Waffles For Shrove Tuesday by Beyond Celiac

Suzanne at Beyond Celiac has a great waffle recipe. It's a gluten free Paleo recipe (which fits the GAPS diet).

This is a picture of her heirloom waffle iron.

Lots of people will be having pancakes or waffles today. If you are try this recipe. It is good for any day, of course.

To your health
Dr.Barbara

Delivery, Breast Feeding Effect Type of Newborn's Gut Microbiota

Now we have more proof that the gut and the organisms living in it, collectively called the "super organ", is the source of health. Bad gut bugs, bad health.

The mental health issues and symptoms and illness that occur with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity occur from the damaged bowel and the abnormal organisms that live there. 
If you have illness from gluten sensitivity, there are unhealthy organisms growing in the bowel. It is important to heal the gut by eliminating bad organisms in the bowel and encourage healthy probiotics, to become well and ameliorate symptoms especially the ones not related to the bowel.

To heal the gut and restore normal gut microbiota, I suggest a Gut and Psychology Syndrome diet which starves the bad and encourages the healthy gut bacteria.  In practice, it really works.

Scientists are still trying to figure out for sure, how the bad bacteria colonize the bowel of a newborn.There are previous studies that show C/S births, mother taking the birth control pill and formula feeding of infants leads to abnormal gut bacteria. See my article called "Baby inherits gut dysbiosis from Mother.

Here another study reported in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, February 11, 2013,  confirms infants born by caesarean delivery lacked a group of bacteria common in the stool of infants delivered vaginally, even if they were breastfed. The study suggests how the choice of feeding formula could explain disease - susceptibility later in life. 

One very disturbing finding is the over representation of C. Difficile in the stool of formula fed infants. C. Difficile is linked to asthmas, allergy and mental health issues.

Read an excerpt from CBCNEWS:

"Decisions regarding C-section delivery will influence the development of the infant's gut microbiome, with potential lifelong impact on health," study author Dr. Anita Kozyrskyj, of the University of Alberta said in an email.

It could be that C-section physically prevents newborns from acquiring microbes they would during vaginal births, Kozyrskyj said.

C. difficile bacteria that are associated with infections, allergy and asthma were over represented in infants fed formula.

"Infants born by caesarean delivery are at increased risk of asthma, obesity and Type 1 diabetes, whereas breastfeeding is variably protective against these and other disorders," researchers wrote.

"Our findings are particularly timely given the recent affirmation of the gut microbiota as a "super organ" with diverse roles in health and disease, and the increasing concern over rising cesarean delivery and insufficient exclusive breastfeeding in Canada."

If you have gluten sensitivity, and health problems, even if it is ever so slight, go on a GAPS diet.This diet has been research and successfully used by pioneers like Dr. Haas (1950's), Elaine Gottschall (1970's-2000's) who called it the specific carbohydrate diet. And fine tuned with modern understandings of nutritional sciences by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. There are many imitators.  

That's the start, then find and correct nutritional deficiencies, get your Homocysteine level to 8 or below, and get your vitamin D levels in the anti-viral, anti-cancer range which is over 120 nmol/l. And find and treat auto-immune disorders like hypothyroidism.

To your Health

Dr. Barbara

Celiac Caused By Other Proteins in Grains- GLO-3A

There has been vigorous scientific study of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity in the last few years. These studies continue to confirm that there may be as many of 400 different proteins, non-gluten, in grains that cause celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. And by extension, to heal, it confirms the use of a specific carbohydrate diet or Gut and Psychology Syndrome diet which is free of grains.

In a recent study published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, the researchers studied a non-gluten storage protein in wheat, Glo-3A ( antibodies for Glo-3A are found in persons suffering from celiac disease).Thinking that these antibodies could be used to diagnose celiac disease, they found that they could infact diagnose celiac disease earlier than using the traditional serum TtG IgA.

Dr. Osborne at Glutenfreesociety, writes about the immune response to toxic grain proteins and about this study of Glo-3A in children at high risk of developing celiac disease:

Immune Response to Non Gluten Protein

The protein is called Glo-3A. It is a non gluten storage protein found in wheat.

Production of antibodies to Glo-3A is being studied as a marker to help in earlier diagnosis of gluten issues. In a study of children at high risk of developing the celiac disease, which attacks cells lining the small intestine, high levels of antibodies to Glo-3A were detectable in blood earlier than antibodies to tissue transglutaminase (TTG), a serologic marker frequently used to diagnose celiac disease.

