Is Gluten Addiction Real?

While doing some research, I came across a fascinating article on gluten and how it affects the body and mind. The 2015 article is taken from the NIH National Library of Medicine at the National Center for Biotechnology Information. It is titled, The Opioid Effects of Gluten Exorphins: Asymptomatic Celiac Disease. The abstract of the article reads:

"Gluten-containing cereals are a main food staple present in the daily human diet, including wheat, barley, and rye. Gluten intake is associated with the development of celiac disease (CD) and related disorders such as diabetes mellitus type I, depression, and schizophrenia. However, until now, there is no consent about the possible deleterious effects of gluten intake because of often failing symptoms even in persons with proven CD. Asymptomatic CD (ACD) is present in the majority of affected patients and is characterized by the absence of classical gluten-intolerance signs, such as diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain. Nevertheless, these individuals very often develop diseases that can be related with gluten intake. Gluten can be degraded into several morphine-like substances, named gluten exorphins. These compounds have proven opioid effects and could mask the deleterious effects of gluten protein on gastrointestinal lining and function. Here we describe a putative mechanism, explaining how gluten could “mask” its own toxicity by exorphins that are produced through gluten protein digestion."

That may all sound like a mouthful, but basically, what it means is that gluten intake is associated with not just the development of celiac disease, but it also may trigger, cause, or aggravate Type I Diabetes, depression and schizophrenia. The researchers also found that gluten degrades into opioid-like substances that could mask its own toxicity to the body. In other words, gluten is a highly addictive substance that is like a drug that stealthily degrades the health of its consumer.

This is a fascinating article that offers us more guidance from science that we’re on the right track. I encourage you to take time to read and digest the article in its entirety at the following link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5025969/

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