Read full article By Krishma Shah @ Deccdan Herald Photo Credit:
Gluten is a protein found in wheat and wheat-based products, barley and rye. Wheat contains a signi cant amount of gluten and is widely consumed in the form of chapatis, bread, pasta, noodles, and other preparations.
Gluten is responsible for the elastic and so texture and contains two fragments: glutenin and gliadin, the former is responsible for the adverse impact it has on your gut health and hormones concentration and effect of the protein fractions on our system.
Gluten intolerance
Our gut contains speci c enzymes for the breakdown of these proteins. If the enzyme function is not appropriate, there is incomplete digestion of gluten that can further trigger an immune reaction. This immune reaction produces antibodies that start attacking your body’s own healthy cells. The immediate target cells are the ones in the gut. This causes damage to the very tight and protective lining of the intestine that prevents the entry of toxins and disease-causing infectious microorganisms in the gut. As this gut-barrier function gets compromised it may result in a “leaky” and in amed gut.
Gluten & autoimmune conditions
The attack is not localised to the gut but is widespread to the other organs like the thyroid gland, skin, or bones that manifest as different “autoimmune” conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Systemic Lupus Erythematous, etc., indicating the link between gluten intolerance and autoimmune conditions.
Gluten & hormonal imbalance
Based on the above immune response elicited by those with an underlying hormonal imbalance and conditions like Hypothyroidism, PCOS, Endometriosis may be more prone to the ill effects of gluten.
Gluten may act as an endocrine disruptor in the system that mimics hormones and can lead to dysfunction in hormonal harmony. Gluten can cause havoc in the system with chronic in ammation, increased oxidative stress, and free radical generation along with increased cortisol levels that elevate blood pressure causing anxiety that is associated with hirsutism in women with PCOS.
Owing to a state where the gut function is compromised due to constant exposure to gluten along with other allergens, it can affect the absorption of nutrients.
This causes nutrient de ciencies of essential vitamins and minerals that otherwise cannot be naturally synthesised by our body and require to be supplemented through our diet.
