Gluten has been associated with inflammation and autoimmune disorders. As the elderly are more prone to autoimmune diseases, please consult your doctor and see if you are gluten sensitive.
By Dawn Flemming
Gluten is a form of protein found in many foods. Many foods contain high amounts of gluten, including wheat, barley and rye. Gluten has been strongly associated with inflammation. About one in thirty people suffer from Celiac disease, which is the body’s negative response to gluten in the form of inflammation. Unfortunately, about 99% of people with Celiac disease have gone undiagnosed.
Persistent inflammation produces chronic inflammation, which can lead up to the body’s immunity attacking the body’s tissue indiscriminately. This produces a vast array of autoimmune disorders in the body such as rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and so on and so forth. Since autoimmune diseases are more likely in the elderly, this is a particular issue that seniors must pay attention to. One’s diet, which is part of the epigenetics of aging, is noticeably associated with the development of autoimmune diseases.
If you are a senior, you may want to try removing gluten from your body as it may possibly be an agent that causes inflammation in your body. Gluten comes in a variety of forms, most famously foods that contain wheat like bread. If you are a senior and have an autoimmune disorder, you may want to consult with your doctor and see if you have gluten sensitivity.
Dawn Flemming is Director of Business Services at Geriatric In-Home Care in Fresno, California.