Early effects of gliadin on enterocyte intracellular signalling involved in intestinal barrier function

"Despite the progress made in understanding the immunological aspects of the pathogenesis of coeliac disease (CD), the early steps that allow gliadin to cross the intestinal barrier are still largely unknown. The aim of this study was to establish whether gliadin activates a zonulin dependent enterocyte intracellular signalling pathway(s) leading to increased intestinal permeability."

Continue reading "Early effects of gliadin on enterocyte intracellular signalling involved in intestinal barrier function"...

Endogenous retroviruses and the placenta

Heidmann believes that without endogenous retroviruses mammals might never have developed a placenta, which protects the fetus and gives it time to mature, which eventually led to live birth, one of the hallmarks of human evolutionary success over birds, reptiles, and fish. Eggs cannot eliminate waste or draw the maternal nutrients required to develop the large brains that have made mammals so versatile. “These viruses made those changes possible. It is quite possible that, without them, human beings would still be laying eggs.”

Continue reading "Endogenous retroviruses and the placenta"...

One man's meat is another man's poison

Cf. [Lucretius De Rerum Natura iv. 637] quod ali cibus est aliis fuat acre venenum, what is food to one person may be bitter poison to others.

More here...

Meat may be the reason humans outlive apes

"Genetic changes that apparently allow humans to live longer than any other primate may be rooted in a more carnivorous diet."

Continue reading "Meat may be the reason humans outlive apes"...

The Vegetarian Myth

"The truth is that agriculture is the most destructive thing humans have done to the planet, and more of the same won’t save us. The truth is that agriculture requires the wholesale destruction of entire ecosystems. The truth is also that life isn’t possible without death, that no matter what you eat, someone has to die to feed you."

Continue reading "The Vegetarian Myth"...

The Dark Side of Wheat

"Celiac disease reflects back to us how profoundly our diet has diverged from what was until only recently a grain free diet, and even more recently, a wheat free one. We are so profoundly distanced from that dramatic Neolithic transition in cultural time that 'missing is any sense that anything is missing.' The body on the other hand can not help but to remember a time when cereal grains were alien to the diet, because in biological time it was only moments ago."

Continue reading "The dark Side of Wheat"...

Reducing time to diagnosis

"We are giving back precious minutes to doctors so they can make informed and accurate decisions right at the time they need them most to save lives."

Continue reading "Reducing time to diagnosis"...

Which symbol would you rather be?

Here is a great blog from The Smaltz on how the Food Wheel (trim, active and rolling) became the Food Pyramid (bottom heavy and stationary):

Continue reading "Which symbol would you rather be?"...

Sleeping with the Devil?

"The American Academy of Family Physicians today announced the Consumer Alliance, a new corporate partnership program, with its first alliance partner, The Coca-Cola Company."

Continue reading 'Sleeping with the Devil?'...

Atheism

Atheism has been systematically scapegoated and demonized. The idea that anyone can deny the existence of a god and escape a horrible fate is an anathema to most fundamentalists. I predict that in the near future, zealots will use non-believer hysteria as a pretext to set up an nation-wide religious apparatus.

(A hat tip to W.S. Burroughs)

In The Beginning...

Soon, scientists will be able to mimic the origin of life in the laboratory, as well as modify and possibly improve genetic processes. This will basically refute the theory of intelligent design, and force the creationists to redraft their dogma. In addition, fundamentalists will have to rewrite all their religious texts, replacing the word 'creator' with 'evolutionary biologists'. I don't think they will like that very much.

Darwin's Blunder

"Darwin may not have had the raw mental processing power of an Einstein or a Newton, but he had 'an almost superhuman ability to see things that other people did not notice.'"

Continue reading "Darwin's Blunder"...

Jesus Venn Diagram

Zonulin is overexpressed in the intestinal mucosa of subjects with celiac disease

"Quantitative gene expression revealed that zonulin is overexpressed in the intestinal mucosa of subjects with celiac disease. To our knowledge, this is the initial example of a molecule that exerts a biological activity in its precursor form that is distinct from the function of its mature form. Our results therefore characterize zonulin as a previously undescribed ligand that engages a key signalosome involved in the pathogenesis of human immune-mediated diseases that can be targeted for therapeutic interventions."

Continue reading "Zonulin is overexpressed in the intestinal mucosa of subjects with celiac disease"...

Schizophrenia and Gluten

A drastic reduction, if not full remission, of schizophrenic symptoms after initiation of gluten withdrawal has been noted in a variety of studies.

