Could Gluten Be Making You Ill?
By: Shoshanna Levy
Published: May 11, 2011

Since it's Celiac Awareness Month, Wheatless Wednesday, and Food Allergy Week. let's take a look at how and why gluten may be damaging your health. Due to modern wheat being altered to have a significantly higher gluten (means glue in Latin) content than it's original form, a massive amount of people are now becoming intolerant to it. 
Many people associate gluten sensitivity with celiac disease, yet this is just one aspect. This intolerance can impact any system of the body due to an overburdened liver and immune system.
Possible symptoms of an intolerance:
1. Upper respiratory tract problems: "sinusitis," "allergies", itchy ears, and asthma.  
2. Symptoms related to malabsorption of nutrients: Anemia and fatigue (lack of iron or folic acid), osteoporosis, insomnia (lack of calcium and magnesium).
3. Bowel complaints: Diarrhea, constipation, bloating and distention, spastic colon, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome.
4. Autoimmune problems: Rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, Crohn's disease, lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Psoriasis, Type I diabetes, eczema, and rosacea.
5. Diseases of the nervous system: Motor neuron disease, certain forms of epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. 6. Mental problems: Depression, behavioral difficulties, ADHD, brain fog, anxiety, mood swings, autism spectrum, and schizophrenia  Photo: Loridstone