completely cures disease symptoms, and scientific
evidence increasingly shows that this strategy may work for
other autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes, if it
is caught early.
Dr. Fasano’s finding doesn’t really affect Paleo Dieters,
because all grains, including wheat, have never been part
of the menu. However, since the discovery that a leaky gut
most likely represents a necessary first step in the
development of autoimmunity, it has become clear to me
and my scientific colleagues that any dietary element
capable of increasing intestinal permeability should also be
suspect in autoimmune diseases. As we pored over the
scientific literature, we discovered the following list of foods
and substances, in addition to gliadin in wheat, that
promote a leaky gut:
- Alcohol
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs):
aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen - Oral contraceptives
- Antacids containing aluminum hydroxide (alum)
- Capsaicin-containing chili peppers
- Certain saponin- or glycoalkaloid-containing
foods - Certain lectin-containing foods
At first glance, this list doesn’t seem to be very
impressive, as you may not recognize all the common
foods that contain lectins, saponins, and glycoalkaloids. So
let me be a little more up-front and point out these