September 8, 2015 Newsletter

Welcome to the Gluten Free Works Health Guide Newsletter!

Today we look at inflammation and how to find and get rid of sources of inflammation.

Inflammation and its repercussions sicken millions of people every day. Identifying and removing sources of inflammation are vitally important to maintaining good health. Gluten causes inflammation in gluten sensitivity, celiac disease and gluten allergies, but gluten is not the only trigger. Everyone is different, so what may set off my immune system may not set off yours. And any food can be a trigger. It turns out bananas almost made my father go blind, by causing inflammation in his eyes that led to glaucoma. He only discovered the banana trigger by performing an elimination diet, and unfortunately only after surgeries and complications. No doctor guessed a food could be causing his eye problems.

Please email us questions or topic suggestions at info@glutenfreeworks.com.

Thank You!

-John Libonati, Publisher
Gluten Free Works Health Recovery Center

Identifying and Removing Sources of Inflammation

Inflammation plays a major part in hundreds of symptoms and conditions stemming from gluten sensitivity and celiac disease. Inflammation can affect any body system. The good news it that many of the problems inflammation causes are reversible, some as soon as the inflammation subsides.

Inflammation is defined as a defensive response of the body to injury or disease, causing redness, swelling, pain, and a feeling of heat in certain areas that is meant to protect affected tissues.

Removing the source of inflammation, the thing that is triggering the immune system to attack, is the key to eliminating inflammation.

Food Sensitivities

Foods can cause inflammation. Gluten is a major trigger, but other foods can influence inflammation. Any food can cause inflammation if your body is sensitized to that particular food.

Acidosis

Eating a diet low in vegetables and fruits, but high in sugar, grains and meats lead to acidosis, which increases inflammation.

Unbalanced Nutrition

An overabundance of omega 6 fatty acids and lack of omega 3 fatty acids will lead to higher than normal inflammatory response.

Environmental Triggers

Viruses and bacterial infections trigger an immune response. Sleep deprivation and overexercise lead to inflammation. Radiation, sunburn, mold, dust and other allergens, candida, poisons and injury are sources of inflammation.

Tip: Identifying and Removing Sources of Inflammation

Identify possible environmental sources of inflammation outside of the diet and remove them from the living and work areas. Once that is done, perform an elimination diet to discover which foods cause inflammation for YOU. Don’t worry about whether your mother, father or siblings can tolerate the food. The elimination diet works where all foods are removed from the diet except those that are absolutely known not to cause inflammation. This could be rice and a protein, such as fish or chicken. Eat just those items for two weeks. Skip all processed foods during this time. With multiple ingredients, it is too difficult to determine which one caused the problems. Gradually add back other foods, one every four days, until an inflammatory reaction is noticed. Remove that food from the diet. Be aware that it can take a few days for the inflammation to set in. That is why four days is recommended. Finally, build a balanced, healthy diet from the foods that do not cause inflammation.

A Sampling of Diseases Where Inflammation Plays a Role Here is a small sample of conditions affected by inflammation. Click on the images below to find out what you need to do to correct the problem.

Increased Intestinal Permeability (Leaky Gut) What Is Increased Intestinal Permeability? Increased intestinal permeability is characterized by greater than normal intestinal permeability (leakiness) allowing for the penetration of harmful entities into the bloodstream such as undigested proteins and microbes. The popular name is “leaky gut.” Q: … Read More » Autoimmune Thyroiditis Causing Hypothyroidism (Hashimoto) What Is Autoimmune Thyroiditis (Hypothyroidism)? Autoimmune thyroiditis, also called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, is an autoimmune destruction of thyroid tissue characterized by insufficient thyroid hormone circulating in the body that causes formation of a goiter (enlarged thyroid gland) and hypothyroidism. Hypothroidism refers … Read More » Candida Albicans Mucosal Infection What Is Candida Albicans Mucosal Infection? Candida albicans infection, called candidosis or candidiasis, is an opportunistic invasion of mucous membrane by candida albicans, an endogenous yeast found in 40 to 80% of normal human beings. Q: How does candida albicans … Read More »   Edema of the Small Intestine What Is Small Intestinal Edema? Small intestinal edema is characterized by fluid accumulation within the intestinal mucosa so that the intestinal wall appears thick and swollen. Intestinal edema hampers peristalsis that can result in pain and gas build-up. Peristalsis is … Read More » Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a motility disorder without anatomic cause involving the entire gastrointestinal tract that is characterized by these four features: 1) Abdominal pain usually relieved by defecation or passing of gas; 2) … Read More » Chronic Fatigue / Lassitude / Tiredness What Is Chronic Fatigue? Chronic fatigue or lassitude is a state of weariness not relieved by rest and the inability to do normal physical or mental work. Q: What are causes of chronic fatigue? A: Chronic fatigue can be a … Read More » Gluten Sensitive Enteropathy (Active Celiac Disease) What Is Gluten Sensitive Enteropathy? Gluten sensitive enteropathy is active celiac disease characterized by inflammation of the small intestinal mucosa that results from an inherited immunologic intolerance to ingested gluten. Q: What does the inflammation do to the mucosa in the small … Read More » Dry Eyes, Chronic What Is Chronic Dry Eye Syndrome? Chronic dry eye syndrome is an inflammatory condition of the conjunctiva with inadequate tear production or distribution over the eye surface. It is characterized by surface damage to the conjunctiva, giving the appearance of … Read More » Inflammatory Vaginitis What Is Inflammatory Vaginitis? Inflammatory vaginitis, also called desquamative inflammatory vaginitis, is a female genital disorder characterized by non-infectious tissue inflammation of the vagina (birth canal). Inflammatory vaginitis presents in females of any age including girls with a history of discomfort, … Read More »