Keep reading "Schizophrenia and Gluten"...

Type 1 diabetes linked to immune response to wheat

Scientists at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and the University of Ottawa have discovered what may be an important clue to the cause of type 1 diabetes. Dr. Fraser Scott and his team tested 42 people with type 1 diabetes and found that nearly half had an abnormal immune response to wheat proteins. The study is published in the August 2009 issue of the journal Diabetes.Scientists at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and the University of Ottawa have discovered what may be an important clue to the cause of type 1 diabetes. Dr. Fraser Scott and his team tested 42 people with type 1 diabetes and found that nearly half had an abnormal immune response to wheat proteins. The study is published in the August 2009 issue of the journal Diabetes.

Continue reading "Type 1 diabetes linked to immune response to wheat"...

Study Finds Diagnosis of Celiac Disease Associated with Lower Health Care Costs

In a study published in the December 2008 issue of the Journal of Insurance Medicine, researchers from Columbia University and CIGNA HealthCare report that diagnosis of celiac disease substantially reduces subsequent health care costs. The research group, led by Peter Green, M.D., at Columbia, looked at medical records for 10.2 million CIGNA managed care members and identified four study cohorts:

• patients with a primary or secondary diagnosis of celiac disease—that is, patients identified with ICD–9 code 579.0, which includes celiac crisis, gluten enteropathy, nontropical sprue, and a few other conditions associated with malabsorption—made in 2000
• patients reporting one primary symptom of celiac disease but not diagnosed with celiac disease during 2000
• patients with two celiac disease symptoms but no diagnosis
• patients with three or more celiac disease symptoms but no diagnosis

The two main findings over the study period were the following:

• The rate of celiac disease diagnosis increased annually during the 4-year study period. Rates of new diagnosis more than doubled over the study period, with rates among women and older adults rising faster than those among men and younger patients.
• Compared with undiagnosed patients with symptoms, those patients diagnosed with celiac disease had lower subsequent medical costs and service utilization rates. The researchers compared annual cost of health care utilization over 12-, 24-, and 36-month periods among the four groups. Those diagnosed with celiac disease had substantially lower health care costs during each follow-up period. Relative economies were greatest when comparing diagnosed patients with those having the greatest number of primary symptoms but no diagnosis.

Rock and Roll!

My buddy Patrick ripping up the powder... Wallowas 2008.

Celiac disease rates increasing?

"Celiac disease, an immune system reaction to gluten in the diet, is at least four times as common today as it was 50 years ago, according to findings of a Mayo Clinic study published this month in the journal Gastroenterology. Joseph Murray, M.D., a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologis, describes the study findings and provides background on the disease, its symptoms and treatment."



Following current theories about this condition, I can't help but wonder if the increased incidence of Celiac disease could be related to some type of viral intervention. There is emerging evidence that the IGRM gene, which is directly related to Crohn's/Celiac disease, has recently been resurrected after being inactivated millions of years ago by a human endogenous retrovirus:

"For 25 million years, the IRGM gene was effectively dead. But then, in the common ancestor of humans and the great apes, something unexpected happened. The gene somehow regained its ability to produce a protein, albeit a shortened one. The gene had been resurrected, and ironically enough, its saviour was another genetic hitchhiker that inserted itself in just the right place."

This may very well be the first documented examples of gene death and rebirth. It would seem to follow that there could be a link with HERVs, the IRGM gene, and the recent increase in gluten intolerance and Crohn's disease.

I would be curious to hear people's comments about this theory.

======

References:

Death and Resurrection of the Human IRGM Gene

The death and resurrection of IRGM - the "Jesus gene"

Celiac Disease Prevalence and Mortality

Gluten Free Concessions!

"A new gluten-free food concession stand is opening on July 23, 2009 at Coors Field in Denver. It is thought to be the first of its kind in baseball."

Continue reading "Gluten Free Concessions!"...

Gluten Free Backlash?

Daniel Engber over at Slate thinks Gluten Intolerance is all in your head. He states "Is it a coincidence that the specter of gluten intolerance only emerged in the midst of the low-carb bonanza?"

But Daniel might be onto something. For example, how about those annoying diabetics and always having to watch what they eat to control their blood sugar? Diabetes is just caused from too many people cutting sugar out of their diets... right?

And people with peanut allergies... always insisting on asking what is in their food to prevent anaphylactic shock. I mean peanut allergies are just a fad anyways... right?

