Still learning, but it is becoming apparent that gluten is the problem and backsliding really hurts. I wonder what it would be like to live 48 hours without being short tempered and on edge all the time. My gut feeling is tired and my gut is feeling tired.

The book by Robb Wolf the Paleo Solution subtitle The Original Human Diet is the my basis for understanding the theory and Mercola's book Take Control of Your Health was my inspiration of investigating the potential. So a couple of cookbooks by Wolf and Mark Sisson are getting me started. This is like learning to eat all over again. All those years of thinking whole grains and low fat were the solution and now it looks like they are my problem.

What am i going to do with all those wheat berries in my cache? i wonder if anybody will want to trade a case of sardines for 100 lbs of organic wheat berries? 

suggestions welcome

[Wellspring]

Bee:

You might also (if you haven't done so already) look into or consider the possibility that candida may be inhabiting your body.
Candida can mimic a host of disorders; especially celiac disease.  I quick search with "candida" and "mimic" brought up this article:

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Symptoms-and-Stages-of-Candidiasis&id=1095568

I know there is much more out there on the Web.  Just wanted to do a quick share. 

"Candida mimics the symptoms another disease known as Celiac Disease. Celiac Disease and the related disorder gluten intolerance, along with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome display many of the same symptoms as Candida and may even be related. Like Celiac Disease, CFS and gluten intolerance, the symptoms of Candidiasis are many, varied, and often non-specific. The following is a list of the reported symptoms of Candida:

· Chronic fatigue
· Oral Thrush
· Weakness
· Weight loss or weight gain
· Brain fog
· Fungus on the fingernails or toenails
· Urinary infections
· Hair loss
· Vision Problems
· Rashes inside the ears
· Rashes around the groin area
· Itching, red eyes
· Anal or vaginal itching
· Dizziness
· Headaches
· Cold sweats and/or night sweats
· Flu-like symptoms
· Muscle and joint pain
· Sore throat
· Low grade fever
· Numbness in hands or feet
· Asthma
· Chronic sinusitis
· Allergies
· Irritability
· Abdominal pain
· Constipation and/or diarrhea
· Gas
· Chronic athlete's foot or jock itch
· Yeast rashes
· Craving Carbohydrates
· Weakness on damp days or after bathing
· Sensitivity to mold, dust, chemicals, or pollutants
· Epstein-Barr antibodies
· Chest pains
· Reproductive problems
· Chronic vaginal infections
· Premenstrual syndrome - like symptoms

The Stages of Candida
The second stage of Candida involves more generalized symptoms. Frequent headaches, muscle aches, joint pain, and extreme fatigue are common during this stage. Remember, your body is literally fighting to survive and the second stage symbolizes the effects of this struggle.

The third stage of Candida finds the sufferer emotionally struggling with an undiagnosed condition. Depression, sleep disorders, and panic attacks are common during this stage. Sufferers often think they are losing their minds.

The fourth stage involves the shutdown of various bodily systems. At this stage, the endocrine system, the digestive system, the circulatory system, and the respiratory system are all effected and are experiencing damage.

The Fifth Stage of Candida seems inevitable at this point: rampant systemic Candidiasis is 100% fatal unless it is diagnosed early enough to kill the yeast overgrowth and regenerate the immune system.

This article is continued in "Treating and Managing Candidiasis"

Candida tends to attack in stages. Research studies, though still in their infancy, have reported the systematic changes that take place as Candida takes over the body. Remember the herbalist that told me that the bacteria were "eating (me) out"? That is, almost literally, what Candida does. Once the intestinal and digestive tract is conquered, these opportunistic bacteria continue feeding on the rest of the body. The first stage of Candida generally affects the digestive tract and mucous membranes. At this stage, sufferers report frequent urinary and vaginal yeast infections, increased respiratory tract infections, rashes and sensitivities and allergic reactions to common environmental contaminants. The frequent infections that occur during the first stage are often treated with antibiotics that actually make the problem worse."



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1095568

[Wellspring]

By the way, my wife and I both developed gluten intolerance AND candida-related problems (much worse for my wife) after too many years of stress (worry, anxiety, etc.)
Happy to say that we are more paleo and along with the less stress, we are feeling 100% better.

Fight or Flight or Frozen aren't the only responses to perceived threats (stress).  Once the causal points are removed, there's the opportunity to occupy a "neutral" state:  that is, being able to remain calm without negative emotional reactions (especially those we tell ourselves inwardly over and over and over again:  you know . .  THE STORY!) to false threats. 
Just to be clear, candida is a real threat just as are parasites and bacterial and viral infections. But unresolved emotional issues along with repetitive thought forms about an unknown future (all the "What ifs") are not real threats even though the energy/emotional body responds to them as though they were.