“The present study shows that higher levels of Glo-3A antibodies are associated with celiac disease both at the time of clinical diagnosis and before that point,”

Glo-3A antibody production in the celiac group appeared, on average, about 2 years before TTG antibodies were detectable, at around age 3 versus age 5 for TTG antibodies.

The researchers in this study suspect that Glo-3A antibody production is a biomarker of impaired immune tolerance and increased gut permeability, i.e., celiac disease.
When diagnosing celiac disease, health care providers typically screen patients’ blood for the presence of TTG antibodies. TTG is an enzyme that alters the gliadin molecule by deamidating glutamine residues; these residues in turn bind to antigen presenting cells and activate T cells, leading to damage to the finger like cells called villi that line the small intestine. Over time, the cellular damage, known as villous atrophy, leads to malabsorption of food, gastrointestinal bloating, and diarrhea. But by the time TTG antibodies are detectable, villous atrophy has often already begun—prompting scientists to look for diagnostic tools that allow earlier diagnosis.

“These results may indicate that the immune pathology and subsequent damage that are characteristic of celiac disease start early in life”

You may have initially got better eating a traditional gluten free diet only to plateau or been told you have another autoimmune condition. Traditional gluten free diets that are not grain free, still expose you to toxic, non gluten, celiac promoting proteins. These proteins protect the grains from destruction by digestion, and to allow for wide distribution and propagation.
This study is one of many studies that have shown that grains contribute to disease processes.

In a future blog, I will describe the multiple toxic prolamines, also non-gluten proteins, found in grains.

I recommend a specific carbohydrate diet, updated by Dr. Campbell-McBride and called a GAPS diet.
For as long as it takes to clear up even the most minor problems, as these are signs of chronic inflammation, and chronic inflammation is the cause of most chronic illness of Western Societies including cancer.

All people are at risk of celiac disease. There is no constellation of symptoms or signs that is reliable for a clinical diagnosis. Get tested. If you don't have the money even for the genetic testing at www.enterolab.com  ,go on a GAPS diet and see how you do. Then as soon as possible get tested.

I don't know what to recommend if you don't have any gluten sensitivity or celiac genes. The evidence of the dangers to health of eating grains is enormous. But are there different "metabolic types" and some people can eat some small amounts of whole grains? I think so. But this is a subject for another day.

To your health

Dr. Barbara

Eat Good Fats and Get Healthy-Sally Fallon Video

Yes, eat good fats and get healthy. People with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity need even more good fats because of the common problem of not having enough cholesterol or triglycerides in the blood to support healthy cells and cell function. Read about cholesterol in a previous blog post.

But what is a good fat? What is a saturated fat, an unsaturated fat?

What is the difference between margarine and butter?

Is cholesterol something to be worried about?

Here is an excellent video of Sally Fallon, president of the Weston A. Price Pottinger Foundation, explaining the history of one change in our diets from a traditional diet. The video is called "The Oiling of America" and based on Dr. Enig's work in research in fats.

The DVD is 2 hours long. I hope you find the time to watch all of it. Enjoy. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvKdYUCUca8

To your health.

Dr. B

Heal Your Gut To Make More Serotonin, and Feel Better

Yes, your bowel makes more serotonin than your brain does and some people call the bowel your second brain because it has more serotonin receptors too, than your brain. I have helped to resolve many peoples symptoms of anxiety, depression, learning disability, irritability and paranoia with focusing on healing the bowel, first. If you have been reading my blog, you know I mean the GAPS diet. The science that shows there is an association with improper growth of organisms (called dysbiosis) in the bowel and illness is very strong. There are many causes of dysbiosis: vitamin D deficiency, mother's use of birth control, birth by C/S, use of antibiotics without enough probiotics, stress, refined carbohydrates in the diet especially wheat, toxins in our food and drinking water, and foods that are devoid of healthy bacteria (diets without naturally fermented foods). So you see normal life in a western society can easily lead to dysbiosis.

