The far-reaching effects of gluten sensitivity and celiac disease never cease to amaze me. So many conditions outside the gut are triggered by a reaction against gluten inside the gut. A recent study has brought to light one lesser-known effect of celiac disease—infertility.

It has been known for some time now that infertility and recurrent spontaneous abortion is more common among women with celiac disease. And about 4 percent of infertile women have celiac disease!  I wonder how many more of these women may have silent celiac disease or even gluten sensitivity? A large proportion of people with celiac disease are undiagnosed.

A recent study has looked a little closer at infertility and early pregnancy loss, and determined just how this may happen. It turns out that anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (which are antibodies that the immune system makes against gliadin, the gluten protein) bind to the developing placental lining. This can interfere with proper development of the placenta and fetus.

It is already known that these anti-tTG antibodies can attack other tissues in the body, like the thyroid, pancreatic beta cells or even brain cells. This phenomenon is known as autoimmunity. This study highlights yet one more way in which anti-gliadin antibodies can harm areas of the body that are not in the gut. And it strengthens the evidence that following a gluten free diet can benefit the entire body.

If you suspect you are gluten sensitive, you may want to be tested or try an elimination diet for a few months to see if it helps you.

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In this time of scary bacterial infections, antibacterial soap would seem a regular sink-side bottle. We are told that germs are bad—and many are—and that we need to scrub them away with antibacterial soaps, scrubs and sprays. Right? Well, not completely. Handwashing for at least 15 seconds with hot soapy water is very effective at removing germs. All that is needed for this is regular old soap.

Antibacterial soap contains a chemical called triclosan (2,4,4’-trichloro-2’-hydroxydiphenyl ether). This chemical has been said to contribute to the increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria. This is because it’s in so many products and pollutes waterways, increasing its exposure to bacteria, which then become resistant.

Dr. Smith blogged in December about the link between use of triclosan and the development of hay fever and allergies in children and teens. Now comes another study published in Environmental Health Perspectives that adds to the last—children and adolescents under age 18 with the highest levels of triclosan in their urine were more likely to be diagnosed with allergies and asthma.

The head researchers stated, “Our results suggest that exposure to triclosan, particularly at times during the life course when the immune system is developing, may modify immunologic response.” They are not quite sure how that works, but suggest that applying triclosan soaps to the skin may reduce some types of microbiota on the skin, or even in the bowels. Or, the soaps may directly affect the endocrine system, which is in close communication with the immune system.

While they work out the details, I say steer clear of antibacterial soaps. Just be sure to wash your hands well. It’s enough!

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An interesting study published in the journal Obesity points out that eating more soluble fiber, like that from apples and beans, and moderate exercise will selectively decrease belly fat.¹ The authors don’t seem to know why it is selective to belly fat, and not subcutaneous fat (fat just under the skin). I think one reason would be that the intake of high amounts of soluble fiber promotes growth of beneficial bacteria that produce short chain fatty acids, both of which may control some of the inflammation in the gut. Chronic inflammation causes marked increase in insulin resistance, and therefore, storage of more belly fat. Controlling this inflammation is key, and as we see, can be done by consuming soluble fiber.

Here are some recently discovered points that support the above concepts:

