I am witnessing a media position that I do not understand. On TVA, Isabelle Huot made unqualified assertions about the alleged dangers of the hypotoxic diet proposed by Ms. Jacqueline Lagacé in her books (Contrary to what Ms. Huot thinks, gluten is a protein that can cause numerous pathologies, from celiac disease to eczema, including neurological diseases (4,5) and respiratory disorders. (6,7) Gluten is also implicated in cases of type 1 diabetes. (8,9) I found a case reported in the medical literature of a 6-year-old child whose juvenile diabetes disappeared when gluten was eliminated from his diet. (10)

These studies and case reports do not mean that gluten, like milk casein, should be avoided by everyone. They do mean that if you have doubts about your tolerance to these products or if you suffer from an inflammatory disease, it is legitimate to try to remove them from your diet.

No, biopsies and other medical tests are not necessary to try a low-toxicity diet. Diagnosis is only necessary to confirm the pathology and convince the doctor. You and I, as a patient, can very well, with the help of a food diary and our own experiences, come to the conclusion that our health is better without gluten. This is my case. Before cutting out gluten, I had significant respiratory problems: rhinitis, sinusitis, asthma, etc. Since I cut out gluten sources, I breathe better. A few years ago, I tried to reintroduce gluten into my diet. At first, nothing. After 3 days, BANG: stomach ache, flatulence, significant respiratory mucus, cough, snoring, etc. I have never had medical confirmation of my gluten intolerance. Do I need it?

Think outside the box to take charge of your health

I'd like to end by telling you about a nutritionist who, like me, is disruptive: Anne Marie-Roy. She's vegan, which goes against the grain among nutritionists. She's very articulate, very competent, and very knowledgeable. For some time now, she's been running a private clinic where she helps groups of people get back on track to combat diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome. Her well-founded approach to veganism produces astonishing results. Her clinic is actually called " The Upside-Down Clinic" ! Why? Because, with proven evidence, she reverses type II diabetes, hypertension, and other metabolic diseases through diet.

In short, this example confirms that the standardized diet of "what's good for one is good for all" and "we shouldn't demonize a food" (yes, high fructose corn syrup is a real demon for our health) is a mistake. We must adapt, individualize our diet and our own lifestyle.

To learn more:

Food allergies: a Western scourge

Dairy Products: Essential or Harmful Foods?

A cause of allergies?

A clarification

I want to clarify that I am not a vegetarian. The only thing excluded from my diet is wheat and gluten sources. However, I voluntarily limit my consumption of processed products and limit sugars and starches. It works well for me. What works for you?

References:

1. Pan A, Sun Q, Bernstein AM, Schulze MB, Manson JE, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC, Hu FB. Red meat consumption and mortality: results from 2 prospective cohort studies. Arch Intern Med . 2012 Apr 9;172(7):555-63. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.2287. Epub 2012 Mar 12. PubMed PMID: 22412075.
2. Lee PR, Kossoff EH. Dietary treatments for epilepsy: management guidelines for the general practitioner. Epilepsy Behav . 2011 Jun;21(2):115-21. Epub 2011 Apr 21. Review. PubMed PMID: 21514240.
3. Kossoff EH, Hartman AL. Ketogenic diets: new advances for metabolism-based therapies. Curr Opin Neurol . 2012 Apr;25(2):173-8. Review. PubMed PMID: 22322415.
4. Hadjivassiliou M, Sanders DS, Grünewald RA, Woodroofe N, Boscolo S, Aeschlimann D. Gluten sensitivity: from gut to brain . Lancet Neurol . 2010 Mar;9(3):318-30. Review. PubMed PMID: 20170845.
5. Wills AJ, Unsworth DJ. The neurology of gluten sensitivity: separating the wheat from the chaff. Curr Opin Neurol . 2002 Oct;15(5):519-23. Review. PubMed PMID: 12351994.
6. Sapone A, Lammers KM, Casolaro V, Cammarota M, Giuliano MT, De Rosa M, Stefanile R, Mazzarella G, Tolone C, Russo MI, Esposito P, Ferraraccio F, Cartenì M, Riegler G, de Magistris L, Fasano A. Divergence of gut permeability and mucosal immune gene expression in two gluten-associated conditions: celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. BMC Med . 2011 Mar 9;9:23. PubMed PMID: 21392369; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3065425.
7. Carroccio A, Mansueto P, Iacono G, Soresi M, D'Alcamo A, Cavataio F, Brusca I, Florena AM, Ambrosiano G, Seidita A, Pirrone G, Rini GB. Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity Diagnosed by Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Challenge: Exploring a New Clinical Entity. Am J Gastroenterol . 2012 Jul 24. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2012.236. PubMed PMID: 22825366.
8. Sharp J, Pizer B, Kokai G, Auth MK. Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma in a child with type I diabetes and unrecognized celiac disease . Case Rep Pediatr . 2012;2012:269689. doi:10.1155/2012/269689. Epub 2012 Oct 3. PubMed PMID:23082267; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3469071.
9. Knip M, Simell O. Environmental triggers of type 1 diabetes. Cold Spring Harb Perspective Med . 2012 Jul;2(7):a007690. PubMed PMID: 22762021; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3385937.
10. Sildorf SM, Fredheim S, Svensson J, Buschard K. Remission without insulin therapy on gluten-free diet in a 6-year old boy with type 1 diabetes mellitus . BMJ Case Rep . 2012 Jun 21;2012. doi:pii:bcr0220125878. 10.1136/bcr.02.2012.5878. PubMed PMID: 22729336.

Photo credit for gluten-free, lactose-free falafels:) Marïphotographie