And don't even get me started on the Phenylketonurics... always concerned about phenylalanine in their food! This is probably a result of the Low Carb diet fad as well... might want to tell the hospitals to stop testing the newborns for this genetic condition.

Continue reading: "Are we being too tolerant of gluten-intolerance?"

Gluten Free Success Stories...

The Wheat Deficiency Syndrome

Beware the dreaded Wheat Deficiency Syndrome!

Like any other syndrome, you can recognize this condition by its many tell-tale signs:

--Flat abdomen
--Rapid weight loss
--High energy
--Less mood swings
--Better sleep
--Diminished appetite
--Reduced blood sugar
--Reduced blood pressure
--Reduced small LDL and total LDL
--Increased HDL
--Reduced triglycerides
--Reduced C-reactive protein and other inflammatory measures

Blatantly stolen from: The Heart Scan Blog

Zonulin, Vitamin, and Leaky Gut

" in both Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, vitamin D deficiency was independently associated with having increased disease activity scores compared to those with normal levels of Vitamin D. Vitamin D deficient CD patients, but not UC patients, had worse quality of life when compared to patients who were not Vitamin D deficient."

Continue reading "Zonulin, Vitamin, and Leaky Gut"...

Cucumber shaped like Gluten Free Bagel?

Mechanism of Gluten Sensitive Enteropathy

Via http://www.albatherapeutics.com/

Charles Darwin and Gluten Sensitive Enteropathy?

"However, while most agree that the majority of Darwin’s symptoms were gastrointestinal in nature, some remain unconvinced that the best explanation was that Darwin was lactose intolerant. Instead, they point to a more serious disorder known as Crohn’s Disease. This new diagnosis is garnering much support within the medical community, in that Crohn’s – even more so than lactose intolerance – accounts for the vast majority of Darwin’s incapacitating symptoms."

Continue reading "Darwin and Gluten Sensitive Enteropathy?"...

Gluten Free in Cannon Beach!

- Clam Chowder
- Crab Cakes
- Rice Toast
- And much more at Cranky Sue's

Possible link between Autism and Autoimmunity?

"Children of mothers who have autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and celiac disease have up to a three times greater risk for autism, a new study finds."

Continue reading "Possible link between Autism and Autoimmunity?"...

Happy 3rd of July!!

1. Lectin free ground turkey enchiladas with guacamole and sour cream.
2. Home-cooked tortilla chips.
3. Lobster tail on the grill.
4. Lectin free pineapple salsa.
5. Cabbage salad with lime juice and onions.

Mt Bachelor Adventures!

Mount Bachelor Adventures! from David Cain on Vimeo.

Gluten Encephalopathy with Psychiatric Onset

"In a significant proportion of cases (10-15%) gluten intolerance can be associated with central or peripheral nervous system and psychiatric disorders."

Continue reading "Gluten Encephalopathy with Psychiatric Onset"...

Another Gluten Free Beer Option

Sprecher's gluten free Shakparo Ale is a West African Shakparo-style beer brewed from sorghum and millet. An unfiltered, light, crisp ale with a cider or fruit profile and a dry vinous aftertaste, it is best characterized as an easy-drinking or session beer perfect for summer gatherings.

Continue reading "Another Gluten Free Beer Option"...

Celiac/Autoimmune Thyroid Connection

"Some practitioners theorize that celiac disease may be triggered after infection by a type of virus that biologically resembles the proteins in gluten. After the infection, the body cannot distinguish between the invading virus and the gluten protein, and subsequently, the body reacts allergically."

Keep reading "The Celiac / Autoimmune Thyroid Connection"...

Frittata Nirvana!

Frittata with Asiago cheese, nitrate-free organic pork bratwurst, broccoli, and roasted garlic olive oil.

Was JFK suffering from Gluten Intolerance?

"John F. Kennedy was diagnosed with Addison’s, but also may have suffered from celiac disease and had documented symptoms that seem to suggest this diagnosis. His health improved dramatically when he became president and began receiving better treatment for these conditions. Kennedy was in the best physical shape of his life when he was assassinated."

Keep reading "Was JFK suffering from Gluten Intolerance?"...

Another great dinner idea...

Pork chops with apricot glazed (gluten free) bread crumbs, served with green beans and almonds... along with pesto rice!!

Worst invention ever?

A group of inventors has come up with a way to preserve the shelf life of produce by coating with a very thin layer of wheat gluten:

"if such film is applied on fresh horticulture produces, they not only extend the shelf-life by virtue of excellent barrier properties but also give choice and statutory right to consumer to eat edible film as such or removed simply by washing"

Yep, you can just wash it off... I am sure there would be no residue of gluten left on my apple... right?