• Eating a high fat and sugar diet decreases the number of beneficial bifidobacteria and increases the number of potentially pathogenic gram negative bacterial species in the gut.
• As these potentially pathogenic bacteria die they release cell wall lipopolysaccharides (LPS) which happen to also be better absorbed through the gut lining when eating a high-fat, high-sugar, low-fiber diet on a regular basis. The LPS molecules easily pass through the epithelial gut lining and hit the gut immune system where they activate white blood cells including neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages that all then release inflammatory cytokines: TNF alpha, IL-6 and IL-1 beta. These inflammatory cytokines can trigger inflammation in the small blood vessels throughout the body but probably start with the blood vessels in the intestines, causing endothelial dysfunction. This has been proven by measuring a significant decrease in blood vessel wall flexibility within minutes to hours after eating a high-fat, high-sugar meal.²  
• Conversely, supplementing with bifidobacteria and eating a plant-based, high-fiber diet seems to decrease translocation of LPS through the gut epithelial lining and may help prevent the negative effects of high-fat diet induced metabolic diseases.³
• The vascular inflammation in and around the intestinal tract, which is 20 or more feet in length, can stimulate stem cells adjacent to the blood vessel walls (known as stem cell pericytes) to develop into fat cells or adipocytes which accumulate wherever there are blood vessels in the abdomen—that’s almost everywhere!
• The inflammatory fire continues as the abdominal fat, or visceral fat (some people call it VAT) continues to produce more inflammatory cytokines (IL- 6, TNF alpha, etc.) that flow into other blood vessels, stimulating more stem cell conversion into fat cells or adipocytes.
• It is interesting that both vitamin D and stem cells are stored at high levels in abdominal fat. Perhaps the vitamin D is trying to cool down the inflammation and the stem cells are there to respond according to the body’s information: either make fat or something else.  

It makes sense that exercise  was found helpful for reducing abdominal fat. Exercise has many benefits. For one, it produces more adiponectin to help reverse the situation. Adiponectin is an anti-inflammatory hormone made in fat that both decreases inflammation in fat and travels to the pancreas to help sensitize and balance the release of insulin which can help reverse metabolic imbalances.

So it is pretty simple—eat your plant-based, high-fiber diet, supplement with probiotics (including good amounts of bifidobacteria), and exercise moderately on a regular basis.  Then be patient. The accumulation of abdominal fat, along with all the problems caused by this fat, including heart attacks and cancer, is reversible.

1.  Hairston KG, et al., “Lifestyle Factors and 5-Year Abdominal Fat Accumulation in a Minority Cohort: The IRAS Family Study.” Obesity (Silver Spring). 2011 Jun 16. doi: 10.1038/oby.2011.171. [Epub ahead of print]

2.  Plotnik GD, et al., “Effect of antioxidant vitamins on the transient impairment of endothelium-dependent brachial artery vasoactivity following a single high-fat meal.” JAMA. 1997 Nov 26;278(20):1682-6.

3.  Cani PD, et al., “Selective increases of bifidobacteria in gut microflora improve high-fat-diet-induced diabetes in mice through a mechanism associated with endotoxaemia.”

Diabetologia. 2007 Nov;50(11):2374-83.

Leonard Smith, M.D.

Dr. Leonard Smith is a prominent Board-Certified, general, gastrointestinal and vascular surgeon who had a successful private practice for 25 years. In addition to his active surgery practice, he also incorporated lifestyle, diet, supplementation, exercise, detoxification, and stress management into many of the therapies he would prescribe. Many of his patients with cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other serious illnesses did so well under his treatment regimes that he began to devote most of his career to foundational health care and preventive medicine.

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A recent study to be published in the journal Pediatrics found that the prevalence of food allergy in children is higher than previously thought.¹ It turns out that 8 percent of children—that’s about 1 in every 13 children—are affected by food allergy. Food allergies and sensitivities are far-reaching problems contributing to many autoimmune conditions like type 1 diabetes, arthritis and psoriasis, and to neuro-inflammatory conditions like autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).^2-5

Food allergies and sensitivities are essentially the result of a breakdown in gut mucosal immune regulation in response to food antigens that pass through the gut. The gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) makes up about 80 percent of the body’s immune system, and it resides in and around the gut. The job of the immune system in the gut is to respond to foreign invaders, like pathogens, by destroying them. At the same time, it must also not respond to the large amount of food that passes through the gut every day—this is known as oral tolerance.

When it comes to food allergies and sensitivities, building and maintaining a healthy gut lining is key. The HOPE Formula can help you to achieve this with High fiber, Omega oils, Probiotics and digestive Enzymes.   

