Gluten, Wheat and Weight Gain
By Dr. Jeff Bartlett
 We would like thank Debbie, owner of Curves in Tampa Bay, Florida, who asked us to write an article on the issue of gluten/wheat-intolerance and weight gain. Most people who hear the phrase 'Gluten-free diet' may automatically assume it is only for people who suffer from Celiac Disease (intestinal disease), but in fact, there is a significant percentage of people who are intolerant to wheat and gluten and don't even know about it. On the plus side, eating a diet low in 'wheat-gluten' foods will enhance one's weight loss success. Please remember that simple carbohydrates (sugars and low-fiber carbohydrates) are the major contributing factor to the obesity epidemic in North America.
In one of our past articles, when we discussed the issue of 'the diet evolution,' we brought attention to the fact that we (mankind) introduced wheat into our diet just 8000 years ago. After more than 700,000 years, mankind transitioned from the traditional diet of the hunter-gatherer, which featured protein and fat from fish, vegetables, shellfish, animal meat, and/or dairy products, to a more grain-based diet. Think about it; basically everything we eat today contains wheat in one form or another: breads, pastas, cereals and baked goods...and the list goes on. The point I'm trying to make here is that our body's digestive enzymes have not had ample time, in evolutionary terms, to adapt to the major transition in our diet. According to Dr. Eades (Protein Power), it may take another 10,000 years before our body's digestive system can successfully adapt to properly utilize wheat products.
 I believe strongly, along with Drs. Eades and Dr. Joseph Mercola that our high consumption of wheat is a major contributor to the vast array of auto-immune diseases, celiac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and many other illnesses that are plaguing us today. As we mentioned earlier, beyond the health concerns related to gluten-wheat intolerance, medical studies have also confirmed that the key to successful weight loss is managing the carbohydrate-insulin-obesity connection—and that's the foundation of our nutritional weight loss philosophy at www.curveshealthclub.com. So let's dive into this issue of gluten/wheat intolerance a little deeper, and I ask that you reflect on your nutritional habits and the habits of those around you and see if you can extract some helpful tips from this article.
What is gluten?
Gluten itself is a 'gum-like' protein that is found in all wheat, rye, and oat products. The gluten protein is hard for many people to digest. Gluten has been shown to cause damage to the digestive tract, creating complications that can lead to disease. A gluten-free diet actually involves the complete avoidance of wheat, rye and oats – a task that is very difficult to accomplish in today's world. We highly recommend that you first make a conscious effort to simply "cut back" on wheat products. Reassess how you are feeling after a month, and if you are feeling better or your symptoms are in remission, than we recommend taking these dietary changes much more seriously.
What are the gluten-intolerance symptoms?
Gluten causes allergic reactions in certain people, so individuals who are sensitive to gluten may have the following symptoms:
- Abdominal cramping and pain
- Bloating and flatulence
- Chronic diarrhea
- Bone and joint pain
- Canker sores
- Delayed growth or short stature
- Dyspepsia (Dyspepsia is a pain or an uncomfortable feeling in the upper middle part of your stomach)
- Emotional disturbances, such as anxiety and depression
- Fatigue
- Infertility
- Painful skin rash
How do I know if I'm gluten-intolerant?
If you think you may be gluten intolerant, you can go to a Naturopathic Doctor who will conduct a food intolerance test, and/or talk to your GP.
What do I need to avoid?
To avoid gluten completely, ask about ingredients at restaurants and others' homes, in addition to reading food labels. The following list is not complete.
- Barley
- Beer, stout, lager
- Cereals (some)
- Baking powders (some)
- Flour: bread, brown, durum, granary, strong, and whole-meal
- Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
- Oats (While oats contain a substance similar to gluten, modern research has found that eating moderate amounts of oats does not appear to cause problems for people with celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis.)
- Pasta
- Rye
- Soy sauce and shoyu tamari
- Spelt
- Starch and vegetable starch
- Wheat
What foods are gluten free?
Ask your local grocer about the products you're unfamiliar with.
- Fresh fish, fruits, meats, and vegetables
- Amaranth
- Arrowroot
- Bean flours
- Buckwheat
- Corn
- Millet
- Potato flour
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sorghum
- Tapioca
- Teff
- Wild rice
To lose weight and turn around your health, we highly recommend that you make an attempt to avoid grain products. Not only will this help with your symptoms, but will aid in weight loss. Lastly, if your children or grandchildren have allergies, we highly recommend getting them tested for wheat intolerance, because young children are more susceptible. Don't forget that you can email us with additional questions on this, or any other topic...because we care about your health!
Recommended Books:
1. The No-Grain Diet, Dr. Joseph Mercola
2. Curves, Gary Havin
3. The Protein Power Life Plan, Drs. Michael and Mary Eades
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Maria's Success Story
"My Medical Breakthrough"
 I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes in September of 2002. I began exercising and changing my eating habits immediately. By January of 2003 I had lost 50 pounds, but was becoming discouraged and bored with my exercise routine: 30 to 45 minutes on my exercise bike, or one hour of brisk walking, 5 days a week. I saw a commercial on TV about Curves. I went to the computer, looked it up and found a Curves location. Even though it was a bit of a drive for me, I was going to call them up. Then one Sunday when my husband and I went for breakfast, I picked up a newspaper and saw an ad for a new Curves that was closer to me. I called first thing that Monday, joined on the 18th of February, and haven't looked back.
I was taking 10mg of Glipizide and 1000mg of Metformin daily. I was able to go off the Glipizide within 3 months of joining Curves. In August I was able to cut my Metformin in half and I am still working on getting rid of it altogether. My Alc level has consistently been at 6.0...a great rate for Diabetics.
I had always known that the combination of nutrition and exercise was "the answer" to my weight problem. It wasn't until I made the life changing decision to become healthy that I put it into practice.
Coming to Curves and meeting the great staff has been the best thing to happen to me in a long time. Their advice and the encouragement has helped me to gain knowledge about fitness and health. I am pretty well educated about my Diabetes; now being able to share that information and help other women has made me feel great.
Since becoming a Curves member I have become much more aware of my body and how it feels when I do exercise and when I don't. I drink more water then I ever have in my life. I also definitely think twice before I eat something now! I have learned more about the effect that carbohydrates have on our bodies. Learning about plateaus and how to overcome them has been very helpful.
The whole Curves team have been great. They are always so helpful and always have some bit of knowledge to pass on. I can say I am very proud to have been asked to become part of the Curves team. Working here has been a great motivator for me. I know that I am an example to some of the ladies, and that makes me even more aware of my choices.
Here I am a year later working two jobs. I never would have been able to do that before I started getting healthy. Curves has helped build my strength and my stamina immensely. I am able to walk at a much brisker pace and for longer distances. I no longer become winded going up a flight of stairs. I also sleep much better.
I enjoy the camaraderie of the women and the support of everyone. I am, by nature, a very outgoing person and this has been a great place for me to be. I like the fact that there are women of all ages and all sizes here. We have our abilities and our limitations and we are all able to work with those here at Curves.
If you are considering joining Curves, or if you are wondering if you should stick with it, I'd like to tell you that this has been the best choice for my health and for myself that I have ever made. I have seen results from the very beginning. While I had already begun my weight loss process, I believe that Curves has been what has kept me going for the past year. The determination to change your lifestyle can be found within these doors. The Curves team have given me a whole new lease on life. My weight loss journey continues, and Curves will always be an important part of that.
Total loss: 34 inches, 38.5 pounds
Do YOU have a success story you'd like to contribute? Just send us your story (be sure to include your phone number and email address) and we'll contact you to let you know when it will appear.
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