 by Debbie Moody Neumayer Copyright July 3, 2018 Hello. I am a humble dinner roll—the soft and delectable kind you eat at mealtimes with family and friends. Humble? Well, that is debatable. Actually, I am quite proud of myself. Allow me to brag a little. Before I show you how powerful I am, I must first share a little history. My ancestral “roll-atives” were made from a type of traditional wheat that had been revered for centuries. With the strength derived from this staff of life, farmers and families fulfilled their daily manual-labor chores. Then everything changed around the 1960s. Food scientists joined forces with big ag companies to forever alter the classic wheat kernel. The goal? To increase profits by growing more grain per acre and shortening time from planting to harvest. After experimenting, they came up with a high-yield semi-dwarf wheat species that yielded ten times more plants per acre than its simple predecessor. This new short-stalk, high-yield grain ended up quite different from its ancestor grain. This agricultural tinkering caused the gluey protein content (known as gluten) in the new wheat to skyrocket. Where do I come in? Well, this change gives me MUCH POWER! I masquerade as something delicious, something nutritious, and something warm and comforting. However, I AM FAR FROM IT! In reality, I AM A POISONOUS AND POTENTIALLY LETHAL TIME BOMB IN YOUR BODY. It all starts out in the field. The altered grain yielding more wheat grown per acre and shortened growing time are just part of the process. On top of all that, today’s commercial wheat is commonly drenched with the herbicide, glyphosate, one to two weeks before harvest to kill the crop and accelerate the drying process. Health concerns linked to glyphosate include CANCER, HORMONE IMBALANCES, DESTROYING BENEFICIAL GUT BACTERIA, DNA DAMAGE, as well as BIRTH DEFECTS and REPRODUCTIVE PROBLEMS. My high gluten content wrecks digestive systems and many people today are allergic to me, at various levels of intensity. You may ask why, so here’s the scoop. The gluten in my flour comes with protein molecules called lectins that bind to the cells lining your intestines. These lectins, especially one known as gliadin, irritate your tissues and provoke massive inflammation from your immune system. Your body views this intrusion as an attacker (antigen) and goes crazy by releasing chemicals and antibodies against it. As a result, you might experience symptoms from a stomach ache to full blown conditions like CROHN’S DISEASE, IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS) and even CELIAC DISEASE. Here’s the real kicker and where I really take off in my intensity. This inflammatory action can actually blow holes in your gut wall, leading to the very real condition called “leaky gut syndrome.” Once the gut wall has been injured this way, lectins can migrate into the bloodstream where THEY CAN BIND TO ANY TISSUE IN THE BODY, including the THYROID, PANCREAS, KIDNEYS, JOINT COLLAGEN and even the BRAIN! The adherence of lectins to tissue can provoke an autoimmune response and when the body tries to attack the lectin, it also destroys the function of that organ. Lectins have been implicated in many cases of RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, THYROID DISEASE and several other autoimmune disorders. Lectins binding to nervous system receptors have been linked to brain dysfunction, including INCREASED APPETITE (AND SUBSEQUENT WEIGHT GAIN), SCHIZOPHRENIA, AUTISM, and BIPOLAR SYMPTOMS. Yes, I am tasty and alluring but as you can see, you get a lot more than you bargain for when you consume little old me! In conclusion, I would like to admit there is not a “smidgeon” of humility in me. I am very EGOTISTICAL! I am included in all forms of dinners and celebrations across the world. I enjoy inclusion and am celebrated in my diversity: white, brown, whole wheat or a blend of all these forms. HA! You don’t believe me? Look at church suppers, Sunday dinners, holiday get-togethers, restaurant meals and more—you will find me anywhere people get together and eat. SEE YOU REAL SOON!! (Click here to read more). References Charles M. Benbrook. Trends in glyphosate herbicide use in the United States and globally. Environmental Sciences Europe. Bridging Science and Regulation at the Regional and European Level. 2016. 28:3 https://enveurope.springeropen. com/articles/10.1186/s12302-016-0070-0. Retrieved 6/13/18. Ken Roseboro. Why is Glyphosate Sprayed on Crops Right Before Harvest? EcoWatch. https://www.ecowatch.com/why-is-glyphosate-sprayed-on-crops-right-before-harvest-1882187755.html. Retrieved 6/13/18. Megan Ciara Smyth. Intestinal permeability and autoimmune diseases. Bioscience Horizons: The International Journal of Student Research, Volume 10, 1 January 2017. https://academic.oup.com/biohorizons/article/doi/10.1093/biohorizons/hzx015/467055 Leaky Gut Syndromes: Breaking the Vicious Cycle. Leo Galland, M.D. http://mdheal.org/leakygut.htm Cordain L, Toohey L, Smith MJ, Hickey MS. Modulation of immune function by dietary lectins in rheumatoid arthritis. Br J Nutr. 2000 Mar; 83(3): 207-2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10884708 Comments are closed.
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