LINKING GLUTEN TO ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
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“That gluten sensitivity is regarded as principally a disease of the small bowel is a historical misconception. Gluten sensitivity can be primarily and at times exclusively a neurological disease.” Dr. Marios Hadjivassilou from a 2002 issue of the British Medical Journal’s, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. He is defeating the argument that there is no such thing as “non-celiac” Gluten Sensitivity.
“After speaking with Perlmutter, Dr. Oz agreed that consuming healthy fats and limiting carbs can help prevent and even reverse conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and ADHD. Perlmutter is not alone in his assessment that a low-carb, high-fat diet can curb disease. Cardiologist William Davis, author of Wheat Belly, said it can reverse diabetes. And obesity expert Dr. Eric Westman said a low-carb, high-fat ketogenic diet produces rapid weight loss without exercise or calorie-counting. Dr. Westman detailed how the ketogenic diet accelerates weight loss without deprivation in his book A Low Carbohydrate, Ketogenic Diet Manual.” From an article in the October 21, 2013 issue of Examiner.com called Dr. Oz: Low-carb, high-fat diet can reverse Alzheimer’s, diabetes, ADHD. After consulting with Dr. Perlmutter, Dr. Oz is changing his stance on eating a diet high in whole grains and avoiding fats. “Mayo Clinic researchers have uncovered a new link between celiac disease, a digestive condition triggered by consumption of gluten, and dementia or other forms of cognitive decline.” From the October 12, 2006 issue of ScienceDaily (the research was published in that month’s issue of Archives of Neurology). |
The benefits of “Low Carb” are really nothing new. Not only was cardiologist Dr. Robert Atkins talking about the numerous health problems associated with processed carbs, grains, and sugar back in the early 1970’s (1972’s The Atkins Diet Revolution), there were many before him preaching the same message. DR ROYAL LEE and others were warning people about the dangers of processed grains clear back in the 1920’s. There were several early nutritional pioneers who understood that the modern milling process leached virtually all the nutrients from grains, leaving nothing but empty carbohydrates. In fact, in one of his newsletters, Dr. Lee wrote that, “The vitamin of flour is lost as soon as its oils becomes rancid, a change that occurs in a few days after the milling of the grain unless the flour is refrigerated“.
We are being duped to think that the products we are purchasing and consuming under the auspices of “Whole Grain” are wholesome and healthy. The fact is, we live in a society whose way of eating is based largely on processed grains. On top of that, our government is telling us we should consume up to 14 servings of grain a day (HERE), while the majority of the sugar comes from grain as well (HFCS). The truth is, it is difficult to avoid grains in our society. But it is increasingly looking like this might be a necessary step in avoiding CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASES as well as a host of Neurological Diseases such as PARKINSON’S, EPILEPSY, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, HASHIMOTO’S THYROIDITIS, NEUROPATHY, and numerous AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS.
Who is correct in this argument? The studies are all there for everyone to look at. All I can tell you is that person after person who makes the commitment to go GLUTEN FREE sees substantial changes not only in their GUT HEALTH (LEAKY GUT SYNDROME), but in their neurological systems as well. This should not be a surprise considering what we already know about the NEUROLOGICAL EFFECTS OF GLUTEN and the fact that most (80%) of one’s Immune System is found in the Gut (HERE). Let’s play the devil’s advocate though, and say that Gluten has nothing whatsoever to do with Alzheimer’s. It’s almost a moot point. Why? Because we know beyond the shadow of a doubt that HIGH GLYCEMIC INDEX CARBOHYDRATES (such as those found in grains) do cause / contribute to Alzheimer’s Disease (HERE) simply because they contribute to UNCONTROLLED BLOOD SUGAR and INSULIN RESISTANCE. Believe whomever you wish, but if the doubters are wrong, and non-celiac’s with Gluten Sensitivity are creating AUTOIMMUNE RESPONSES against their own brains; the results will be disastrous (see Dr. Hadjivassilou’s 12 year old quote from the very top of the page).
I guess you could always look at the bright side. If you do get Alzheimer’s, it will probably only be a short mater of time until you are unaware of the fact. Trust me on this one. I never see people who cut sugar and crappy, processed carbs from their diets who feel worse after doing so. Furthermore, the leap from Low Carb to Gluten Free is a small one. If you value your brain, take the plunge.
