<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Several weeks ago research was posted casting a blaming shadow on mothers for gluten syndrome in their kids.  Shades of the outdated, cruel "refrigerator mother" theory for autism?
 
Before we slash and trash our mommies who didn't know and wanted the best for us, lets look at some more likely factors.  Please be patient with the following background information. The connection to moms is toward the end. 
 
1.  GLUTEN IS CHANGED - The wheat was genetically altered by the 1950's or so by methods no longer in use, ie chemical mutation and x ray irradiation, and the gluten protein level is raised by hybridation.  (Mendel in the Kitchen by Nina Federoff)
 
2.  TOXINS -  On www.theglutensyndrome.net there are researched medical diagrams of various subsets of gluten syndrome, including the celiac subset. Take a hard look.  http://glutensensitivity.net/VojdaniDiagrams.htm
 
 TOXINS ARE A MAJOR UNDERLYING CAUSE - Dr. Aristo Vojdani, who made the diagrams, fingers TOXINS (chemical injury) as a major factor, and yes also stress and infections.  They  compromise the integrity/permeability of the gut wall, so gluten and other peptides slip through the gut wall before they are properly broken down. 
 
In turn, the antibodies formed against them are found to cross link by cellular mimicry to innocent look alike tissues all over the body thus initiating inflammatory autoimmune damage to our own tissue., ie friendly fire.  
 
In this perspective, which fits the community like a glove, villi damaged celiac disease is considered to be only one small subset of the gluten syndrome, with other gluten intolerance reaction(s) affecting many OTHER tissues of the body, NOT the villi, in just as serious and autoimmune pathways as the celiac pathway(s).  NOTE: Dr Vojdani says the non celiac subsets are autoimmune too, often even worse, which disagrees with other opinions.
 
3.  PREVALENCE - TODAYS TESTS ONLY PICK UP A TINY PERCENTAGE OF GLUTEN SYNDROME CASES.  Gluten can break into many more pieces, or peptides, than there are tests developed.  Celiac specialists don't routinely test all the antibodies they do have the technology for, and they should.  So any negative antibody test is always inconclusive, and usually very misleading.  Plus the tTG screener for celiac disease is often not elevated if the damage is in other tissues beside the villi. 

Labs that run more antibody marker tests get huge percentages of positives, like 50% plus, and that doesn't count the silent cases that are not getting tested.
 
Biopsies only look for damage in villi completely miss all the other likely places of damage instead of villi, like in almost any organ, nerves, brains, etc. 
 
A lot more folks have this than are getting diagnosed. 
 
HOW IS ALL THIS RELEVANT?
 
Well, if MOM is a factor in gluten syndrome, then most of us are guilty as charged.
 
Yes stress can affect gut permeability, like an accident, or some emotional trigger.  In most cases Mom is hardly the only or worst of life's emotional triggers, but surely is more available due to constant exposure! 
 
True that the toxins pass from one generation to the next through the placental wall, and in many cases, susceptible genes.  Hardly mom's fault other than her own uninformed toxic dietary indiscretions and the cumulative effect on her health and emotions. 
 
True that once mom and/or child is into gluten syndrome, the brain and nerves are often damaged, and that will usually worsen relationship issues, which researchers can see.
 
True that in some cases gluten syndrome and susceptible genes may push "normal neurotypical" parents and kids closer to the asperger/autism spectrum or some social disorder.  Maybe the researchers saw that in the small sample they studied.  But according to the bigger picture, so many folks have this that the numbers are less relevant.  Most celiac statistics are messed up since they only consider a tiny subset of autoimmune gluten syndrome and don't represent the big picture. 
 
REPEAT - Dr. Vojdani strongly emphasizes that TOXINS play a huge role in increasing gut permeability, which underlies gluten syndrome. TOXINS are a very big gun.  
 
So unless we want to play the blame game with our forbears over environmental and dietary toxins, mercury, toxic processed vegetable oils, and processed food in general, blaming mom in most cases misses the point.  Let's give TOXINS the attention they need and see if that helps a lot more.
 
