Sunday, February 10, 2013

These Proteins are KILLING Me...Literally

by Glen Depke

I know the title sounds a bit dramatic, but this is so true. I have very recently discovered proteins that are creating inflammation, gut/brain issues, adrenal dysfunction as well as immune challenges. If I did not have this new found awareness, this would have been the single biggest factor leading to my personal health demise. Who says ignorance is bliss, it can actually kill you.

I have to say that I love when I have a challenge that everyone else can learn from. This not only allows me to find new levels of health and happiness for myself but also for all that I am able to reach out to. 

So what are these proteins, what are they about and what damage do they do?

First of all, let me discuss how I found this out. 

About three weeks ago, I went in for a blood drawn to complete a cross reactive food test. To refresh your memory, a cross reaction test will assess your potential intolerance to proteins that are similar to the proteins in gluten. This  potential intolerance is to the foods listed below.
  • Rye, Barley, Spelt, Polish Wheat
  • Cow's Milk
  • Casein
  • Casomorphin
  • Milk Butyrophilin
  • Whey Protein
  • Milk Chocolate
  • Oats
  • Yeast
  • Coffee
  • Sesame
  • Buckwheat
  • Sorghum
  • Millet
  • Hemp
  • Amaranth
  • Quinoa
  • Tapioca
  • Teff
  • Soy
  • Egg
  • Corn
  • Rice
  • Potato
Well, out of this list I am personally intolerant to the foods listed below.
  • Casomorphin
  • Milk Butyrophilin
  • Whey Protein
  • Yeast
  • Coffee
  • Sorghum
  • Millet
  • Hemp
  • Amaranth
  • Tapioca
  • Teff
  • Soy
  • Egg
  • Corn
  • Rice
If it seems as though I was repeating the list, that is because out of a possible 24 different cross reactive foods, I am personally intolerant to 15 of these. The interesting fact is that I eat many of these on a regular basis. With that said, what is happening to my body when I consume these?

The first challenge is that chronic inflammation will occur in my gut. This in itself leads to poor digestion, poor immune function and adrenal challenges. The challenges in my gut will then lead to brain issues over time. With a history of dementia in my family, anything that would create brain dysfunction is much less than welcomed. The immune challenges over time would lead to an autoimmune reaction and long term, autoimmune disease. The adrenal issues lead to challenges with all the areas listed below.
  • Thyroid
  • Pancreas
  • Ovaries (Obviously, not for me)
  • Metabolism of fat and protein
  • Poor regulation of body weight and fat
  • Mucosal membrane breakdown
  • Detoxification issues
  • Poor immune regulation
  • Challenges with pro or anti inflammatory processes
  • Poor blood sugar balance
  • Fatigue
  • Issues with the muscular/skeletal health
  • Poor memory and mental clarity
  • Insomnia
  • Poor neurological pathway function
As you can see this is a HUGE issue!

Over time, if these cross reactions were not found and addressed, this would eventually kill me and it would likely be a slow agonizing death. I know, dramatic again, but so true!

To understand the mechanisms here, you have to first understand gluten intolerance. When someone is gluten intolerant and they consume gluten, this lead to the same factors listed above. When gluten has been a long standing issue and the gluten has not been removed from your diet, which is the case for most, your body will begin to recognize other proteins similar to gluten as gluten and the whole cascade of health challenges can be caused by these other foods.

So yes, you can be eating and egg with cheese and hashbrowns, all while leading to chronic health issues and the slow agonizing death. 

Not fun, right?

So you may be thinking that I am quite upset. Actually, quite the opposite. I am thrilled!

Understand that my goal is to live a life of amazing health and happiness, so to find out that I am consuming food that is actually creating quite the opposite for me is very welcome. With this information, I recognize that simply being gluten free is not enough for me. It is now time to buckle down and move forward in life with some of old regulars as far as food choices are concerned, as non existent foods in my mind.

What is funny about this is that I have been gluten free for a number of years. Actually about 6.5 years. With this I would have the occasional gluten free beer, which is made with sorghum, that I am intolerant to. Many of the non gluten grains that I have consumed over these years, you guessed it, I am also intolerant to. The fried eggs with cheese that I would often enjoy in morning, yes, intolerant too. Any bread, gluten free or not has also been an issue, due to the yeast intolerance. Heck, even the corn tortilla on a taco and the rice on the bottom of my sushi are all intolerant foods.

