GLUTEN SENSITIVITY CAN MIMIC FIBROMYALGIA

“I would argue that 100% of humans have a wheat or grain intolerance,” says cardiologist William Davis, M.D., author of Wheat

Belly. “And nearly 50% have some form of gluten sensitivity that can cause irritable bowel, skin rashes and all-over aches.” The main culprit?

“Gliadin, a component of gluten that triggers a condition called leaky gut, opening barriers between intestinal cells to allow foreign substances into the bloodstream,” Dr. Davis explains. “Research shows leaky gut is the cause of many autoimmune diseases.”

“Many people with gluten sensitivity may not have GI problems, but instead have fatigue, joint pain or neurological symptoms,” notes Harvard-trained doctor Akil Palanisamy, M.D., author of The Paleovedic Diet.

“Many of these symptoms overlap with and mimic fibromyalgia, which makes diagnosis difficult.”

Cutting out grains is the best way to sniff out a gluten sensitivity. And even women who have fibromyalgia— not just symptoms that mimic it—can benefit. “About half of people with fibromyalgia will obtain substantial or total relief by cutting out grains,” promises Dr. Davis. In addition, the strategies below can help heal a leaky gut to restore energy.

Reach for coconut oil. “It contains a natural antimicrobial that helps balance the gut microbiome, which can help heal the gut,” says Dr. Palanisamy. What’s more, studies show coconut oil cuts the growth of harmful gut bugs in half and boosts metabolism by 50%. Aim to eat 1 tsp. a day, mixed into salad dressings or stir-fries.

Sip a cup of bone broth daily. It’s rich in glutamine, an amino acid that was found to decrease gut permeability by 40% in a German study.