Continue reading "Worst invention ever?"...

Death in a can...

Fried wheat gluten with peanut and hot peppers... can anyone say inflammation!

Lectin free dietary guidlines...

Lectins are a class of proteins that are specific to certain sugar binding sites in the body, namely the lungs, mucous membranes, and the digestive tract. Most people are familiar with Ricin, which has been in the news recently for its role and use as a weapon bioterrorism. Ricin is simply a very potent lectin.

But lectins are found in many common foods, with less potency than Ricin, but with destructive effects on the tissues of the body. Lectins are produced by plants as a protective mechanism against pest such as insects, or microbial infestation. For example, Raw black beans contain enough lectins to kill rats in a week.

Lectin toxins in food are found in:

• Grains containing gluten, especially wheat and wheat germ, oats, rye, barley.
• Legumes (all dried beans, including soy and PEANUTS and the products made from them)
• Plants in the Nightshade family, including potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant and peppers.

Some dairy is suspected to contain lectins, but only if cows were fed grains instead of grass. If you drink alot of milk, try and purchase organic milk/cheese/etc from free ranging, grass fed cattle.

My recommendation for people wishing to avoid lectins would be to COMPLETELY eliminate grains containing gluten (wheat, barley, and rye), peanuts, soybeans, and nightshades (peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, and potatoes) for at least 2 weeks, and see if you notice any changes in your symptoms.

Also, if you can find a local health food grocery, see if they can order some Bladderwrack capsules for you. Bladderwrack is a type of seaweed that contains a chemical that binds to lectins before they can do any damage to your body. You can also order it online through Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/ov9b7z

Some good substitues: exchange rice and corn for glutenous grains. Exchange sweet potatoes and yams for white potatoes. Exchange cashew or almond butter for peanut butter. Eat plain grilled meats, without spicy addditions. Try thai restaurants for pad thai with no peanuts, or sushi, or a hambuger with no fries, but a salad instead. And if you drink alcohol, try white wine or good tequila instead of beer or other liquors.

I know this sounds difficult, but you will experience improvement in your symptoms.

Here's to living lectin free!!
-David

Closer to a Unified Theory

"Genetic predisposition, miscommunication between innate and adaptive immunity, exposure to environmental triggers, and loss of the intestinal barrier function secondary to dysfunction of intercellular tight junctions, seem to all be key ingredients involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. This new theory implies that, once the autoimmune process is activated, it is not self-perpetuating; rather, it can be modulated or even reversed by preventing the continuous interplay between genes and environment."

Continue reading "Closer to a Unified Theory"...

Cod and Biscuits!

Tonight's dinner: poached cod with fresh asparagus and thyme... with homemade buttermilk biscuits. Lectin free goodness!!

Almost Famous...

So, the application I helped write made the nightly news in Hawaii:

Soldier Evaluation for Life Fitness from David Cain on Vimeo.

Celiac Disease

Great explanation of the mechanism behind gluten intolerance:

Simply irresponsible...

A website dedicated to increasing awareness around Crohn's Disease and not one single mention of Gluten anywhere on the site. I am simply appalled: http://www.crohnsandme.com/

I would not recommend this site to anyone needing information on Crohn's Disorder.

What Would Jesus Duodenum?

Think about it... the 'body' of Jesus Christ in communion is gluten. A potent lectin capable of producing toxic effects on individuals with certain genetic and/or environmental dispositions.

"Pastors and the faithful are reminded that for bread to be valid matter for the Eucharist, it must be made solely of wheat; contain enough gluten to effect the confection of bread; be free of foreign materials and unaffected by any preparation or baking methods which would alter its nature."*

The answer?

Gluten Free Host, of course!

* Quote from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/innews/1103.shtml

The sickest animal on the planet...

"While wheat was the engine of civilization’s expansion and was glorified as a “necessary food,” both in the physical (staff of life) and spiritual sense (the body of Christ), those suffering from celiac disease are living testimony to the lesser known dark side of wheat. A study of celiac disease may help unlock the mystery of why modern man, who dines daily at the table of wheat, is the sickest animal yet to have arisen on this strange planet of ours."

Continue reading "The sickest animal on the planet"...

What, me worry?

