The Candida, gluten intolerance connection - How Yeast may lead to Celiac Disease

(NaturalNews) The more we learn about leaky gut syndrome and gluten sensitivity, the more we question which came first, the gluten sensitivity or an overgrowth of Candida?

Gluten free diets may be all the craze right now, but there is a good reason for this. Many people are finding they feel better and their health improves when they remove gluten from their diets.

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a protein that is made up of gliadin and glutenin. It acts as an emulsifier and it helps to bind food together. Wheat is the most commonly eaten grain that contains gluten, but the list of gluten grains is actually pretty long. It includes:

• Wheat
• Barley
• Bulgur
• Einkorn
• Emmer
• Farina
• Farro
• Kamut
• Mir
• Rye
• Seitan
• Semolina
• Spelt
• Triticale

Many people who react to gluten are also sensitive to oats. Although oats do not contain gluten, the protein in oats is similar. Also, to avoid gluten with oats it is necessary to purchase gluten free oats and most oats are processed in the same plants as wheat and other gluten containing grains. Cross contamination is pretty much guaranteed if the oats are not gluten free.

In addition to oats, many gluten sensitive individuals react to cow dairy. Some are sensitive to other gluten free grains.

Note that couscous is made of wheat and malts are made of gluten grains. Learn the various names of wheat to avoid it, and discover which grains are gluten free.

What is Candida?

Candida albicans is a yeast that is found in most humans. A healthy gut contains an abundance of good (beneficial) bacteria that keeps Candida in check, not allowing it to overgrow. If this balance is disturbed (generally through antibiotic use or ingesting too much sugar) Candida overgrows.

Through its metabolic process, Candida releases harmful toxins. As it grows it changes forms from a one-celled yeast to a form with filaments or threads that drill right through tissues and single cells. It destroys the biofilm lining the intestines and can drill right through the gut wall. Proteins and food particles that never would pass through the villi now enter the bloodstream.

The body reacts to these invading, unnatural substances as if they were pathogens. This process of Candida releasing gluten proteins into the blood may well explain the rise in numbers of gluten sensitive people. Candida is ravaging the health of Americans and is rampant due to our over use of antibiotics and the outrageously high sugar content in the typical American diet.

If you have a gluten intolerance, celiac disease, or any allergies, it's time to Kill Candida and Balance Your Inner Ecosystem. Also, check out Is wheat Poison? What's Behind the Rise of Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance for more on wheat and gluten.

Sources:

http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com

http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com

http://journals.lww.com

https://farrp.unl.edu

http://truthwiki.org/Gluten

About the author:
Joel learned long ago that pharmaceuticals were not the answer to health and vitality. He gave up on pharmaceuticals many years ago, and he also gave up wheat and refined sugars. His hobbies include gluten free baking, gardening, and fitness. Joel is passionate about agriculture and environmental issues. Joel believes that progressive, cutting-edge, organic agriculture can feed the world.