[Beeherder]

 

Thanks Wellspring. I'll look into that too.

[Eddie]

"The Primal Blueprint" by Mark Sisson is another good one.

I haven't had a piece of bread for over a year and don't miss it.

[Atash Hagmahani]

I have never heard of gluten triggering depression.

I have experienced mild depression on a low-carb diet! On the one hand my body chronically produces too much insulin, but on the other, I seem to need high levels of carbs or my energy level crashes.

I normally have a peripatetic, type-A personality with extremely high energy levels, interrupted by bouts of exhaustion. Yeah, I know, sounds like bipolar disorder, but no I've only been truly depressed maybe 2 or 3 times in my life, and in each case with external factors pushing me over the edge (bullying, surgery that left me in chronic pain). I have been trying to level it out a little, by avoiding simple carbs (sugar!) and keeping refined carbs in general in moderation.

Depression can be triggered by chronic pain; that happened to me. Figure out what is causing the chronic pain. I realize that if you really do have a gluten-intolerance condition, then gluten can cause pain in your gut (by leaking past a compromised gut lining, for example). You could try eliminating it on a trial basis to see if that does the trick. But be careful not to confirm a bias. I have sensitivities to avenin in oats, and cassein in milk products; took me a stupidly long time to narrow it down to the culprits, and I had to eliminate other foods as the culprits.

In general, depression is caused by an imbalance of the mood-regulating hormones. It can be triggered by external events, BUT it is unwise to RATIONALIZE it by blaming it on externalities; it is an internal hormonal imbalance.

Depression is serious business. Recruit help. 

[Wellspring]

Good point Atash.  I should always clarify anecdotes and statements I make with this statement:  "there are always many variables that come into play with physical conditions/disease and one should always ferret out to the best of their ability and with good guidance what those variables might be and proceed with a process of elimination.  It's my opinion that most physical conditions from IBS to psoriasis to mood swings to every muscle ache you can mention stem from stress as a causal point.  Hormonal imbalances frequently can originated from high levels of stress over a period of time as well as other factors like diet and environmental toxins.  There is no easy or simple answer to many of the ills that folks experience. 

For a great overview of the psychosomatic origins of a long list of physical symptoms, look to Dr. John Sarno and his more recent book:  "The Divided Mind: The Epidemic of Mindbody Disorders."  I highly recommend this to anyone with chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, migraines, IBS, food allergies, etc. etc. etc.

[silverseeds]

       Dont count out candida. Its extremly common to have an overgrowth of it, and nearly completely ignored. If it IS candida, then gluten/grains could aggravate it, and depression very possible. It does indeed throw off internal hormonal balances. candida is a huge subject.... One Ive had a lot of dealings with. Its rather common to have a mild over growth of it in our modern society. Lots of environmental things can play small roles, along with stress and diet.

        Its pretty easy to counter though. Sprouted grains instead of the regular stuff. which is better for everyone anyway. Lots of meats and veggies, a portion of it raw usually helps. Pau d'arco, raw olive oil, raw pumpkin seeds.... Oil of oregano... little to no processed sugars (should be easy for a guy with honey   ) no white flours, heavily processed foods etc... Its often ignored by doctors. a cousin of mine even had qa doctor test her for it, say she didnt hve it. Years later I convinced her to go to another doctor to test it, sure enough her levels were off the charts. Not sure why he first doctor either failed or lied...

        I strongly recommend oil of oregano. 70-80 percent of people have parasites of one form or another!!! so its not a waste of money. here are other parasites that cause all the same symptoms by the way. Take oil of oregano for a week or two daily. if you feel better Or worse... Theres something its helping. some cases you feel worse, because of die offs associated with it. this really should be part of everyones basic maintenance imo. DYODD of course... but Ive seen it do amazing things.

          

        

[Atash Hagmahani]

Thank you for the book recommendation, Wellspring. I've been very interested in the mind-body connection ever since I finally started noticing it for myself.

I think modern culture tends to too much overlook systems in favor of components of a system in isolation that exists only conceptually--not in reality.

[Lady Lilya]

All those years of thinking whole grains and low fat were the solution and now it looks like they are my problem.

Yep.  That's what ruined my health too. 

I am a very disciplined person and did too good of a job eating like we are told we should.

Now I am a big fan of the paleolithic diet (grain free) or the Weston A Price diet (grains only if they have been soaked or spouted.

I have never heard of gluten triggering depression.

I know tons of people who are affected that way.  Or some mood-altering way.  Many of my friends found that removing it from their children's diets caused them to stop having tantrums or wet the bed or be clingy.

I have experienced mild depression on a low-carb diet! On the one hand my body chronically produces too much insulin, but on the other, I seem to need high levels of carbs or my energy level crashes.