Lets FORGIVE our forbears, not just mom, and clean up our own act with the toxins and processed food.  Let's return to nutrient dense unprocessed non GMO food including the old fashioned fats like butter, eggs, virgin coconut and palm oil, animal fats and foods from healthy pastured animals, cod liver oil and wild caught fish, organic veggies, etc. Also lets get our sleep, simplify our lives, etc.  www.westonaprice.org   www.seedsofdeception.com etc. 
 
The responsibility of change, and our future children's bodies, sit squarely on our plates, literally. 
 
The role of mothers is that now that we know how detrimental these processed foods, oils, chemicals, plastics etc., are, we need our oldest moms to support us emotionally and help/teach us how get back to the healthier ways used before refrigeration, electricity, fast food, agricultural chemicals, etc.  Usually they are glad to tell us the old ways.
 
The in between generation of older moms can learn too, and help the working moms and moms of sick kids do the work associated with slow food.  They can help the grandkids do an organic garden, make sauerkraut, beet kvass, and cultured veggies for good gut flora, simmer bone broth soups to heal sick guts, cut up and debone pastured chickens, render animal fat, snap beans, crack coconuts, soak and dry nuts with the children, pick up the CSA and co-op orders, help put up the harvest, bake occasional GF bread and make healthy (raw?) desserts and treats. Maybe even a few can raise some well fed healthy organic pastured chickens or milk a healthy cow or goat, etc.  Maybe they can do a garage sale to help pay for dr visits if that is needed for a family hit by autism or other serious expenses.  And they can set the example by changing their own lifestyles so they understand the practical issues.  
 
All those old ways including exercise outside were so much healthier.  They kept the body barriers sturdy and the machinery that builds them working properly, like the gut wall and blood brain barrier, renal tubes, and likely other body barriers, like lungs, placental barrier, etc.  
 
The old ways maximized nutrient density or even increased it by fermentation, neutralized plant toxins, made nutrients more digestible and available, etc. The Weston Price movement is all about this.  See DVD "Food is Confusing" on the home page of www.theglutensyndrome.net, and www.westonaprice.org
 
We can appreciate our mom's willingness to support us, and let them participate, plan with them, and USE the healthy food they lovingly prepare for us.  It is healthy for generations to work together.  Older moms can be patient when an occasional tomato dies in the frig, respect inlaw boundaries, accept mistakes, and let some things go to keep the relationships happy and trustworthy.  It is hard to work effectively with exhausted younger moms and their sick kids if gossip, criticism, shunning, disdain or otherwise unhappy relationships are present. The younger generation may occasionally need to overlook if mom's ideas clash or privacy is inadvertantly breached, AND seriously value and consider an elder's viewpoint.  They can express appreciation even if not all advice is heeded.   We need each other.

A lot of the older generation didn't want their kids to be saddled with the very hard work and drudgery which they hated.  They welcomed technology and processed food.  They didn't understand that the old ways, hard work, and simpler slow food, kept them healthier.
 
Once in a while an older mom opposes healthier habits, insists on consistently loading the grandkids with junk, even GF junk, etc.  Likely she needs information.  
 
Perhaps kind, clear, and rarely, firm, communication from the younger generation of new appreciation of the old ways will win a resistant grandma over, and she will dive in and help. 
Most moms want the best for their families once they get the picture.  No need in most cases to break their hearts with regrets more than they already will do by themselves.

I vote we toss that research blaming mom out with the toxins and processed food.

Mrs. Olive Kaiser
www.TheGlutenSyndrome.net
 
Our future children's bodies are sitting on our dinner plates today.  Someday they may look in the mirror and grade our choices. If they are able to speak.
 
Disclaimer --- I am a volunteer and not a medical expert, but I can share with you information that I have found helpful.  Please contact a well informed medical professional for medical advice regarding your situation.  Please verify the gluten free status of products often for your own protection.
 

*Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the Celiac List *
Archives are at: Http://Listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?LIST=CELIAC