If you have the right bacterial balance, as can be achieved with probiotics, the gut lining will be minimally inflamed and therefore minimal leakage of microbial toxins will be available to activate the GALT. The beneficial bacteria also create more of an immune tolerance with the epithelial cells that line the intestine—especially the mucosal-associated lymphocytes that are part of the epithelial lining.⁶

The right balance of soluble fiber and insoluble fiber can also minimize allergies—the soluble fiber by producing beneficial short chain fatty acids, especially butyrate, which is the primary fuel of the colonocytes; and insoluble fiber by diluting out any toxins associated with allergens that are exposed to the intestinal lining. In addition, it holds water and bulks the stools to promote better and quicker elimination, thus reducing the time of exposure to allergens.

The essential omega-3 and omega-6 oils in the right ratio promote immune balance in the gut lining and gut-associated immune system. Most people consume too many omega-6 oils and too few anti-inflammatory omega-3 oils. Omega-3 supplements can help reverse this imbalance. Digestive enzymes help by effectively breaking down proteins, fats, and carbs into less-antigenic food particles so that the intestinal (epithelial) lining does not react in an allergic, immunologic manner.  

HOPE should be a foundational health concept to help eliminate and/or prevent food allergies, especially when combined with avoidance of known allergenic foods and a rotation diet that avoids repetition of any given sensitive food for at least 3 to 4 days before eating it again. 

1. Gupta RS, et al., “The prevalence, severity, and distribution of childhood food allergy in the United States.” Pediatrics. 2011 Jun 20. [Epub ahead of print]
2. Wasmuth HE and Kolb H, “Cow’s milk and immune-mediated diabetes.” Proc Nutr Soc. 2000 Nov;59(4):573-9.
3. Hvatum M, et al., “The gut-joint axis: cross reactive food antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis.” Gut. 2006 Sep;55(9):1240-7.
4. Abenavoli M, et al., “Celiac disease and skin: psoriasis association.” World J Gastroenterol. 2007 Apr 14;13(14):2138-9.
5. Curtis LT and Patel K, “Nutritional and environmental approaches to preventing and treating autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a review.” J Altern Complement Med. 2008 Jan-Feb;14(1):79-85.
6. Savilahti E, et al., “Pre and probiotics in the prevention and treatment of food allergy.” Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008 Jun;8(3):243-8.

Leonard Smith, M.D.

Dr. Leonard Smith is a prominent Board-Certified, general, gastrointestinal and vascular surgeon who had a successful private practice for 25 years. In addition to his active surgery practice, he also incorporated lifestyle, diet, supplementation, exercise, detoxification, and stress management into many of the therapies he would prescribe. Many of his patients with cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other serious illnesses did so well under his treatment regimes that he began to devote most of his career to foundational health care and preventive medicine.

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I’m really excited about a couple of new studies on gluten sensitivity. I have been talking about this condition for so long, knowing that it contributes to many different health conditions in the body. The science is only beginning to scratch the surface of what clinicians have been seeing for years in patients who suddenly feel better after removing gluten from the diet.

A new study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology (yes, you heard me—gluten sensitivity is hitting the “big time” folks) has validated the fact that gluten sensitivity is not just “all in their heads.” This double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial recruited people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) whose symptoms improved after following a gluten free diet. These patients, in whom celiac disease was ruled out, were then put into two groups: one group was re-challenged with foods containing gluten and the other group was given “placebo” foods that did not contain gluten.

The results? In the group receiving the gluten-containing foods there was a significant increase in bloating, abdominal pain, altered bowel pattern and fatigue. Surprise, surprise! This is something that I have seen in people for years, and that the natural health community has known for a long time. But to see it published in this prestigious journal gives me hope that we will be taken more seriously with regard to the knowledge we are spreading about the damage that gluten can cause in many people.

This study is only the beginning, and will surely trigger many new studies that seek to discover just what is occurring in gluten sensitivity and why. The study helps to not only put gluten sensitivity on the map, so to speak, but also to explain one of the triggers to the ever-elusive IBS. We have known that gut infections can trigger IBS, and now we know that gluten sensitivity may also be a trigger. Again, this is something that I have been saying for many years.