A world renowned expert on lectins lost his job when he warned the world about the dangers of Genetically Modified Foods:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arpad_Pusztai

Arpad found that rats fed on genetically modified potatoes had unusual changes to their gut tissue when compared with rats fed on non modified potatoes. The potatoes were altered by inserting a gene taken from snowdrop plants, that caused the potatoes to express a certain characteristic.

Anyone care to guess as to the nature of this gene expression?

Yep, the modification caused the potatoes to express the snowdrop lectin.

Are you scared yet? No? Ok, consider this:

Many lectins are powerful allergens, and prohevein, the principal allergen of rubber latex, is one. It has been engineered into transgenic tomatoes for its fungistatic properties, so we should expect an outbreak of tomato allergy in the near future among latex sensitive individuals.

How about now?

Lectin Free Burger and "Fries"

Here is a great recipe for that all American favorite: Burger and Fries... but without all the harmful lectins!! Start with a pattie of ground turkey, grilled, broiled or fried in olive oil. Add this to gluten free bread. Server with onion, mustard, and pickles. Banana sauce makes an excellent ketchup substitute! Also shown: basmati rice with wheat-free tamari, sweet potato chips from Trader Joes, steamed squash and steamed brocolli!

Clumping Disorder

I propose that we classify a new form of disease I am calling 'Cain Syndrome' or 'Clumping Disorder'. The mechanism of this disorder have their origins in a class of chemical compounds commonly called lectins. Simply put, lectins are proteins that bind to sugars on cell walls.

For example, some viruses use lectins to attach themselves to the cells of the host organism during infection. Another example is Ricin, a chemical known to the general public for it's role in bioterrorism. But few know that it's toxicity results from a potent lectin:

http://www.glycoforum.gr.jp/science/word/lectin/LEA08E.html

Several notable people have developed dietary theories based on the biochemical processes of lectins:

http://www.krispin.com/lectin.html

http://www.vrp.com/articles.aspx?ProdID=2009

These investigations due a decent job of alerting people to the harmful nature of these chemicals, but the true extent of the damage caused by these compounds has never been fully researched.

I am proposing that these chemicals are contributing to a nationwide health problem, effecting approximately 50% of the population. And in all likelihood, contributing to the symptoms associated with diabetes, MS, lupus, epilepsy, etc.

You are probably thinking to yourself: "Aren't the causes of these diseases genetic?". To which I would say: "Yes, but if everyone smoked cigarettes, then lung cancer would be genetic!". In other words, it is very probable that a large percentage of the population has a genetic predisposition for this disorder, that would otherwise not be expressed were it not for their diet!

A good example is Crohn's Disease. This is almost certainly an advanced form of Gluten Intolerance, which has a genetic marker that can be verified. But if an individual with this marker does not eat gluten, then harmful protein and antigens are not produced, and therefore no disease occurs. See how simple this is!

We need to look closely at these diseases and disorders from the point of view of a Unified Theory of Health: genome --> molecular expression --> illness --> microbial interaction --> and back to genome.

Inflammation: A basic way in which the body reacts to infection, irritation or other injury, the key feature being redness, warmth, swelling and pain. Inflammation is now recognized as a type of nonspecific immune response.

More information: In technical terms, the inflammatory response directs immune system components to the site of injury or infection and is manifest by increased blood supply and vascular permeability which, in technical terms, allows chemotactic peptides, neutrophils, and mononuclear cells to leave the intravascular compartment. Microorganisms are engulfed by phagocytic cells (e.g., neutrophils and macrophages) in an attempt to contain the infection in a small-tissue space. The response includes attraction of phagocytes in a chemotactic gradient of microbial products, movement of the phagocyte to the inflammatory site and contact with the organism, phagocytosis (ingestion) of the organism, development of an oxidative burst directed toward the organism, fusion of the phagosome and lysosome with degranulation of lysosomal contents, and death and degradation of the organism. When quantitative or qualitative defects in neutrophil function result in infection, the infection usually is prolonged and recurrent and responds slowly to antimicrobial agents. Staphylococci, gram-negative organisms, and fungi are the usual pathogens responsible for these infections.

Lectin free Pezole!

