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Ignorance isn’t bliss. It’s ignorance.

I, like many of you (no, all of you), see some pretty stupid things on social media. Most of the time, I just shake my head and continue on. However, 2 weeks ago, I passed one that I just couldn’t resist. So much so, that I think it deserves further conversation because it touches on a huge issue that we all need to be aware of. It affects all ages and, unfortunately, it’s affecting teenagers more than it affects adults. Before I dig into the real issue, let me show you what lit this fire in me. I have now seen this post in a giant forum of 22,000 locals here in Murrieta and individually on another individual’s Facebook page. Here is the post:

First, let’s be clear, very few people are ALLERGIC to gluten, but many people are SENSITIVE, or INTOLERANT to gluten. That’s just a minor detail that the creator of this likely isn’t aware of. Now, at surface value, this statement does hold some weight. It may make many people think, “Yeah! All these people are just following a fad.” Here’s the thing though, they mistyped the first part of the statement. It should read, “I’ve never tried to understand” or “I’ll never want to understand” because this is as ignorant as not understanding how we can talk to someone halfway across the world on a hand-held device. Some may think I’m a bit harsh with this, and perhaps they’re right, because this is my wheelhouse, but this speaks to a much larger issue than dietary issues with gluten.

We live in a world now where you can literally learn anything you want to know.
You can find the answer to the most random question in about 5 seconds with this same magical hand-held device that allows us to talk to people halfway across the world. Incredible, right?! We have the ability to know the answer to essentially any question that wanders through our incredibly sophisticated but often underutilized brains. This is a huge convenience for us but it also swings the dial of responsibility. Since we have this ability, it is our responsibility to use it. For the most part, we don’t have the luxury of saying, “I wonder why…”It is our responsibility to pursue knowledge, especially if it pertains to information that may improve the lives of those around us, not to mention our own. We have no excuse in this matter. If we choose to not pursue information that can give us 5 more quality years of life with our loved ones, we are throwing away a winning lottery ticket.

Do you see why this is about so much more than gluten?

You will never understand if you never seek to understand. That goes for the picture above and many of life’s “secrets”. Unfortunately, I have known many people throughout my life who not only didn’t actively seek to understand, but actively avoided to understand out of fear. Sometimes, people don’t want to know. They don’t want to know that something they enjoy may not be the best thing for them. Some might say that borders along addiction lines. In any case, it’s a shame.

For those of you who are wondering about gluten and the pictured caption, I’ll save you some time and give you 3 big reasons, but you should know that this is really just the tip of the iceberg. I highly recommend reading some of the books written on this issue such as: Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis, Grain Brain by Dr. David Perlmutter.

 

3 Reasons why gluten issues have exploded in the last 10 years:

  1. Awareness – This is likely the biggest difference in the last 10 years. People have had digestive issues for a long time while not being aware of gluten as a possible contributor. Now that this issue is front and center, many more people are trying gluten-free diets and feeling a major difference in how they feel.
  2. Wheat has changed – In the last 50 years, wheat has undergone a major overhaul. Through continuous genetic modification we have bred a wheat plant that better withstands weathering and produces higher yields. Unfortunately, a byproduct of that has been an increased concentration of gluten in today’s wheat. Today’s wheat has over 3x the amount of gluten that traditional wheat contained. Take into account that wheat is a staple in the American diet and there ya go.
  3. Altered gut microbiomes – Antibiotic and antibacterial agents, such as hand sanitizer, have risen dramatically over the last few decades while Americans also tend to eat less pre- and pro- biotic foods. Healthy microbiomes help digest food. That, along with the general trend of eating more processed, inflammatory foods leads to damaged gut lining.

Now that we’ve at least cleared that up, let’s get back to the real issue here. We have to take responsibility for knowing and understanding for ourselves and loved ones, but we also have to do so for the sake of compassion. Many people can eat gluten and other grains without issue, but why does that often lead to food/diet shaming to those who do? I think the chances of that happening goes up exponentially based on us knowing why so many people do have these issues.

If you don’t feel it yourself, know about it, or know someone who does battle it, you likely have no compassion for people whose lives are massively impacted by the food they eat. That needs to go. I’ve met people who can name fewer foods that they can eat without problems, than foods that they can’t eat. I’m talking people who could only eat 4 or 5 foods without running to the bathroom. Do you realize how much that affects someone physically, emotionally, and socially? We gather around food! Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, dating, etc. We tend to celebrate with food. Do you know that people who have problems with gluten spend just as much time worrying about others viewing their avoidance of gluten just as much as avoiding the food itself?

We need to learn to have compassion for all diet related issues. If you don’t fight them, talk to someone who does. If you don’t know anyone, read about it, or ask us. We know countless stories of those whose lives are massively affected by the food they eat.

Yes, gluten has become a fad, but that’s not because it’s not affecting people. It’s because of the food industry. And while sometimes I feel like exploding a bag of rice all over the grocery store because it is advertised in giant, bright lettering, “GLUTEN-FREE” (rice is naturally gluten-free so I hope you get the irony), it still helps many people who are just learning about how to navigate a gluten-free diet.

If you’re on either side of this coin and just want to talk more please don’t hesitate to comment or contact us.

2 thoughts on “Ignorance isn’t bliss. It’s ignorance.”

  1. I found out I was allergic to wheat, cow dairy, egg, and asparagus over a year ago and cut them out of my diet. Obviously, it’s not a severe allergy (or I’d be dead) but it’s real. Still, people like to try to talk me out of it.
    Through trial and error I’ve found out that of all of them, wheat is the worst. I don’t like saying I’m gluten free because people roll their eyes in a way they don’t when I say I’m allergic to wheat.
    I just wish I’d known about this earlier in life.

  2. That gets tough I’m sure Erin! Stay strong in your journey! Have you looked into any other underlying factors as to why your body is rejecting those items?
    I’ve seen many people return to being able to eat foods they previously struggled with after healing different systems inside their body. True allergies tend to stay but intolerance and sensitivities can often be healed.

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