And that’s not all! Another study reported in the Wall Street Journal and published in BMC Medicine has determined that gluten sensitivity and celiac disease involve two different branches of the immune system. Gluten sensitivity involves the innate immune system, which is responsible for the initial inflammatory response that occurs when the body encounters a “foreign” invader—in this case, gluten. Celiac disease, on the other hand, was found to involve the adaptive immune system, which involves a more complex secondary immune response that identifies the foreign invaders so that they will be recognized each time they are subsequently encountered.

Very interesting is that the difference between these two conditions was related to intestinal permeability—leaky gut. Those people with celiac disease were more likely to have leaky gut, while those with gluten sensitivity had not developed leaky gut—YET! What I think they will find is that gluten sensitivity is the first, milder reaction that worsens, increases leaky gut, and becomes full blown celiac disease. It’s a progression, and if you don’t take control of it early, it can lead to many different health conditions.

If you think you are gluten sensitive, try a gluten-free diet (no cheating—I’m not kidding!) for at least six weeks (even up to 6 months or more depending on your condition) to see if you begin to feel better. Today, there are many gluten-free options. Be sure to include plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, good fats, and whole, gluten-free grains. You’ll be on your way to wellness.

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The title of this article has been taken directly from the journal Gut Pathogens January 2011, and can be accessed for free at www.gutpathogens.com. This article tells the story of the gut connection. As we have been preaching for years, there is good evidence of a connection between gut bacteria and most (if not all) of the body organs, including the skin and brain.  What’s more, the above article presents much new, refined information, but the basic information is included from published references from 80-90 years ago!

Read, and be informed of the following concepts presented:

1.  The regular consumption of fat, sugar and simple carbs low in fiber, will decrease the beneficial bifidobacteria and other probiotic species in the colon and terminal small intestine (the end of the small intestine).

2.  Low  bifidobacteria allows increases of other bacteria that may promote colonic lining (epithelium) inflammation, with increased free radical damage and oxidative stress that leads to increased intestinal permeability (IP), or leaky gut.

3.  Increased IP leads to the passage (or translocation) of partially digested food particles, bacterial toxins, and other bacterial byproducts including fat (or lipids) from dead bacterial cell walls. 

4.  Bacterial cell wall lipids known as lipopolysaccarides (LPS), or also bacterial toxins, are easily measured in the blood, and are important indicators of how much overactivity will occur in the immune system.  Elevated LPS is very likely to occur after eating your favorite ice cream, or even too much bacon and eggs with toast and jelly (high fat, high sugar, and low fiber).

5.  Elevated blood levels of LPS cause the immune system to increase production of inflammatory markers (pro-inflammatory cytokines). These markers can cause many negative reactions, including decreased insulin receptor sensitivity, and thereby elevate blood sugar and insulin levels.

6.  Chronically elevated blood sugar and insulin promote increase in blood lipids, and  increase in inflammation which can contribute to acne, anxiety and depression, among other conditions.

Here is the good news,  a  high-fiber diet found in vegetables, whole grains, legumes, seeds and nuts, with some low glycemic fruits (especially berries) will promote high-normal levels of bifidobacteria. Taking prebiotic fibers was also shown in this article to increase bifidobacteria, and supplementing with bifidobacteria probiotics or fermented foods will definitely have overall beneficial effects on the body, including the skin and the brain. 

Leonard Smith, M.D.
Dr. Leonard Smith is a prominent Board-Certified, general, gastrointestinal and vascular surgeon who had a successful private practice for 25 years.  In addition to his active surgery practice, he also incorporated lifestyle, diet, supplementation, exercise, detoxification, and stress management into many of the therapies he would prescribe.  Many of his patients with cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other serious illnesses did so well under his treatment regimes that he began to devote most of his career to foundational health care and preventive medicine.   

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I like to call the proper balance of gut bacteria your “GPS”—your Gut Protection System. Your GPS works to: protect your intestinal lining; “crowd out” and neutralize the harmful bacteria; and influence the immune system so that it responds in the proper way to harmful invaders like bacteria, toxins, and even undigested food particles.

