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Gluten Blocking Enzymes Could Eliminate the Stress of Gluten Intolerance

picture of foods that contain gluten. use Gluten Blocking Enzymes when consuming these It seems like more and more people are complaining about gluten intolerance these days. This uncomfortable problem can cause everything from mild discomfort to serious and painful digestive issues. But some recent research into gluten blocking enzymes may suggest a way to overcome this very common problem. This is important because it could improve the health of people who suffer from intolerances and decrease their bodyā€™s stress levels. If you have an intolerance, this will improve your overall wellbeing and help you avoid or reduce the effects of stress-related disorders such as Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS).

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a family of proteins that are found in foods such as wheat, spelt, barley, and rye. Itā€™s actually made up of two main proteins called glutenin and gliadin, with the latter being more problematic for health. Thereā€™s actually a lot of controversy about the health benefits and problems associated with gluten. Although gluten is a normal part of the western diet, it can also cause health problems for people with conditions such as celiac disease, wheat allergies, and intolerances. There is also some debate about how healthy it is for people who donā€™t already have these conditions.

Celiac disease, in particular, is a serious threat to general health. Itā€™s a severe form of gluten intolerance where the immune system overreacts to the protein and attacks both the gluten and the lining of the gut. This condition can result in damage to the gut wall, nutritional deficiencies, and other health problems. But even milder forms of intolerance can cause a range of digestive symptoms such as cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation. If you suffer from these conditions, it can have a serious impact on your general health and wellbeing, which is why the idea of gluten blocking enzymes is so important for your overall health.

A New Way to Manage Gluten Intolerance

Until recently, the only way to manage gluten intolerances of any severity was to avoid eating foods that contain gluten. This is more difficult than it sounds as many foods contain these proteins, including ones that you wouldnā€™t expect. This includes sauces, canned soup, ice cream, meat substitutes, and chips. However, a new study has suggested a different therapy that may allow people with intolerances to eat gluten without negative consequences. This therapy involves using gluten blocking enzymes to stop the absorption of this damaging protein, and it could revolutionize the lives of people with intolerances.

The study examined the effect of an enzyme known as aspergillus niger-derived prolyl endoprotease, referred to as ā€œAN-PEPā€. Previous studies had shown that this is a gluten blocking enzyme, which means that it stops gluten from moving into the small intestine where it can cause the negative symptoms associated with intolerances. Participants in the study were given porridge and two cookies that contain gluten. Half of them were then given the gluten blocking enzyme at varying strengths and the other half were given a placebo. For the three hours after the meal, the researchers examined the gluten levels within the stomach and intestines of each participant.

Both the high and the low dose enzyme groups showed an 85 percent reduction in the amount of gluten in their stomachs compared to the placebo group. Interestingly enough, the low dose enzyme group actually showed a higher reduction in the amount of gluten in the first section of their intestine. These results show that this gluten blocking enzyme might offer some very important benefits for people with gluten intolerances.

Implications of the Study

man kneading dough with Gluten Blocking EnzymesGluten intolerances can be very difficult to manage. Itā€™s easier if youā€™re at home and can control everything you eat, but many struggle when it comes to eating in restaurants. Because so many different foods contain gluten, it can be hard to find a gluten-free option, and yet this is essential for avoiding some very unpleasant symptoms later. This research could help alleviate that worry because it could allow people with intolerances to enjoy their meals and then take a medication that contains gluten blocking enzymes. This would give people with intolerances the reassurance of knowing they can eat gluten without it upsetting their system.

However, these benefits may not apply to people who have celiac disease, which is the more serious form of gluten intolerance. People who have this disease suffer from long-term consequences from ingesting gluten, so the effects of the gluten blocking enzyme couldnā€™t be tested on them without serious consequences. However, the positive benefits of the enzyme for people who suffer from intolerances or diseases associated with intolerances, such as AFS, make this research well worth the effort.

What is AFS?

Adrenal fatigue can occur as the result of chronic, ongoing stress. Many things cause stress, from emotional upsets to work problems to general health problems, including gluten intolerance and autoimmune diseases like celiac disease. The human body has a mechanism called the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response which activates in response to stress. This system activates organs and circuits in the body that help protect the body from the harmful effects of stress and prepare the body to respond. But this system is meant to be a short-term measure that turns on and off. When your stress is ongoing, as it often is in the modern world, this system becomes overworked. When this occurs, your adrenal glands are usually the first place that the effects of this overwork become obvious.

The adrenal glands are an essential part of the NEM stress response because they excrete hormones that are essential in times of stress and in daily functioning. In the early stages of adrenal fatigue, these glands still continue to meet the demand for hormones but must work harder to do so. This causes imbalances in a number of systems and circuits in the body as well as ongoing and worsening symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, mental disorders, digestive problems, and weight gain. If this process isnā€™t reversed, it can result in a spiral of worsening symptoms and increasing dysregulation of various systems. The end result of this spiral is often a total collapse of all the bodyā€™s circuits.

