Gluten, Grains, Legumes, Seeds – Damaged Thyroid Cells & Autoimmune Diseases
If you have been dealing with any thyroid related issues, such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism to nodules, cysts or cancer, most likely you have heard you should completely eliminate gluten from your diet, but did you know that gluten and even all grains, legumes and seeds could be one of the main contributors to your damaged thyroid cells and autoimmune response?
More and more different universities and hospitals around the world are publishing studies that investigate the connection of Celiac Disease patients with mono (one autoimmune disease) – and/or polyglandular autoimmunity (more than one autoimmune disease) and suggest that Celiac Disease- Gluten Sensitivity, detected in early stages may prevent endocrine autoimmunity manifestation.
The close relationship between glandular autoimmunity and gluten sensitivity can be greatly explained by sharing a common genetic background.
If wheat / gluten, grains, legumes and seeds have been a staple in your diet before experiencing autoimmune responses, they may have played a large role in damaging your thyroid cells and causing other autoimmune and none autoimmune disorders.
Remember that grains, legumes and seeds are just seeds and If you were to cut them open in their raw state, their structure (protein, complex carbohydrates, acids, etc..) would be exactly the same which is also extremely toxic for human consumption.
Autoimmune thyroid diseases can be associated with other autoimmune endocrine failures or non-endocrine diseases, mainly Celiac disease, hepatitis ,vitiligo, pernicious anemia, myasthenia gravis and autoimmune gastritis. In addition, thyroid disorders occur at the same time or after insulinodependent diabetes, premature ovarian failure, Addison’s disease, Schmidt syndrome, or Carpenter syndrome if associated with diabetes.
Gluten, Grains, Legumes, seeds Damaged Thyroid Cells & Autoimmune Diseases
Celiac Disease – Gluten Sensitivity is associated with several autoimmune diseases, in particular, thyroid autoimmunity and Type 1 diabetes. Thyroid autoimmunity and Type 1 diabetes are defined as ‘associated conditions’ to Celiac Disease – conditions which share a connection with Celiac Disease but not directly related to gluten ingestion.
The diagnosis of Celiac Disease may take place before or after thyroid autoimmunity and Type 1 diabetes. The available evidence suggests that the common genetic background is the main factor determining the connection between Celiac disease and autoimmune diseases.
There is still not not enough research done to clarify how the age of the first gluten introduction, concomitant breastfeeding, length of gluten exposure and gluten-free diet, may link Celiac Disease to other autoimmune diseases in order to answer the question which comes first, Celiac disease or other autoimmune diseases.
Hospital Clinico in San Carlos, Madrid published a research that alerts physicians about the possible presence of other immune diseases once you already been diagnosed with one. The published study showcases a patient with a Celiac Disease who developed a Type 1 Diabetes, who later also developed an autoimmune Thyroid Disease.
If you happen so suffer from Thyroid autoimmunity, other autoimmune or none- autoimmune disorders and haven’t been diagnosed for gluten sensitivity or eliminated gluten from your diet, today would be a great day to start and learn more about Gluten, Grains, Legumes, seeds Damaged Thyroid Cells & Autoimmune Diseases.
Gluten sensitivity is found to be associated with a vast range of medical disorders including, anemia, osteoporosis, infertility, spontaneous abortions, late puberty, early menopause, neurological, migraine, ataxia, epilepsy, as well as with an increased risk of malignancy, such as tumor cancer especially: enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma, small intestine adenocarcinoma cancer, and oesophageal and oropharyngeal carcinomas. Early elimination of gluten from your diet decreases the risk of these complications.
It is very common for hypothyroid and hyperthyroid women to suffer from infertility and spontaneous abortions, at same time with passing genetic weaknesses to their newborn. It is essential to heal the body before trying to conceive to avoid those complications.
Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity,
Damaged Thyroid Cells
& Autoimmune Diseases
Even if you tested negative for Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity and still showing autoimmune and none autoimmune symptoms, such as anemia, weak muscles, pain, and other inflammation symptoms, you should consider eliminating gluten, grains, legumes and seeds from your diet as Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) is an emerging disorder characterized by intestinal and extra-intestinal symptoms related to the ingestion of gluten-containing food in non-celiac patients. It has been estimated to be six to ten-times higher than that of Celiac disease.
A gluten-free, grains, legumes and seeds free diet is the only solution to heal, while the main cause remains unknown and there are yet to be any diagnostic criteria.
Recent studies on Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity have included patients who tested negative for gluten sensitivity and suffered from diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome, showing a response to a gluten-free diet.
So why gluten, grains,
legumes & seeds are so harmful?
Gluten, the protein structure found in wheat, barley, rye, rice and other grains (along with other protein structures) that gives bread its sticky, doughy, glue like texture. Gluten is mainly found in the above grains, however many of other grains, beans, legumes and even seeds we consume contain similar structure of proteins that will increase inflammation and cause an autoimmune response .
It is highly recommended in all types of autoimmune disorders to completely eliminate these complex protein structures from your diet, at least until all inflammation is completely gone.
It takes about 6 months (some cases even more) to completely leave the body.
Gluten, Grains, Legumes, seeds Damaged Thyroid Cells & Autoimmune Diseases
Common type of grains: wheat, barley, rye, rice, and wild rice, corn, millet, oats, spelt, teff and sorghum.
Common type of seeds: quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth, and chia seeds.
Common type of legumes: all type beans such as lima, soybeans, coffee beans, etc.. lentils, chickpeas , clover, alfalfa and peanuts.
Hard Strong Structures
Grains, legumes (beans) and seeds are very hard structures (like a rock) for a a very important reason- reproduction.
