While it’s not really correct to refer to other grains as “gluten-free,” they are free from the form of gluten found in varieties of wheat, barley, rye, and their derivatives and are safe for people with celiac disease and most gluten intolerances.

Products that may be used in a “gluten-free” diet include amaranth, arrowroot, buckwheat, chickpea, coconut, almond, corn, flax, millet, potato, quinoa, rice, sago, sorghum, soy, and tapioca. Oats do not contain the same form of gluten as wheat and can be tolerated by some with gluten sensitivity however sometimes it is processed on the same equipment as is wheat so it is important to look for oats that are labelled “gluten-free”.

Grains and grain products that should not be included in a “gluten-free” diet because they contain the form of gluten not safe for people with celiac and most gluten intolerances or have a high chance of cross contamination in their production include barley, barley malt or extract, bran, bulgur, couscous, durum, farina, faro, kamut, malt, matzo flour or meal, orzo, panko, rye, seitan, semolina, spelt, udon, wheat, wheat bran, wheat germ, or wheat starch. It is always important to read product labels. Some products such as soy sauce and other seasonings and sauces contain wheat/gluten so learn to read labels – we hope this has been educational.

To find out more about your specific food intolerances or if you have any questions, please call the Naturopaths at Orange Health, or fill in the form below and call to book an appointment today.

The increased amount of GM foods in our food supply has left many questioning their impact on not only our environment but our health. And until there are more concrete answers about the effects of GM foods on our health, more and more people are choosing to avoid these foods altogether, and are looking for ethically grown, non-GMO and certified organic options.

Knowing the pivotal role that symbiotic gut bacteria play in the overall health of the human body has allowed us to start to consider the factors that proliferate, protect or harm it, including environmental elements like GMOs and pesticides.

Current research around the use of pesticides and the effect of genetically modified foods on human health is still evolving. Scientists have not determined whether GMOs pose long-term risks to human health, and because of that, labeling laws around foods that have been genetically modified have only very recently been established.

While there is still some uncertainty around the effect of genetically modified crops, one element we need to consider is the use of toxic pesticides that also are involved with GM foods. Yes, research is just emerging on GMOs and health in general, but preliminary studies have shown a correlation between glyphosate (the active ingredient in the common industrial pesticide, Roundup, which is used on GM crops), and detrimental changes in the gut microbiome.

Glyphosate is the world’s most widely used herbicide in industrial agriculture. It is also found in many of our everyday garden products. It has grown in popularity thanks to it being one of the only herbicides that many widely grown genetically engineered crops are tolerant to. It is also most commonly used to ripen foods right before harvest, which makes it a useful tool for growers looking to sell perfectly ripe fruits & vegetables to our grocery stores, any time of year.

While research around this pesticide is still limited, in 2017 the World Health Organization announced that glyphosate was ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’ and linked it to growing tumors in mice and rats. Beyond cancer, we’ve also seen studies showing its ability to change the balance of the microbiome in a negative way. Because exposure is ongoing, the toxic effect and change to the gut, manifest over time, potentially creating long-term changes to the makeup of our microbiome.

Preliminary studies are showing the detrimental effect glyphosate has on gut bacteria. This research is still limited due to the fact that the impact of herbicides like glyphosate on gut health is subtle in nature, with believed symptoms and changes to microbiota evolving with long-term consistent exposure. Therefore, much of the research just needs more time.

That said, researchers looking at gastrointestinal (GI) bacteria in chickens found that beneficial bacteria were more susceptible to the pesticide and harmful bacteria more resistant, when exposed to high levels. Additionally, we’ve seen studies linking glyphosate as a causal factor in the rise of both gluten intolerance and celiac disease, both of which are intricately intertwined with the health of our gut and makeup of microbiota. Finally, we have studies today that show how glyphosate interferes with a specific biochemical pathway involved with synthesis of amino acids proteins and while this pathway is not found in humans, it is a pathway found in the bacteria in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Therefore when exposed, glyphosate inhibits the growth of many beneficial bacteria in the gut, resulting in dysbiosis.

