Is An Increase In Auto-Immune Disorders Caused By Processed Foods

I am a hairdresser by profession and talk to women daily about everything under the sun. Lately, I find that I have talked about gluten free and Celiac Disease probably way too much. But because of their curiosity about my lifestyle change, I end up and educate about gluten free living daily. This is Celiac Awareness at work in my life every day.

The reactions are varied from curiosity to sheer horror at having to cook as much as I do. I did not fathom, as monumental as it seemed to me in the beginning, that I would have adapted so quickly. But I have also realized that many people do not like to cook or have abandoned cooking home made except for on special occasions. Even then, mixes in boxes and canned additives are the way that many have adopted quicker methods for providing meals. The art of cooking seems to be relinquished to those who get soul food from producing and creating gastronomic delights for their family.

Convenience is the number one concern for most of us because life is easier that way.Well, I am not so sure that eating gluten free should be as easy as the endless options we have been given as American consumers. More and more studies keep pointing to the same realizations that many people are slowly making - Processed foods are higher in carbohydrates, sugars, and additives and therefore they are not healthy. If you are living under the mantra that eating gluten free is healthier then you may be telling yourself a lie by buying the same processed foods which you ate to start with.

map of every McDonald's in the U.S. as provided by GOOD

There is no concrete evidence yet that the processed food diet is what has spurned a 400% increase in Celiac Disease here in America and Canada but the people who are thinkers are already linking them together. So what do we know?

We know scientifically that :

1. The increase in Celiac Disease and gluten sensitivities is happening and a catalyst is needed in order for an auto-immune disorder to happen.
2. Some varieties of American wheat have been hybridized in order to produce higher gluten content flours.
3. Companies that want a fluffier bread product even add pure gluten into their mix as a leavening agent and therefore produce ultra high gluten products.
4. A gluten free diet helps many auto-immune disorders besides just Celiac Disease, gluten intolerance, or gluten sensitivities.
5. Diabetes 1 & 2 are on the rise in alarming rates and they are both linked to Celiac Disease.
6. Autism is on the rise and effects more children than ever not just because of population growth.
7. ADD & ADHD are rampant and have been linked to high fructose corn syrup, sugar, and high carbohydrates in foods.
8. Medical workers report that patients who are eating a balanced gluten free diet with less carbohydrates are experiencing that it has helped multitudes of disorders like depression, fatigue, anxiety, etc.

Is that enough evidence for you?

Perhaps we should stop wishing away a gluten free life be easier and less hassle after all - Easier may just be what started the decline of the human gastrointestinal system. And that is some serious food for thought.