Since they are unable to travel to reproduce with other plants, they require help from animals, like cows, deer, many birds, rabbits and more.
Animals would eat the seeds along with the rest of the plant, travel to a different soil, and poop them out for a new plant to grow and reproduce.
Their hard structures were designed to survive harsh weather, extreme climate and other complicated environmental circumstances in order to be successfully planted, grow, and reproduce again.
This process is called Dispersal of Seeds.
In addition, in order for dispersal of seeds to happen and be planted in a different soil, seeds cannot be broken down inside the animal body and therefore are indigestible.
What makes Gluten,
Grains, Legumes & seeds
so strong & indigestible?
Lectins
Lectins are another type of protein found in seeds that bind to carbohydrates. There are two main types of lectins (agglutinins and prolamins) that are known to cause inflammation in humans.
Agglutinins
Agglutinins function as a natural insecticide, a substance used for killing insects which can be an aggravating trigger in autoimmune disease. Even though some tests claim to diagnose Lectins Sensitivity, the reaction of lectins within our bodies can be subtle and hard to recognize.
Some agglutinins such as Ricin (type of lectin found in castor beans) are extremely dangerous and are fatally toxic to humans even in very little amounts.
Genetically modified organism (GMO) grains are very problematic and are especially harmful when it comes to agglutinins. They have been genetically modified to produce mass crops and at the same time include much more of their natural insecticides with greater levels of inflammatory responses. GMO is not designed for human consumption.
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Prolamins
Prolamins are essential proteins for seed growth, and therefore are not designed to be easily digested. Gluten is also a prolamin, and most grains contain a prolamin similar in structure to gluten. For example, zein in corn, orzenin in rice or avenin in oats.
Prolamins contribute to a vast of symptoms experienced by so many with a gluten sensitivity and autoimmune disease , and yet most grains that contain prolamins are often marketed and used as gluten-free and safe alternatives.
Autoimmune cases should also eliminate vegetables in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), especially tomatoes and potatoes, which are very acidic, mucus forming and are very high in lectins that damage the gut lining, causing a leaky gut which easily enter the bloodstream. They also do not break down in cooking and should not be cooked, especially tomatoes which are extremely inflammatory when cooked.
Phytic Acid
Phytic acid is a major fiber-associated component found in wheat bran, grains legumes and seeds. The main role of phytate in plants is storage of phosphorus, especially in bran and seeds.
The problem with Phytic acid is that it binds to essential minerals such zinc, iron, and calcium preventing them from digesting in the body plus stealing those minerals from resources already found in the body, such as calcium from the bones. These minerals are vital for our immune system to function properly and preventing their absorption leads to mineral deficiencies such as anemia, along with osteoporosis, tremors, and many other autoimmune disorders.
Same rule applies here, GMO grains are more concentrated in phytic acid and should be avoided. Heirloom grains are safer and can be incorporated in your diet with the process of sprouting (not cooked) which breaks down some of the phytic acid in grains. Making sure to soak the grains first overnight in distilled water before sprouting. However, sprouted grains should not be a staple in your diet and can still prevent digestion of essential minerals, cause anemia, weak muscles, pain, and contribute to a leaky gut.
Complex Proteins
A protein is a chain of amino acids. In other words, amino acids attached to one another make a protein structure.
Grains, legumes, seeds, along with animal protein and dairy protein are not easily broken down. Unfortunately the body cannot use protein structures as is and first must break them down to amino acids, a process which is very acidic, mucus forming, strains the digestive system and causes a lot of stress.
In addition, the chemicals within a seed prevent essential enzymes from breaking down the proteins to amino acids, causing the body to produce more enzymes while using the body’s nutrient resources, not giving anything in return, a process that leaves the body more depleted than before. If that is not enough, too many of digestive enzymes in the gut damage the gut lining and causing a leaky gut.
Not fully digested food in the gut causes fermentation and bacterial overgrowth which leads to a wide array of problems, including breaking down the gut lining.
Since grains, legumes and seeds aren’t completely digested, they are able to pass through the gut barrier intact. You can look at like invaders damaging the gut lining wall trying to get inside the body. Once they pass the gut, the body sends “guards”, causing inflammation, an autoimmune response.
The body responds to the grain particles, especially proteins, with inflammation, which then damages the gut lining even more, allowing more undigested food, toxins, and bacteria to leak out.
The body then confuses these foreign “invaders” with its own healthy cells and tissues – a process known as molecular mimicry, causing the immune system to get out of control and attack more healthy cells, tissues and systems in the body.
Fast Digestion – Stress Free
Grains, legumes and seeds do not carry any essential nutrient, don’t fully digest and take hours to leave the body. They actually prevent us from absorbing essential minerals and amino acids that are needed for a healthy immune system.
Even grains, legumes and seeds that are promoted as wheat-free alternatives are just as harmful. If you wish to heal your thyroid and other autoimmune or none-autoimmune issues, it is essential to drastically change our diet to raw foods, consuming fruit, veggies and high quality herbs in their fresh not cooked form.
If you still wish to incorporate cooked food in your thyroid healing process, It is far better to replace these highly inflammatory foods with healthier choices such as sweet potato, squash, or zucchinis. Get your free thyroid healing meal plan by subscribing to our newsletter.
Don’t forget that modern day grains have been bred, genetically modified, and no longer resemble the structures that our ancestors consumed. Even None- GMO grains that are soaked and sprouted, should not be the focus of your diet, especially when suffering from autoimmune diseases. Once you have fully healed, eliminated all medications and are symptoms free – you may be able to incorporate these foods every once in a while.
Next Reads…
Hypothyroidism Self-Healing Guide
How To Heal Hyperthyroidism Naturally With Diet & Herbs