You can protect your gut microbiome with these 3 tips:

1. Be a conscious consumer

Purchase foods that are either organic or non-GMO. To be sure you’re buying and eating these foods, look for certification. This ensures you’re buying food free from synthetic pesticides and genetically modified ingredients.

2. Garden Organically

If you like to plant a large garden and grow your own produce, try and be mindful of organic gardening practices, avoiding popular weed killers and fertilizers that could contain pesticides harmful to your gut. If you frequent a local farm or farmers market, have the conversation with the growers around their farming practices to learn if they are using organic products or synthetic.

3. Protect your Gut Proactively

There are a lot of environmental exposures in our everyday lives, but the more you know the more you can proactively take a stance towards protecting your health. While completely avoiding GM foods or foods grown with pesticides is not always an option, protecting your gut is.80% of the immune system’s cells are found in the intestinal tract and our gut is the gateway into many more serious health conditions in our body. Ensuring it remains balanced is critical to your long-term health. A broad spectrum probiotic helps support intestinal flora health and your natural defences as well as your digestive health, helping protect you against unwanted pathogens.

For more information about protecting your gut integrity and boosting your immunity please contact one of our Naturopaths at Orange Health. Let then guide you on your journey back to better health – Naturally.

The umbrella name for lots of irritated bowel conditions characterised by abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, wind, gas, diarrhea and constipation this list goes on but the message is clear – the bowel is irritated and the question is what is irritating the bowel? When you have this answer you have the cause, therefore, you have a better idea of what you are treating.

It can be confusing – FODMAPS, SIBO, Candida, colitis, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohns, Celiac what exactly are these conditions? We will help you understand more about the condition you have and how it can best be treated.

IBS is an unnecessarily common condition that has become a condition we see in our clinic regularly.   In order to be medically diagnosed with IBS, you need to have had symptoms for at least twelve weeks.  We regularly see people who have all the signs and symptoms but don’t fit the medical profile for irritable bowel so are left undiagnosed and untreated. Foods can and do contribute to IBS, certain foods cause inflammation/irritation of the digestive tract.  It is essential to establish clearly what these irritants are. This can be done by various forms of testing and will be decided what the most effective diagnostic will be for you when we know more about you.  Because there are many different ways in which IBS affects an individual your Naturopath will then compile a treatment plan to best suit you.

Herbal medicine is excellent for IBS and associated conditions, we can mix a custom blend to suit your condition, lots of people with IBS suffer from anxiety as a result of their condition treatment for this too can be combined with the calming and anti-inflammatory benefits of the herbal medicine.  Herbal medicine can be life-changing for most people.

Come and see us to discuss your condition further, download the health profile from the booking page and email us with times and dates that suit you to come in and see us.

Gut health – leaky gut is it a thing? Yes, it is, it sounds a bit blunt but that is exactly what it is.  Your gut or digestive system is supposed to absorb nutrients from your food through the gut lining into the blood to be delivered to the appropriate places, it’s all very simple really but if the gut is damaged, inflamed, irritated or “leaky” then other things that shouldn’t be in the blood get through the leaks, this contributes to so many health issues, tiredness, autoimmune diseases, skin conditions and more.  Heal the gut! Hippocrates ‘the father of medicine’ said over 2000 years ago.. ‘All disease begins in the gut’

It’s taken centuries for scientists to admit he was right! But they still don’t know and understand what Naturopaths and Herbalists have known forever.

We produce an aptly named product call gut repair it includes a broad range of essential bacteria to help heal the gut and 5 herbs that soothe, calm and heal leaky gut.  Don’t forget the aim of the game is to first understand what has caused the problem, treat the cause first – then the symptoms resolve.  Come and see us to discuss your digestive issues further.