Millions of people (some even go as far as to say most people) are sensitive to wheat or gluten, to one degree or another, and should therefore avoid it.

Consider these facts:

• Millions are allergic to wheat - it is, after all, one of the top eight allergens.
• Nearly 3 million people have celiac disease (although sadly, most don't know it and probably never will). It's the most common genetic disease of mankind (yet for every person diagnosed, 140 will go undiagnosed).
• Remarkable numbers of autistic kids (including Asperger's and others on the PDD-NOS spectrum) are showing improvement on a gluten-free/casein-free dietary protocol.
• Many autoimmune diseases other than celiac disease show improvement in symptoms on a gluten-free diet.
• No one knows the numbers for sure, but a huge segment of the population is 'gluten sensitive' or 'intolerant' without having celiac disease.
• People go on Atkins, Zone, and other low-carb (virtually gluten-free) diets and experience vast improvements in health and vitality. Perhaps they were gluten-sensitive to start?
• Wheat products are often high-glycemic-index foods like bagels, cakes, and cookies. These foods can contribute to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
• 'The Wisdom of Menopause,' a bestselling book, suggests menopausal women should avoid wheat.
• Dr. Nicholas Perricone suggests avoiding carbs and high-glycemic-index foods (like bagels, bread, cookies, cake) to improve complexion and reduce wrinkles.
• There is an association between starchy foods (like bagels, bread, cookies, cake) and ovarian cancer.

We know that humans don't fully digest wheat. Animals with more than one stomach, like cows and sheep do. But we don't. That means undigested gluten gets into the stomach, where it can ferment, causing gas and boating.*

We also know that wheat, even in people without an intolerance, can cause 'leaky gut syndrome' by creating a more permeable intestinal lining. This extra permeability allows gluten, toxins, and other substances, to get into the bloodstream where they can initiate immune responses and produce otherwise unexplainable symptoms.*

* Center for Celiac Research, Baltimore, MD