So now you know why I can say that ignorance is not bliss, it can actually kill you!

Please use my learn to understand more about your personal level of gluten intolerance and cross reactivity. I just may save your life as it has mine!

To learn the likelihood of gluten intolerance for yourself, click here.

If you would like to learn more about a cross reactive test, call my office or have your health professional order an array #4 from Cyrex Labs. You can reach me on my direct line at (949)954.6226.

I would also suggest that you forward this article to anyone that you know if gluten intolerant or you suspect is gluten intolerant. For anyone in question, let them know about the complimentary gluten assessment at Depke Wellness.com. 

Help spread the word, you may actually save the life of a friend or loved one!

If you have any questions or comments, please leave this below for me to personally address.

11 comments:

  1. Aproximately, how much does this test cost? I live in Lousiana can I also get it done?

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  2. The cost of this is $250.00 and the kit can be sent anywhere in the US. There are contracted labs throughout the country that will be able to provide your blood draw for Cyrex Labs.

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    1. Hi Glen,
      Do you know if the test is covered by Medicare?

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    2. This would likely be covered if this was ordered by your physician. Of course you would always want to check with your provider first. Your doctor can order an Array #4 from Cyrex Labs by visiting cyrexlabs.com.

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  3. Glen I am glad you found out! My iridologist found multiple allergies in my son and we have been feeding him GMO free ( it's the foreign proteins in GMOs that cause the inflammation and food intolerances) and he has been taking things to heal his stomach like MSM by MRM, Intestinew ( which coats the lining and lets it heal) and drinking Field of Greens raw healthy greens drink every day and he is healing. We know because the last time he was exposed to an allergen he barely reacted, where usually he get a red ring rash around his mouth for weeks. We don't have to live with these food intolerances forever. We can heal the stomach lining. We need to. Inflammation int he stomach leads to stomach ulcers which lead to stomach cancer. Getting off GMOs is crucial!

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    Replies
    1. So happy for your son Zen. Let's separate food intolerance, allergies and GMOs though. The way I always explain this is that a food intolerance creates a poor functioning immune system, the allergy the reaction by a poor functioning immune system and simply put, we should not eat GMO foods at all. Some that have strong genetic challenges with food intolerance may never be able to eat the food again while healing the gut can open the doors for many.

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  4. Glen, do you know how much your office charges for the Array #5 (Autoimmunity) test from Cyrex?

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  5. Hi Glen, I also just had an Array 4 test due to my recent diagnoses of Hashimotos. However I can't seem to wrap my head around the fact that eating, in my case, cow's milk, casein, whey, teff (not even sure what teff is btw), egg and CHOCOLATE would be so bad. I've been GF but keep thinking the occasional bite of chocolate or egg baked in some GF food is OK...but you're saying it's not ok for a once-in-a-while indulge? I read your article but.... Also I had an Array 2 test and the Lipopoysaccarides (LPS)IgG is in the Equivocal range (1.21), can you explain what that means?

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  6. These are only bad if you have a cross reactivity to them. If you do, this consumption leads to gut inflammation,immune challenges (which you already have), adrenal dysfunction, poor digestion, and neurological imbalances. If you are in either an equivocal or out of range category, this is something to be absolutely avoided for a minimum of one year. Eating a little bit of something that is creating this kind of damage simply does not work.

    The Array #2 is basically telling you that you have intestinal permeability with yeast as a trigger. Often those with leaky gut have chronic yeast issues also. Basically a chicken or the egg story.

    The good thing is that you can balance and heal, but this requires addressing the nutritional component and healing the gut. Due to the diagnosed Hashimotos you will also have to address immune function and likely adrenal function. There is definitely hope though.

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  7. What does GMO stand for? Is it something we are avoiding right now or should be avoiding?Thanks. I have lost 8# and 7 inches so far which is so impressive for me! I have had a dull headache since increasing the clearvite and decreasing the protein. Would that be normal for this. Thanks Debbie

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  8. This is genetically modified organisms. With your focus in the program there is nothing you need to change right now. Congrats on your success to date!

    This would not be abnormal. Let me know if this continues though.

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