And the consequences of the damaged bowel, and there are many: poor absorption of nutrients, mental health issues from mild to severe, autoimmune disorders, inflammation and more. A short list  and the remedies are listed here: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/03/18/mcbride-and-barringer-interview.aspx

Here is a quote from the same article:

Your gut serves as your second brain, and even produces more serotonin—known to have a beneficial influence on your mood—than your brain does. It is also home to countless bacteria, both good and bad. These bacteria outnumber the cells in your body by at least 10 to one, and maintaining the ideal balance of good and bad bacteria forms the foundation for good health—physical, mental and emotional.
Most disease originates in your digestive system. This includes both physical and mental disease. Once you heal and seal your gut lining, and make your digestive system work properly again, disease symptoms will typically resolve
The GAPS protocol is designed to restore the integrity of your gut lining by providing your body with the necessary building blocks needed for health enterocyte reproduction, and restoring balance to your gut flora. Basic dietary details are included.

But the good news is that the bowel can be healed, in your own home, without toxic chemicals or expensive therapeutic medical expenses.

One of the super healing foods is Sauerkraut and here is one of my articles on Sauerkraut and a super easy recipe for it:

To your health,

Dr. B

Dr. Russell Blaylock on Dangers of Aspartame MSG - YouTube

THIS SHOULD BE REQUIRED VIEWING FOR EVERYBODY !!

Many people with or without gluten induced diseases may be purposefully avoiding sugar and ingesting foods with "no added sugar" only to be exposed to Aspartame. Or just chose foods not knowing what it is made of or where it came from.

Aspartame and MSG are neurotoxins and should be avoided.

Dr. Russell Blaylock MD, is a respected doctor who writes the Blaylockreport where you can find health and nutrition information that can save your life.

In this lecture Dr Blaylock explains one of the most common and important connections between nutrition and our health, how nutrition affects our behaviour, and the detrimental effects of excitotoxins Aspartame and MSG, Citing a series of important studies, he shows that good nutrition can powerfully enhance our memory, mood and behaviour in a socially desirable way. Like wise he shows us that poor nutrition can lead our youth into a world of violence, crime, depression and suicide.

Here is a must see video on YouTube by Dr. Blaylock.

If the link doesn't work you can find it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEq3SzHI1Mw

To your health

Dr. B

Your Prescribed Meds Are Depleting You of Vitamins and minerals

Drug Induced Nutritional Deficiencies and Gluten Sensitivity


Often times, persons with gluten sensitivity are chronically ill and are prescribed medications for their symptoms.
People with gluten sensitivity are already nutrient deficient (see Hallert et al http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12144584) and without knowing it can get into more nutrient deficiencies when they go on most medications. Drug induced nutrient loss is rarely discussed when a prescription is ordered except for perhaps when diuretics are ordered, some potassium may be ordered to counter act potassium loss. But many drugs are metabolized by using up various nutrients and that leaves a person short for their day to day metabolism. The nutrient deficiencies themselves cause symptoms or delay healing. By knowing what nutrients are depleted a person can make up the difference with food and supplements.

I take nutrient loss from drugs very seriously. For example, one year of using a PPI drug for heart burn, like Prepulsid, can increase a persons risk of heart attack by 30%. This is due to the massive calcium and magnesium losses.

For many years now, as a resource, I've used a handbook written by Ross Pelton and James Lavalle called "The Nutritional Cost of Prescription Drugs" published by Morton Publishing Co., 2nd
Ed., 2004.

The authors make many helpful observations and recommendations. Here is a quote from the book-

Symptoms of folic acid deficiency include elevated homocysteine, anemia, headaches, fatigue, depression, hair loss, insomnia and increased susceptibility to infection.

Again, there are medical ironies here. Folic acid is helpful in relieving arthritic pain, but the drugs commonly prescribed for arthritis deplete folic acid. The cells of the intestinal lining have a special need for folic acid because of their high rate of replication; sulfasalazine, a drug commonly prescribed for colitis, can cause a deficiency of folic acid, ultimately delaying healing.

It is likely that thousands of premature deaths of heart disease and stroke could be prevented through adequate supplementation with folic acid. Some multivitamins and B-complex vitamins include only 100 mcg of folic acid; 400 mcg is a better level, and there is much to be said for using even more than that. It is a tragedy that this very inexpensive and non-toxic vitamin is not more widely used-especially by those who need it the most, including millions of users of anti-inflammatory drugs and oral contraceptives.

If you are on any medication and would like to know what nutrients are depleted, there are charts on the internet. I would not rely only on these charts or the one I have a link to here:
http://www.northlandak.com/Drug-Induced_Nutrient_Depletions_TM-1.pdf.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Dr. B