You need a high-FAT diet, to reprogram your hormones.  Your body is in the mode of burning carbs for fuel.  You will feel hungy in the transition period, and temporarily need a lot more meat.  But once you pass that you need much less food overall.  (And spend much less time and fuel preparing it.)

I realize that if you really do have a gluten-intolerance condition, then gluten can cause pain in your gut (by leaking past a compromised gut lining, for example). You could try eliminating it on a trial basis to see if that does the trick.

Gluten is a large molecule.  It can punch holes in the intestinal wall.  So can casein. 

With a damaged intestine, you can't absorb nutrients properly, and you can't make some enzymes.  Even worse, all sorts of food proteins can waltz right into your blood stream and trigger immune responses.

Food intolerances can be a huge stress on your body, and wear down you adrenal and thyroid glands.   That just makes it even harder for your body to cope with stresses and to digest properly.

------------------

WARNING FOR ANYONE WHO IS THINKING OF KILLING CANDIDA

I absolutely agree that overgowth of Candida Albicans is a common problem.  Oil of Oregano does kill it.  But, it leaves the space open for the candida to spead back in, so probiotic foods are probably better because the good bacteria occupy the space. Kombucha is known to displace candida very rapidly.

The only concern is, one reason candida can overgrow is that it eats heavy metals.  If that is the case, it is doing you a favor.  Killing it will cause the metals to be released, and they can weak tons of havoc.  So if you think this might apply to you (ever have a metal filling in a tooth?) then you want to do it slowly, and with much effort to flush the metals out as you go.  (Supplements for this: Sodium ascorbate, Magnesium, B12, Clay, Selenium, Zinc, Molybdenum, 5-MTHF)

[silverseeds]

  yeah you do want a good gut flora, and kombucha is great for that. Killing it to fast can certainly be an issue as well. Agree on both points. Heavy metals are probably an issue for most in our society. Hard to avoid them.

[Wellspring]

Those interested-
Look into colloidal silver.
Message me if you'd like some good info as we've spent heaps of time researching it.

[Beeherder]

Fantastic suggestions and dialogue, thank you, all.

If heavy metals release is an issue should chelation be part of the consideration, or is that a disproven treatment now?

Oregano Oil needs to be part of my herbals cabinet and investigating colloidal silver has been low down my priority list for some time, looks like it just got moved up.

Thanks again!!

Processed sugars are a very very small part of my diet because i like honey, if its something i cook myself. Chocolate covered raisins, well does that really count? Yes, i have also noticed increasing negative digestive impact when i eat candy or cookies so in general don't eat them much. Organic oatmeal with dried fruit and pecans has become my favorite breakfast, of course i add some honey and butter, but that doesn't seem to punch me in the gut like the morning toast apparently was doing. Celery has become a no/no which should not be too surprising since it always numbed my mouth a little. Since switching my diet to organics and homemade/homegrown my sensitivity to food additives is heightened, or at least i notice it more now when they are so rarely encountered.

Chronic pain has been my constant companion since 2006, but the short trigger temper has been with me all my life. Yes that behavior is likely, mostly learned but now i have begun to suspect there may be more to it. I have had doctors tell me i am depressed, i have taken the meds (very, very bad idea) i no longer believe they know shyte from shine-ola about mood disorders or those that do know something have been discredited by the pharma industrial complex, imo. The only effective treatment i ever found for my depression was a book about early cognitive behavior therapy. That technique works, ya just have to remember it when your "story" gets all wrapped around the axel and your spiraling into non-cognitive thinking, but it does work. Could there be a trigger in my episodic outbursts? Is so then maybe there's the possibility of avoiding the trigger.

Hope others are gaining something from this dialogue.

[Dame]

When I attempt to avoid my "triggers"; my Avoidance and I tend to become rather exclusive of others.  Not necessarily the original intent of the exercise.

[Atash Hagmahani]

Beeherder, you've raised some red flags. Yes, in some personality types, short-temperedness is a symptom of depression. When your mood regulators are out of balance it can impact your temper as well as your general happiness level.

I don't know what to tell you, because I've seen mood-regulating drugs backfire. Sometimes they sort of work for a while but people become dependent on them and when they stop taking them for any reason, are even worse off. Or the dosage was wrong and they commit suicide. And there are some persistent rumors of antidepressants and anti-psychotics actually CAUSING psychosis.

We're talking neurotransmitters so this is serious business.

Let me see if I can do something about the chronic pain. I'm a little distracted so someone please remind me to post something about natural pain control. I am not saying it will solve the problem, but it's more likely to help than to hurt.

None of this should be construed as medical advice. Consult with your doctor.