Ingredients

* 1 1/2 lbs pork shoulder
* 2 garlic cloves, peeled
* 2 tbs cumin
* 1 onion, chopped
* 2 garlic cloves, chopped
* 2 tbs olive oil
* 1/2 tsp black pepper
* 1 tbs salt
* 1/4 tsp oregano
* 4 cups canned white hominy
* 3-5 cups pork broth, from cooking pork shoulder
* salt



1. Prepare the onion, peel the garlic, chop the onion, peel and chop the 2 garlic cloves, drain and rinse hominy.
2. Place the meat in a large saucepan and cover with lightly salted water.
3. Add 1/2 chopped onion, the 2 cloves peeled garlic, black pepper, cumin, and oregano.
4. Bring to a boil over medium heat, skim off any foam that rises, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
5. Remove meat and broth, reserving both.
6. Saute the remaining chopped onion and garlic in oil until translucent.
7. Add the remaining spices, stir for a minute.
8. Cut the reserved pork into 1 inch cubes and add to the pan.
9. Stir in the canned hominy, pork broth.
10. Cook at a simmer, covered, for 45 to 60 minutes until the meat and hominy are tender.
11. If necessary, cook for up to an additional 60 minutes until the onions are well blended into the broth.
12. Garnishes:lots of lime/lemon wedges, sliced radishes, chopped cilantro, shredded cabbage, corn tortillas.

What doesn't kill you, will only make you sicker.

Whether you are ready to admit it or not, you need to know that you are part of a medical experiment. There is no need to determine if this experiment is intentional or not, you simply need to know that it is happening... every day.

Let's take a look at an example: Let's say you join your friends for a day at the local ski resort. Rather than packing a lunch, you choose to eat at the ski lodge. In general, this amounts to 2 options: the restaurant, or the cafe/cafeteria. The former offers the expected fare: salads, specials, meat dishes, pasta, baked potatoes, etc. While the latter offers the obligatory burgers, pizza, chili fries, corn dogs, candy bars, etc.

For the sake of this post, we will ignore the "hidden" foods: hydrogenated oils, MSG, aluminum, artificial flavors/colors. We will simply address the choices offered to you, or lack thereof.

How do you think these establishments decided on the food choices they offer? Public demand? Somehow I find that very unlikely? More likely it depends on what is most available from the wholesale distributors: wheat products, nuts, nightshades, etc. Then how do the distributors decide on what they will offer? By what is most readily available from producers? Farmers? And what goes into the decision making process of the farmers and growers? Government incentive? Pricing models?

Now, I am not crying 'CONSPIRACY!'. I am just hoping that you will stop and think about what decisions are behind the food that this country eats. What if everyone stopped buying the food offered at these establishments? What if the public used their dollars to bargain for better choices?

Think about this next time you are deciding where to eat dinner...

What are Lectins?

Lectins are a class of proteins that are specific to certain sugar binding sites in the body, namely the lungs, mucous membranes, and the digestive tract. Most people are familiar with Ricin, which has been in the news recently for its role and use as a weapon bioterrorism. Ricin is simply a very potent lectin.

But lectins are found in many common foods, with less potency than Ricin, but with destructive effects on the tissues of the body. Lectins are produced by plants as a protective mechanism against pest such as insects, or microbial infestation. For example, Raw black beans contain enough lectins to kill rats in a week.

Lectin toxins in food are found in:

• Grains containing gluten, especially wheat and wheat germ, oats, rye, barley.
• Legumes (all dried beans, including soy and PEANUTS and the products made from them)
• Plants in the Nightshade family, including potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant and peppers.

Some dairy is suspected to contain lectins, but only if cows were fed grains instead of grass. If you drink alot of milk, dry and purchase organic milk/cheese/etc from free ranging, grass fed cattle.

Diet recommendations: COMPLETELY eliminate grains containing gluten (wheat, barley,
and rye), peanuts, soybeans, and nightshades (peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, and potatoes) for at least 2 weeks, and see if you notice any changes in your symptoms.

Also, if you can find a local health food grocery, see if they can order some Bladderwrack capsules for you. Bladderwrack is a type of seaweed that contains a chemical that binds to lectins before they can do any damage to your body. You can also order it online through Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/ov9b7z

Some good substitues: exchange rice and corn for glutenous grains. Exchange sweet potatoes and yams for white potatoes. Exchange cashew or almond butter for peanut butter. Eat plain grilled meats, with no hot spice. Try Thai restaurants for pad thai with no peanuts, or sushi, or a hambuger with no fries, but a salad instead. And if you drink alcohol, try white wine or good tequila instead of beer or other liquors.

Lectin Free Thousand Island Dressing

* Mayonnaise: (Trader Joes has mayo made with canola oil instead of soybean oil)
* Jufran Banana Sauce replaces ketchup.
* Chopped pickles, any variety will work.

Mix together to dress a salad, or for dipping!

Chugach Alaska

Abalone!

Collards, filet mignon, abalone, and ceasar salad!