Negative Effects of Gluten – Foodie Friday

The Negative Effects Of Gluten

Gluten is found in grains like wheat, rye, barley and it is classified in the protein family because it contains two main proteins i.e. glutenin and gliadin. The name gluten is derived from the glue properties it has because when the flour is mixed with water, the gluten is what forms a sticky cross-linked protein network, gives an elastic dough feature and allows bread to rise when being baked. Gluten has negative effects on people, and the gliadin protein causes this. Most of the foods that contain gluten are the baked foods, bread, and pasta.

Gluten is known to cause celiac disease which is an autoimmune disorder which involves the body reacting to the gluten as it treats it as a foreign invader. The immune system will attack the gluten and also the gut lining hence damaging the go walls, and cause nutritional deficiencies such as severe digestive issues, anemia, and nutritional deficiencies. Gluten also causes gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity where there is no attack on the body tissues and intestines, but there are symptoms similar to celiac disease such as stomach pain, fatigue, bloating, bone and joint pain.

There is increased intestinal inflammation and degeneration of the intestinal lining. This, in turn, interferes with the border control which results in leakage of unwanted substances into the blood stream, hence having a “leaky gut.” Gluten accelerates this process by stimulating a protein called zonulin which contributes to the loosening of the cell junction in the gut, and this develops a problem to the gut permeability.

The gut inflammation and immune response to gluten increase the vulnerability of getting dementia and Alzheimer disease, and this is characterized by the brain fog and fatigue symptoms. It also causes skin problems and conditions such as dermatitis herpetiform which is characterized by an itchy red rash with raised blisters.