In the 1950s and 1960s, in a post-war era, the population was growing rapidly, and those infants spawned would be dubbed the Baby Boomers. The concern for feeding this growing number of mouths was real, and scientists and farmers were instructed to increase the yield of a very precious crop in order to effectively deal with that pending reality.
Wheat.
Amber waves of grain.
So they did, and a very good job at that. They rose to meet the demands of the growing population, and continued to feed the people living in the United States of America. Other countries followed suit as well. Countries like India where the population continued to grow exponentially and the demand was real.
For most, eating wheat is a non-issue. It is a staple of the diet. Dietary recommendations have continued to adjust as scientists realized that a diet composed primarily of starch was not healthy or necessary for a heart-healthy lifestyle. The ratios of starch to protein to fat continue to be adjusted as the realization that fat-free and sugar-free were not calorie-free, and the body mass index of the population continued to rise despite these changes from the four good groups to the food pyramid. Processed foods proved convenient, but obesity rose to an all-time high, and with it, cancer and autoimmune rates.
Were these health issues simply due to diet alone? There are too many convoluting factors to really know. Anti-pollution acts were passed in the early 1970s, only to see pollution rates double and triple as we entered the 1980s. There was no good governance despite legislation. People turned to bottled water out of fear and trepidation of drinking tap water. However, every bottle of water comes in the form of a plastic container. Now with each bottle of “fresh”, clean water consumed, Americans were also ingesting micro-doses of estrogen-mimicking substances while simultaneously contributing to the pollution problem.
Meanwhile, in the medical space, specifically dermatology, we continue to see a rise in all things inflammatory. Eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, folliculitis, seborrheic dermatitis, adult acne, just to name a few. All of these conditions can be managed chronically, and not cured. It is a dog and pony show that I must recite every time I have a patient present with a new inflammatory condition.
Due to the advent of search engines, it is not uncommon for the patient to attempt self-diagnosis and come in with either existing treatment plans or prepared treatment plans for me to execute on their behalf. The problem begins with the fact that many times they have mis-diagnosed themselves and I must not only re-educate them, but also sadly explain the chronicity of this long-term condition. Often times, they believe there is something they could have done to prevent it. If only they would have done something differently. If only I could prescribe the correct medication, this inflammatory problem would be resolved similar to prescribing an antibiotic for an infection. If only they could eat the correct food or not eat a particular food, this pesky skin issue would simply be forgotten…a thing of the past. If only.
This is when I like to explain the concept of inflammation and its connection to wheat, or rather the wheat protein known as gluten. When wheat was modified all those years ago, it did not affect everyone, but its’ modification does affect persons in certain populations, especially those with inflammatory issues.
When someone is diagnosed with an inflammatory issue such as rosacea or psoriasis, I recommend elimination of gluten, as the modified form of wheat is pro-inflammatory. Understand I am not saying the inflammatory patient is gluten sensitive or allergic to gluten. There are medical tests which must be carried out in order to determine that, and if they return as positive, they would be diagnosed with celiac disease. Rather, the wheat protein, gluten, in the inflammatory patient, when eliminated will serve to dramatically decrease the inflammatory burden on the body which exists due to pre-ordained genetic circumstances and fate.
A gluten free diet will not cure the patient of the diagnosed inflammatory condition but it will dramatically reduce the amount of prescription medications, both topical and systemic, required to control the inflammatory condition. Practicing a gluten free diet is truly a lifestyle change. As with any lifestyle or habit change, it will not occur overnight. It will take at least one month or longer to establish the pattern and understand the innuendos.
I encourage my newly diagnosed inflammatory patients to attempt to be completely gluten free for a period of at least six weeks, and then, as is natural human instinct, there will be an occasional “cheat day” when they will fall off the wagon, so to speak. Over time, the body will naturally acclimate through positive and negative reinforcement of the gluten free diet. So many benefits will be received from this lifestyle change, and when they do have an occasional day which includes gluten, the negative effects will reinforce all the positive changes it has truly made on their life now, and for their future.
If you suffer from an inflammatory issue of the skin and would like book an appointment with Dr. Ellen Turner, call the office at 214-373-5746 or schedule on line at www.dermofficedallas.com. To read more blog posts and learn about her new website DrEllenTurner.com, click the link on her bio.