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There is a need for perspective otherwise we wind up 
bouncing off the results of one very narrow study to the 
results of another narrow study …

Giving up a food item because of the existence of a
specific chemical in its composition that could theoretically
be harmful is the flip side of the typical prescription drug
conundrum of declaring a drug safe without considering 
its safety in a drug interaction scenario when taken with 
other drugs. Both conclusions are too narrowly focused
and are therefore incomplete, possibly wrong and potentially
harmful.

There are people in this world whose diet is overwhelmingly
composed of the grains, vegetables and fruits listed in these
studies and they live long, long lives. As a matter of fact
some of the longest living people on this earth have diets
that are based on these food items. And not necessarily by 
choice but rather because these foods are lower on the food 
chain and are therefore less water, resource and cost intensive 
to produce which puts them in realm of what most people can
afford and can also grow in their gardens.

All studies into longevity have shown only one common
characteristic among people that live into their 90's and beyond
and it had nothing to do with food, exercise, heredity, …
The only thing these people had in common is that they had the
gift to be able to face adversity and catastrophic events, leave 
them behind and move beyond them. That was the only thing 
they had in common. A life consuming, Don Quixotean quest
against demon gluten and the search for GF pizza or GF cookie
or GF pancake nirvana is the exact opposite of the only proven
path to longevity.

Now, yes, the Mediterranean diet has been proven over and over
again to be healthier. And yes, a glass of red wine has been 
shown to be a good idea. And yes, a more physically active life
is heather than a sedentary one. And yes, for us celiacs it is
important to avoid gluten from wheat, rye and barley just like
it is important for people with nut allergies to avoid nuts, etc.

But, I cannot help but wonder how many of us celiacs cause
more harm to our health and longevity by an overwhelming
life consuming quest to avoid accidental exposure to gluten
than the harm any such small, singular exposure would 
actually cause.

I don't expect anyone to agree or applaud … I only hope that
we all stop stop for a moment and consider a whole-life perspective.

Regards,
Dimitrios

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