Bread is even called the “Staff of Life” – and there’s no doubt it feeds the world.

But it is also making us sick.

In fact, many experts believe that bread, pasta, cereals and dessert – and particularly the wheat found within these foods – is the leading cause of autoimmune disease. It is an epidemic that affects 50 million Americans and hundreds of millions more around the world.

And it all begins in the gut!

Unfortunately, however, there is…

A Big Misconception about Wheat and Your Gut

You’re probably familiar with Celiac Disease. It is the most serious – and often life-threatening – sensitivity to grains that contain gluten. Many who suffer this condition cannot consume even a speck of wheat without severe digestive pain, gas, bloating… and other embarrassing symptoms.

This leads many people to believe that as long as you can eat bread without belly problems – then you must be in the clear… no harm done.

Do not be fooled by this dangerous myth!

The truth is that nearly 50% of newly-diagnosed celiac patients have no digestive symptoms! In other words, half of the people who are extremely sensitive to wheat can still consume it without the typical “stomach problems.”¹

Dr. Alessio Fasano is a professor of medicine and distinguished researcher, with more than 240 peer-reviewed papers to his credit. His research – in addition to dozens of other scientists around the world – shows that wheat causes chronic gut inflammation.

And you don’t need certain genetics to incur damage. It happens to everyone who consumes it!

So even if you can eat a three-foot submarine sandwich without the slightest “tummy trouble” does not mean it is not hurting you. Every bite is causing silent damage to your gut – and quietly setting you up for serious disease.

Why Gluten is only a Fraction of the Problem

Of course, the inflammatory protein we call “gluten” is partly to blame. In fact, the New England Journal of Medicine lists 55 conditions, which can be caused by gluten – ranging from those as “benign” as canker sores to diseases as serious as cancer!²

But gluten is literally only a fraction of the story. A study published in Plant Physiology, shows that modern wheat is capable of producing at least 23,788 unique proteins – and any ONE of these can trigger an inflammatory response.³

This is why some people react severely to wheat – but have NO reaction to gluten itself.

The most dangerous proteins in wheat are known as lectins. These are the primary compounds plants use to protect themselves from predation!⁴ Lectins are actually designed to poison you.

And while most lectins won’t kill you overnight (except for the lectin ricin)… they can make you VERY sick over time!

Among the most dangerous is wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). Studies show that WGA is:

• Cardiotoxic – Toxic to the heart and blood vessels^5,6
• Immunotoxic – Toxic to the immune system^7,8,9
• Cytotoxic – Induces programmed cell death¹⁰
• Neurotoxic – Toxic to nerves and brain tissue^11,12,13

It can exert these effects in minute concentrations – and just one kernel of wheat contains 16.7 trillion molecules of this toxic compound.¹⁴ So imagine the dose you get, when you eat bread at nearly every meal.

It is no wonder Dr. Steven Gundry – renowned heart surgeon and authority on the effects of lectins – called these compounds…

“The Number One Greatest Danger in the American Diet”

Lectins are often described as “sticky” molecules. And they use this property to bind to cell membranes, especially the cells that line your intestines. This can cause chronic gut inflammation (even if you don’t notice any discomfort).

But lectins don’t just adhere to the lining of your gut. These sticky compounds wedge into your gut wall and pry apart the “tight junctions” between cells. When this happens, harmful substances from your digestive system can “leak” into your blood and wreak havoc on your health.

This dangerous condition is known as “leaky gut.” And the most confusing part for doctors and for those who suffer is that many symptoms of this serious digestive condition have nothing to do with abdominal discomfort.

But the worst damage might be to your immune system…

As pathogens, proteins and undigested food particles seep into your blood, your immune system mounts an attack against these “foreign” invaders. This increases the number and severity of food allergies, intolerances and seasonal allergies you may experience.

But those might be the least of your problems, because it can also cause…

Autoimmune Disease: What Happens When Your Body Turns Against You?

Your immune system has incredible power to destroy tissue and cells. This is how it protects you. But you want this defensive weapon pointed at the enemy. You do NOT want the gun pointed back at YOU!

And that’s exactly what happens when your immune system is “triggered” by every bite of food you take. Constantly over-stimulated, it loses ability to recognize “self” from “non-self”.

Instead of destroying foreign invaders, it wages war on healthy tissues and organs. Your own body begins to attack your colon… your thyroid… your joints… your nervous system… and even your brain!

There are more than 100 different autoimmune conditions. And according to the American Autoimmune Association, 50 million Americans suffer at least one these conditions. Autoimmune disease is also among the top 10 causes of death in women under 65.

And it can be incredibly debilitating, with telltale symptoms including:

• Crushing fatigue and weakness
• Chronic joint, muscle and bone pain
• Headaches, brain fog and poor concentration
• Insomnia, mood swings, anxiety and depression
• Digestive problems… skin problems… sinus infections

This is truly an epidemic, but it’s not all bad news today.

In many cases, leaky gut, autoimmune illness and a host of diet-related conditions can be reversed. And they can always be prevented, because the cause (and the cure) begins with the food on your plate!

The Ancestral Answer to Modern Ails 

Following a grain-free, ancestral diet, rich in healthy fats, clean proteins, and organic above-ground veggies has helped thousands of people heal their guts, reverse autoimmune disease and reclaim their vibrant state of native health.