How Digestive Issues Contribute to AFS

man holding stomach should have used Gluten Blocking Enzymes Digestive issues often play a key role in AFS. People with this disorder often experience a range of negative digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and a repeating cycle of diarrhea and constipation. These types of digestive problems cause a lot of stress for the body and can result in other problems such as nutritional deficiencies. The key to recovery from AFS is to reduce the bodyā€™s stress load and ensure that it has the time and the nutrition it needs to heal. However, if you suffer from digestive problems, these two goals might be almost impossible. Thatā€™s why itā€™s important that you take steps to improve and support your digestive health if you suffer from this disorder.

But there are other ways that digestive problems affect and influence AFS too. In some cases, they can be a leading cause of the initial stress that brings on adrenal fatigue and results in AFS. The endless cycle of diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and pain can cause a general malaise that results in more stress and more work for the adrenal glands. It also results in inflammation, which can cause a variety of other health threats and problems.

The Dangers of Inflammation

AFS is strongly linked to chronic inflammation which has a number of negative consequences for the body. Inflammation is the bodyā€™s response to stress of any kind. It doesnā€™t really matter what the source of this stress is, the body reacts the same whether the stress is emotional, physical, or psychological. When under stress, the body causes a series of changes that result in the physical symptoms of inflammation. These include redness, swelling, heat, and pain. These symptoms are side effects of the bodyā€™s attempt to rid itself of whatever is causing it stress or damage.

When the inflammation is the result of acute damage or disease, it usually decreases and eventually vanishes as the body heals itself. However, when itā€™s caused by psychological stress or chronic underlying health problems, the inflammation is usually low-grade but ongoing. This results in constant stress that causes the inflammation circuit to become overworked and unbalanced. Chronic inflammation can cause a number of symptoms that arenā€™t obviously linked to this circuit. These include:

  • Food sensitivities
  • Digestive problems
  • Brain fog
  • Dizziness
  • Anxiety
  • Bloating

Chronic inflammation can also result in a worsening of disorders such as AFS and can even cause certain chronic health conditions.

The Causes of Inflammation

Inflammation is caused by physical, emotional, or mental stress. This can and does take a variety of forms depending on your physical condition and your lifestyle. Some of the most common and troublesome causes include:

  • Certain medications
  • Too much exercise
  • Too little exercise
  • Imbalances in the gut microbiome
  • Poor diet
  • Poor sleeping habits
  • Environmental toxins
  • Chronic stress
  • Allergies
  • Food sensitivities
  • Digestive problems

The most important causes of inflammation in the debate on gluten blocking enzymes is food sensitivities and digestive problems. So if you want to decrease the amount of stress and inflammation that your body experiences and heal AFS, you need to start by addressing these problems.

How Gluten Blocking Enzymes Could Decrease Inflammation

Inflammation is strongly linked to AFS as well as to digestive problems in a number of ways.

Many people with AFS complain of new or worsening food sensitivities as their symptoms progress. These new sensitivities are often the result of the dysregulation of the bodyā€™s systems, which results in a range of problems with digestion and metabolism. So if you have AFS and suddenly find yourself reacting badly to gluten it may be because of this link. These sensitivities also cause very unpleasant digestive symptoms, which means that not only can they be the result of AFS, they can also increase the bodyā€™s stress levels and cause chronic, ongoing inflammation. If you already have AFS, this will make your condition worse and further overwork the adrenal glands.

 microscopic view of Gluten Blocking EnzymesBut you donā€™t have to have AFS to be gluten intolerant. In fact, many people have food sensitivities before they discover they have AFS. Unfortunately, these sensitivities are still linked to digestive problems that cause inflammation. And if these issues are ongoing, they can gradually increase the demands on the adrenal glands and lead to adrenal fatigue and AFS.

Gluten blocking enzymes, such as those found in Glutelyze, could be very helpful in both of these situations because they might be able to reduce or eliminate your bodyā€™s reaction to gluten. This would help to lessen the digestive symptoms and the stress that results from this kind of turmoil. It would also decrease the amount of inflammation in your body. And because this is so essential for AFS recovery it would lead to better health overall.

Glutelyze is an enzyme blend of various enzymes with beneficial gut health properties. These include protease enzymes from Aspergillus oryzae, amylase enzymes from Aspergillus oryzae, and glucoamylase enzymes from Aspergillus niger. This unique formula supports digestive health by focusing on the digestion of gluten by breaking down proline-containing peptides from cereal grains and dairy products. The amylase and glucoamylase proteins, in particular, assist in breaking down carbohydrates.

Final Thoughts

Food intolerances and the resulting digestive problems can be very dangerous to your health, particularly if you suffer from disorders such as AFS. They cause your body a lot of stress and can also result in damage to the gut as well as nutritional deficiencies that prevent the body from operating at its best. Unfortunately, food sensitivities are becoming more common these days and are usually accompanied by a corresponding decline in overall health. Thatā€™s why the latest research about gluten blocking enzymes is so exciting for those who suffer from these types of problems. It indicates that people may be able to protect their bodies against the negative consequences of eating gluten and support their bodyā€™s overall health at the same time. And if you have AFS as well as intolerances, this will support and aid your recovery.

Ā© Copyright 2019 Michael Lam, M.D. All Rights Reserved.

Dr. Lamā€™s Key Question

Gluten intolerances can cause a variety of unpleasant digestive symptoms such as gas, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. For most people, the only available option is to avoid eating any gluten. However, gluten blocking enzymes might make it possible for sufferers to eat gluten products without negative consequences.

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