Carb and gluten sensitivity are among the most common food sensitivities. Research suggests as much as 6 percent of the U.S. population is intolerant of gluten. Even more are sensitive to carbs, unable to digest certain carbohydrates due to a lack of one or more intestinal enzymes.
If you suffer from either, then you understand what we mean by "Gluten Gut". Symptoms can range from mild discomfort after a meal to more severe bloating, diarrhea, gas, and abdominal cramps.
Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat and rye. That's commonly understood. But did you know it's also found in foods like corn chips, breakfast cereal, soups, beer, soy sauce, and various other food types?
Carbohydrates are mainly used by your body for energy but some carbohydrates (starches) are broken down into glucose which can be used for energy or stored as fat if unused by muscle tissue or the brain.
Carb and Gluten Sensitivity
Carb and gluten sensitivity are two separate conditions, but they're often mistaken for one another. Carb sensitivity is a condition that can affect your digestive system, causing abdominal pain and bloating. Gluten sensitivity is a similar condition that affects the immune system, leading to fatigue and joint pain.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, oats and triticale (a cross between wheat and rye). It can also be found in some types of beer made with grains like barley or oats.
People with gluten sensitivity have an immune response to eating foods containing this protein — their bodies produce antibodies that attack the gluten molecules as if they were foreign invaders. This leads to inflammation throughout the body's tissues as well as gastrointestinal problems such as cramps and diarrhea.
Gluten is a sneaky one. It can make its way into your soy sauce, ketchup, salad dressing, even medications & supplements.
What can help?
Proteolytic Enzymes – Proteases are the most common type of enzymes in the body, and there are several types. One of these is protease, which breaks down protein into smaller pieces.
This can be useful for people who have digestive problems or food allergies because it helps break down foods that may not be well-digested into smaller components that can then be absorbed by the body more easily.
As an example, if you have trouble digesting gluten (a protein found in wheat) you should take this supplement because it can help to break apart any pieces of gluten that make their way through your system so they can be properly absorbed by your body instead of causing additional inflammation or discomfort on top of whatever symptoms already exist due to a sensitivity/allergy/intolerance etc).
Proteolytic Enzymes
Proteolytic enzymes are proteins that aid in the digestion of protein. They are often used as a supplement to help break down food and snacks, but can also be consumed through foods such as cheese, yogurt and miso paste (a thick paste made from fermented soybeans). Proteolytic enzymes may also be helpful for those with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease.
There are two types of proteolytic enzymes: pancreatic and plant-based proteases. Enzymes can come from papain (found in papaya), bromelain (pineapple), ficin (figs) and trypsin inhibitors from soybeans.
Protein digestion begins in the stomach where pepsin breaks down proteins into smaller pieces called peptides at a rate of about 70 percent. When these peptides reach the small intestine they are further broken down by hydrochloric acid into individual amino acids that can be absorbed into the bloodstream via active transport pumps or enterocytes found on villi within the walls of small intestine
Probiotics
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for the digestive system. They can help with bloating, diarrhea and lactose intolerance (that's why they're often found in yogurt). If you have a mild sensitivity to gluten or carbs and notice an improvement after eating probiotic-containing foods, it may be that your gut bacteria need some help.
The best way to consume probiotics is through food—it's hard to get the recommended daily allowance from supplements alone. Try adding more fermented vegetables such as kimchi or sauerkraut to your diet. If you typically find yourself craving starchy or sugary foods after meals like pasta or potatoes (and then feeling bloated afterwards), pick up some gluten-free crackers like Mary's Gone Crackers instead of reaching for another piece of bread.
Herbal and Prebiotic Plant Fiber
The fiber in foods moves through your digestive system at a slow pace. As it passes through the stomach and intestines, it absorbs water to form a gel-like substance which increases the bulkiness of stools. This soothes the lining of your bowel and helps prevent diarrhea.
Some people have symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, gas and abdominal cramps when they eat gluten-containing products. It's not clear why this happens but there is some evidence that eating large amounts of foods containing FODMAPs may make symptoms worse in some people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
FODMAPs are fermentable carbohydrates found in many foods that are difficult for some people to digest properly because they contain certain types of sugars called fructose. This combination can lead to malabsorption or "fructose malabsorption," lactose intolerance, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).
We know how difficult it can be to manage these issues, so we’ve made sure that our products are as easy as possible. Our goal is to help you reclaim your health!
