Gluten intolerance is an inherited condition that causes serious allergic, gastrointestinal and immunological reactions when someone eats Gluten (a large complex protein) that is present in grains, such as wheat, barley, rye and oats. There are very many processed foods that contain Gluten. As many as 1 in 7 persons suffer with the broader Gluten sensitivity, many undiagnosed. There are no medical tests for Gluten intolerance, but it is identified by the results of an elimination diet and “open challenge” (monitored re-introduction of Gluten containing foods).

 

There is an immune test for IgA and IgG for Celiac disease, which is a more severe illness triggered by eating Gluten foods, where the immune system responds by damaging the finger like Villi in the small intestine. This leads to severe malnourishment and possible development of other autoimmune illnesses. It has been suggested that since most Gluten sensitive people have negative results upon tests for Celiac disease, the correct term for these people should be Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitive (NCGS). Some people are simply genetically predisposed to gluten intolerance and may not develop symptoms until later in life, or when the intestinal wall becomes damaged (see below).

 

The unpleasant symptoms of Gluten intolerance are similar to those of many other illnesses, such as, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn`s disease, Chronic Fatigue syndrome. These symptoms include gastro-intestinal malfunctions (diarrhea, alternating diarrhea and constipation), gas, bloating, abdominal cramps and pain, headaches, mouth ulcers, skin problems (e.g. Eczema), malnutrition and anemia, chronic fatigue or weakness, brain fog, irritability and muscular aches and pains, to name some. Individual Gluten sufferers may only express some but not all symptoms at any given time.In order to digest complex proteins, like Gluten, a healthy gut micro-flora is necessary

 One needs a correct balance of about 85% “friendly bacteria” to about 15% “unfriendly” bacteria in the gut. The friendly strains of bacteria are the primary digestive activators for the complex Gluten proteins.Probiotics are the opposite of antibiotics. They are the natural, beneficial, live, friendly bacterial supplements known to help maintain a proper intestinal balance of the gut micro-biological organisms. If the balanced gut micro-flora is damaged from the use of antibiotics, poor diet, harmful pharmaceuticals (e.g. steroids, chemotherapy, antacids) or Gluten intolerance foods, then the gut wall becomes damaged and leaky. This leads to passage of intestinal particles into the bloodstream and body, creating a virulent allergic reaction, with an over revving immune system, where the control switch is always in the “on” mode .The results are symptoms similar to those for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Asthma, Eczema, Autism, depression, learning difficulties (e.g. ADHD), allergies and malnutrition.All of this stems initially from an overgrowth of the beneficial bacterial flora as they are destroyed by the unfriendly bacteria in the gut (book by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride “Gut and Psychology Syndrome”, Cambridge, England).

A similar explanation came from Dr. Pimental at Cedars —Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California (See Pimental et al, 2000, Am.J.Gastroenterol.95(12):350-6.) who linked the presence of small intestine bacterial overgrowth(SIBO) to the common symptoms seen in IBS, CFS, Fibromyalgia, Crohn`s disease, depression, ADHD, and some auto-immune diseases (e.g. multiple sclerosis, lupus.) The friendly Lactobacilli (beneficial bacteria) are among the first in the gut to be depleted. This creates the need for supplementation of live beneficial bacteria (Probiotics) to help re-balance the gut microflora, help stop the leaky gut syndrome and thus “turn off” the over revving immunological switch. The Super-probiotic Symbion™ helps restore and maintain the normal, needed, gastro-intestinal micro-floral balance and also prevents bacterial species that would harm the host from colonizing the gut---a barrier effect. Probiotics also induce certain cells to produce cytokine cells, that can either “up-regulate” (turn on the immune system) to fight infection, or “down regulate” the immune system when not fighting infection, so that auto-immune diseases are not so easily developed (Aubrey A. 2006.National Public Radio. Dec 10. “Your Health. Pros and cons of Probiotics”).