Low Cholesterol is a sign of celiac/gluten sensitivity, and is DANGEROUS

Low cholesterol, when found by blood work, should trigger a high degree of suspicion on the part of the physician that the person has celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

Low cholesterol is any level of total cholesterol below 4.14 mmol/L or 160 mg/dL.

Low cholesterol is dangerous because it is linked by numerous studies to depression, suicide, violent behaviour, and increased death rate from a violent episode such as accident or homicide!!!

The following studies have linked low cholesterol levels to an increased risk of developing depression:

1. A 1993 paper in Lancet reported, “Among men aged seventy years and older, depression was three times more common in the group with low total plasma cholesterol…than in those with higher concentrations.”

2. A 2000 paper in Psychosomatic Medicine, reported men with long-term, low total cholesterol levels “have a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms” compared to those with higher cholesterol levels.

3. In 1998, a Swedish research paper showed women with the lowest cholesterol group (the bottom tenth percentile) suffered from significantly more depressive symptoms than did the other healthy women.

4. A 2001 study in Psychiatry Research also found that low levels of cholesterol were linked to higher ratings on depression rating scales.

5. A 2008 meta-analyses found higher total cholesterol was associated with lower levels of depression.

6. Low levels of HDL were linked to “long-term depressive symptomatology”.

Numerous studies link the sad, fatal condition of suicide to low level of cholesterol.

And suicide is not the only type of violence associated with lower cholesterol levels.

Swedish researchers reported that “low cholesterol is associated with increased subsequent victimization by criminal violence.”

And low cholesterol is linked to higher risk of cancer.

A recent study published in Curr Med Res Opin. 2011 Sep 7. Epub 2011 Sep 7. PMID: 21899411confirmed the significant association between low cholesterol and cancer mortality in the general population. A Japanese study showed an inverse relationship between cholesterol and cancer Int J Cancer. 2009 Dec 1;125(11):2679-86. PMID: 19544528

And another 2009 Japanese study showed there is an inverse association between serum total cholesterol and cancer mortality, especially for liver cancer. Int J Cancer. 2009 Dec 1;125(11):2679-86. PMID: 19544528

How does low cholesterol cause so much brain dysfunction?

 As is the case with so much of psychiatry, we don’t know exactly why a low cholesterol level is linked to depression or cancer. Canadian researchers were the first to examine this question in their 2007 study published in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. Low cholesterol seems to affect the frontal cortex, a part of the brain that handles planning including inhibiting inappropriate actions and making good decisions.

Chronic low grade inflammation is theorized as the basis of many mental illnesses, cancer and chronic illness of the modern world.

Cholesterol, the mother of our hormones.

Cholesterol is a precursor to all steroid and sex hormones like progesterone, DHEA, estriol, testosterone, and cortisol ALL important for our functioning but ALL also anti-inflammatory.

Cholesterol is also theorized to be a part of the activation of many neurochemical, so without enough cholesterol some neurochemical can’t do their job for example serotonin.

Vitamin D is synthesized with the help of cholesterol and ultraviolet light.

What if you are on a cholesterol lowering drug and it is below 4.14?

I would recommend that you get celiac testing and talk to your doctor about the dose of the lipid lowering drug and adjusting the dose to allow the cholesterol levels to rise naturally to above 4.14mmol/L.

To Your Health

Wheat Lectin (WGA) is Cytotoxic, Neurotoxic, Cardiotoxic and Immunotoxic

Lectins, components of grains act to protect the grain plant and act like anti-nutrients. If you are struggling with celiac disease or other gastrointestinal issues, you need to read about chitin-binding Lectins to understand what is going on and their danger.

Start by linking to this incredibly well researched article called "Opening Pandora's Bread Box: The critical role of wheat lectin in Human Disease" by Sayer Ji. 

I learned that sprouted wheat has MORE lectins than regular wheat!

Dr. Mercola writes a wellness newsletter and he shares cutting edge information.

He recently wrote on gluten and lectins:

"Gluten" comes from the Latin word for glue, so named because its adhesive properties hold bread and other baked goods together. Gluten is present in grains such as wheat, rye, and barley. The glue-like properties interfere with the breakdown and absorption of nutrients, including the nutrients from other foods in the same meal. The result is a sticky, constipating lump in your gut, rather than a nutritious, easily digested meal.

This undigested glutinous gut-bomb may trigger your immune system to attack the lining of your small intestine, causing diarrhea or constipation, nausea, and/or abdominal pain. Severe reactions are classified as "celiac disease," and milder reactions fall under the category of "gluten intolerance." Over time, your small intestine can become increasingly damaged and less able to absorb nutrients, such as iron and calcium. This in turn can lead to anemia, osteoporosis and other health problems.

Modern wheat (and other grains) differs greatly from the wheat our ancestors ate. The proportion of gluten protein in wheat has increased enormously as a result of hybridization. Legumes are also loaded with lectins, which is why most who follow a Paleo type diet avoid them.

Lectins: The Plant Kingdom's Weapon of Mass Destruction

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that are widespread in the plant kingdom. Plants produce lectins to ward off their natural enemies, such as fungi and insects. However, lectins are not just the nemesis of fungi and insects, but are also plaguing humans. Please refer to the excellent video above by Chris Meletis, ND, who discusses the many dangers posed by these glycoproteins.

There are many types of lectins.

And from the same article....................

 Wheat Lectin (WGA) is Cytotoxic, Neurotoxic, Cardiotoxic and ImmunotoxicWheat lectin, or "wheat germ agglutinin" (WGA), is largely responsible for many of wheat's pervasive ill effects. WGA is highest in whole wheat, especially sprouted whole wheat, but wheat isn't the only grain with significant lectin. All seeds of the grass family (rice, wheat, spelt, rye, etc.) are high in Lectins.

Read more here at Mercola.com.

Happy New Year, just don't raise a glass of barley based Gluten-free Beer.

All of us who are gluten sensitive just want to have a lifestyle similar to others with delicious food and drink, that is convenient and healthy. And having a glass of "cheer" can be part of that wish.
Those of you who enjoy gluten-free beers have to read this report of an independent lab that tested barley-based gluten-free beer.

Significantly, both barley -based low-gluten beers tested, in which the hordein concentration is reduced (by proprietary processing steps during brewing to reduce the amount of gluten in the final product) had substantial levels of one or more hordein proteins which are a source of gluten.

Barley-based gluten-free beer had 'substantial' hordein protein levels, study

Australian scientists say they have conducted tests revealing that two commercially available barley-based low gluten beers had substantial levels of one or more hordein proteins.

http://www.beveragedaily.com/Formulation/Barley-based-gluten-free-beer-had-substantial-hordein-protein-levels-study

The bottom line: if you like to drink gluten-free beer, stick to rice or sorghum based gluten-free beer to be safe.