Candida and Leaky Gut Syndrome

The following is from the book "Wellness Against All Odds" by Dr. Sherry Rogers, M.D.; Published by Prestige Publishing, P.O. Box 3068, 3500 Brewerton Road, Syracuse, New York, 13220.

The question that is often asked, as relates to the leaky gut syndrome, is answered by Dr. Rogers, that either can cause either -- in her words, "The leaky gut can cause food allergy, and food allergy can cause the leaky gut." Once that occurs, any number of auto-immune diseases can develop, such as rheumatoid arthritis, thyroiditis, lupus, multiple sclerosis ALS, as any part of the body can be the target for food allergy, including our inside skin lining the gut, which can manifest as ulcerative colitis.

Some people are so sensitive to gluten, (found in wheat, rye, barley, and oats, and other grains) that they react to the slightest amount, not even knowing that they are sensitive to it. Dr. Rogers explains that the gluten sensitivity inflames the gut to the degree that he the body will make antibodies to of intestinal bacteria and chemical additives in foods.

Once the antibodies are attached to our cells, there is a chain reaction of chemicals (such as histamine) that are released that then go on to cause any symptom, from swelling to pain and itching. "And if the damage is in the cells of a particular organ, like the kidney, then it appears predominantly as a kidney disease....but if it is in a tissue that goes to every organ, like blood vessels, then you can have hypertension, vasculitis...if the antibody is directed to nervous tissue, then you could have multiple sclerosis, alzheimer's, neuritis, and paresthesias (pain, numbness, tingling), ankylosing spondylitis.... Gluten is one of those hidden antigens...in anything that contains wheat, rice, barley, or oats, and sometimes buckwheat or millet, depending on how sensitive the person is, in anything that says it has modified food starch or MSG or just plain spices. It can be in prescription medications as a binder, filler, or bulking agent. It can be in vitamin tablets,...sausages and textured protein meat extenders and substitutes as well as in canned meat...imitation cheeses and malt extract which is used in many beverages as well as foods...it can be a hidden ingredient in ice creams, catsup, mayonnaise, instant coffee, whiskey's and much more....

..many celiac victims also have a concomitant lack of the enzyme lactase which breaks down milk sugar.... Milk and wheat are among the commonest antigens in the American diet to produce symptoms, so merely avoiding those helps many people feel better."

Dr. Rogers quotes in some of the above from the book "Can A Gluten Free Diet Help?" by Lloyd Rosenvold, M.D.