On Thu, 29 Mar 2001, Phosphor wrote:

> Do some more research.  Both glutens and caseins are able to cross the
> blood-brain barrier due to their remarkable similarity with endogenously
> produced brain chemicals, and once there they can and do lock into opiod
> receptors.

What crosses the blood-brain barrier are those *residues* of
partially digested gliadin and casein that manage to enter the
blood through the gut wall.  I didn't deny that these residues
cross the blood-brain barrier and fit opioid receptors.  What I
question is whether this is a plausible explanation for why
people took up gathering grains on a large scale, and eventually
cultivating them.  It's especially weak when you consider that
one of the earliest grains known to have been consumed was
millet, which does not contain gluten.

Todd Moody
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