Should We All Avoid Gluten? with Dr. Alessio Fasano
Sep 26, 2018
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Dr. Alessio Fasano discusses the effects of gluten and other gut aggravators. Learn about healing the gut and preventing leaky gut. Explore the rise and controversy of gluten-free diets, changes in environmental factors and food sensitivity, gut restoration, inflammation, gut permeability and chronic inflammatory diseases, and the need for healthcare reform.
Gluten plays a role in certain individuals, but it is not solely responsible for all chronic inflammatory diseases.
Only certain individuals with genetic predispositions or imbalanced microbiomes will experience negative health effects from gluten.
Changes in food and farming practices contribute to the rise of gluten-related disorders and chronic inflammatory diseases.
Deep dives
The Complexity of Gluten-Related Disorders
Dr. Alessio Fasano discusses how our understanding of gluten-related disorders has evolved over the years. He explains that gluten is not solely responsible for all chronic inflammatory diseases, but it does play a role in certain individuals. He highlights the importance of distinguishing between celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and those who choose a gluten-free diet for lifestyle reasons.
The Link Between Gluten and Chronic Inflammation
Dr. Fasano explains that gluten can cause inflammation in the gut, leading to various chronic inflammatory diseases throughout the body. He emphasizes that while gluten does affect gut permeability in everyone, only certain individuals with genetic predispositions or imbalanced microbiomes will experience negative health effects.
The Impact of Environmental Factors
Dr. Fasano discusses how environmental factors, such as changes in our food and farming practices, contribute to the rise of gluten-related disorders and other chronic inflammatory diseases. He highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach that includes addressing lifestyle factors and promoting a balanced microbiome.
The Role of Gut Permeability and Inflammation
Dr. Fasano explains that leaky gut and chronic inflammation are key factors in the development of various chronic inflammatory diseases. He discusses the interplay between gluten, gut permeability, the immune system, and the microbiome. He also encourages exploring personalized approaches to identifying biomarkers and designing targeted interventions.
The Need for Comprehensive Healthcare and Research
Dr. Fasano emphasizes the importance of a holistic and comprehensive approach to healthcare that addresses the interconnectedness of various factors influencing health, including food, environment, genetic predispositions, and the microbiome. He suggests convening a multidisciplinary team of experts to tackle the complex challenges of healthcare and improve global health outcomes.
In this week’s episode, Dr. Fasano discusses the effects of gluten as well as other potential triggers that aggravate the gut. What does it take to heal the gut? How can we prevent leaky gut? Find out more in this episode.
Advancing innovation in research, clinical care and education, Alessio Fasano, MD, has dedicated his life to improving the quality of life for people with celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders. He founded the Center for Celiac Research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1996. In 2013, he moved the Center to Massachusetts General Hospital and renamed it the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment. He is chief of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition at MassGeneral Hospital for Children and professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.