Your GPS might not be properly balanced—and you may not even know it. Sure, some people experience obvious digestive symptoms like gas and bloating, or heartburn, but some people don’t exhibit digestive symptoms, yet still have a gut imbalance. A malfunctioning GPS can have far-reaching health consequences. For example, many mood disorders, like depression and anxiety, are closely linked to gut health. Rheumatoid arthritis—how much further from the gut could you get?—is also known to be associated with gut imbalances. The list goes on and on. Read about it in my new book, The Road to Perfect Health, available exclusively through my PBS special of the same title. (Check your local PBS listings for show times.)

So, how does your GPS malfunction? Well, there are a number of ways. I’ll highlight some here:

Exposure to chemicals

• Certain medications (like antibiotics and acid-suppressing medications)
• Over processed and refined foods (I call them Dead Foods)
• Low stomach acid

In today’s world, it can be hard to avoid some of these triggers. That’s why it’s best to balance your gut with beneficial probiotic bacteria to get your GPS up and running. As I say: Balance your gut, heal your body.

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Did you know that you have more bacterial cells in your gut than you do the rest of the cells in your entire body? Did you know that the bacteria in your gut weigh four pounds (that’s as heavy as a brick)? Did you know that having the proper balance of gut bacteria—what I call your “GPS,” or Gut Protection System—can help get you on The Road to Perfect Health?

There are three types of gut bacteria: beneficial, neutral, and harmful. The major portion of bacteria in your gut should be the beneficial, or friendly, bacteria—otherwise known as probiotics. Probiotics are your Gut Protection System.

Your GPS works in three primary ways:

• Protects the intestinal lining and improves the balance of good to bad bacteria in the gut by “crowding out” bad bacteria;
• Produces substances that neutralize harmful bacteria;
• Influences the immune system so that it responds appropriately to invaders, such as harmful organisms, toxins and even food.

If your GPS is malfunctioning, similar to the GPS in your car, you’re not going to get to your desired destination—that is, your perfect health. As I say: Balance your gut, heal your body. The health consequences of an imbalanced gut travel far. Every system of the body can be affected. When you have an underlying digestive imbalance, it can be difficult to resolve your health issues.

So get to the foundation of your health—optimum digestive health with a balanced gut. Then you’ll be on The Road to Perfect Health.

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Weekly challenge (I mean, opportunity!) to help set you off on the right foot and in the right direction for bringing health to your week. You could even add it to your calendar. Join us!

An interesting study published last year found that optimism boosts the immune response. That’s right—filling your half empty cup to half full can improve your immune system’s response to infection.  Who knew it could be that easy?

Study participants were law students. They were found to have increased immune response when their outlook about law school was more positive, and decreased response when they were feeling more pessimistic about it. Though the students’ general outlook on life (optimistic or pessimistic) did not have an effect on results, having an optimistic or pessimistic disposition with regard to specific, important events was associated with immune function.

This doesn’t mean that you need to go about your day being cheerful and optimistic about every little thing. There is a need to be realistic at times. But if you find yourself getting caught up in something that might not be as bad as it seems, try to cultivate a little optimism—for your immune system! It may even lead to a solution that you hadn’t considered.

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Celiac disease involves an autoimmune gut reaction to gluten proteins found in wheat, barley and rye. This reaction destroys the intestinal villi. Villi are the finger-like projections that line the small intestine, increasing the surface area of the intestine so that absorption of nutrients can be maximized. When the villi are destroyed, nutrient absorption is hindered, which can lead to serious health complications.

How serious? The autoimmune reaction of celiac (basically, the immune systems mistakes parts of the body as a foreign invader, and attacks the body’s own tissues) can lead to other autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or thyroid dysfunction.

A recent study has determined that the incidence of celiac disease has doubled every year since 1974, and it also increases with age. If people can develop celiac disease in their 50s and 60s, it indicates that the condition is likely caused by environmental factors.

One important possible environmental trigger of the disease that may be causing late-onset celiac is changes in the composition of gut bacteria. Researchers suggested that a greater understanding of these changes in the gut may allow for the development of a way to keep the disease on hold.

Our gut health is truly related to the health of the rest of the body. Start by healing your gut, and maintaining that health to build a strong foundation that the rest of the body can benefit from, well into our golden years.

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