To get started on your ancestral healing journey:

• Enjoy gut-healing, immune-boosting bone broth – rich in glutamine – to help seal and heal a leaky gut 
• Include organ meats (especially liver and bone marrow) from pasture-raised animals at least once a week to provide a rich source of vital micronutrients that promote healing
• Rely on ancestral fats for cooking like pastured duck fat, tallow, lard, ghee and butter that provide anti-inflammatory benefits and are heat-stable 
• Include lacto-fermented veggies like sauerkraut and kimchi to support your microbiome and improve the integrity of your immune system 
• Enjoy pasture-raised meats, especially on-the-bone, for a powerful source of healing protein 
• Include wild seafood – like wild salmon, mackerel, sardines, scallops and shrimp – for essential, anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats and key micronutrients 

When bread and comfort food cravings strike, opt for grain-free, lower carbohydrate versions, like those made from almond flour and coconut flour.

References:

1. Barker JM, Liu E. Celiac disease: pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and associated autoimmune conditions. Adv Pediatr. 2008;55:349-365.(PubMed)
2. Richard J. Farrell, M.D., and Ciarán P. Kelly, M.D.Celiac Sprue. N Engl J Med 2002; 346:180-188 January 17, 2002DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra010852 (PubMed)
3. Vandepoele K, Van de Peer Y. Exploring the plant transcriptome through phylogenetic profiling. Plant Physiology. 2005 Jan;137(1):31-42. (PubMed)
4. Pusztai A, Ewen SW, Grant G, et al. Antinutritive effects of wheat-germ agglutinin and other N-acetylglucosamine-specific lectins.The British Journal of Nutrition 1993 Jul;70(1):313-21. (PubMed)
5. Pusztai A1, Ewen SW, Grant G, et al. Antinutritive effects of wheat-germ agglutinin and other N-acetylglucosamine-specific lectins.The British Journal of Nutrition 1993 Jul;70(1):313-21.  (PubMed)
6.  Wheat germ agglutinin-induced platelet activation via platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1: involvement of rapid phospholipase C gamma 2 activation by Src family kinases. Biochemistry. 2001 Oct 30;40(43):12992-3001. PMID: 11669637 (PubMed)
7. Pusztai A, Ewen SW, Grant G, et al. Antinutritive effects of wheat-germ agglutinin and other N-acetylglucosamine-specific lectins.The British Journal of Nutrition 1993 Jul;70(1):313-21.  (PubMed)
8. Lectinlike properties of pertussis toxin. . Infection and Immunity 1989 Jun;57(6):1854-7. PMID: 2722243 (PubMed)
9. Natural human antibodies to dietary lectins. FEBS Lett. 1996 Nov 18;397(2-3):139-42. PMID: 8955334 (PubMed)
10. Wheat germ lectin induces G2/M arrest in mouse L929 fibroblasts. J Cell Biochem. 2004 Apr 15;91(6):1159-73. PMID: 15048871 (PubMed)
11. Transsynaptic transport of wheat germ agglutinin expressed in a subset of type II taste cells of transgenic mice. BMC Neuroscience. 2008 Oct 2;9:96. PMID: 18831764 (PubMed)
12. Distribution of concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin binding sites in the rat peripheral nerve fibres Revealed by lectin/glycoprotein-gold histochemistry. The Histochem Journal. 1996 Jan;28(1):7-12. PMID: 8866643 (PubMed)
13. Wheat germ agglutinin, concanavalin A, and lens culinalis agglutinin block the inhibitory effect of nerve growth factor on cell-free phosphorylation of Nsp100 in PC12h cells. Cell Struct and Function 1989 Feb;14(1):87-93. PMID:2720800 (PubMed)
14. Mishkind M, Keegstra K, Palevitz B. Distribution of Wheat Germ Agglutinin in Young Wheat Plants. Plant Physiol. 1980 Nov;66(5):950-955. (PubMed)

But what if you could still enjoy crusty, chewy Paleo dinner rolls that are grain-free and very low in carbohydrates?

Well, go and preheat your oven, because now you can…

These soft-on-the-inside, crusty-on-the-outside Paleo dinner rolls are made with coconut flour, eggs and zucchini. And you can whip them up in a snap.

They’re also perfect if you’re following a ketogenic diet and want to optimize your body’s use of insulin, improve your physique, reduce your risk for disease and maybe even live a little longer.

Ketogenic Paleo Dinner Rolls (An Oxymoron?)

While many studies show that a ketogenic diet has a plethora of benefits (from reversing Alzheimer’s to preventing seizures), Dr. Peter Attia, MD of The Eating Academy has proven just how powerful this way of eating can be.

Over a ten year period, Dr. Attia used himself as a “lab rat.” He measured the effects of a ketogenic diet on key markers of disease and aging, including blood sugar, body fat, waist circumference, blood pressure, triglycerides, insulin sensitivity and more.

The results of his experiment showed significant improvements in each of these key measurements, including a dramatic loss in visceral fat. This is the unsightly belly fat that surrounds your organs and is associated with numerous forms of chronic disease including diabetes, heart disease, metabolic syndrome and even cancer.

Take a look at Dr. Attia’s before and after results:

Can You Eat Bread on a Ketogenic Paleo Diet?

Getting results like this would be impossible on the standard American diet.

That’s because a ketogenic diet requires most of your calories (50-70%) to come from healthy fats with moderate levels of protein… and very low levels of carbohydrates. This is the antithesis of the USDA food pyramid.

The good news is that it doesn’t mean that you have to bid adieu to your favorite comfort foods. In fact, you can makeover your old favorites with health-promoting, intelligent ingredients. And in a short period of time, you can shift your body’s metabolism from a “sugar burner”… to a “fat burner.”

And yes, there are even “health makeovers” for carbohydrate-rich foods like bread.

Using high-fiber coconut flour, protein-rich eggs and our secret “bread” ingredient (psyllium husk) we’ve created a recipe for Paleo dinner rolls that have less than 60 calories, 2 net carbs and 1 gram of protein per serving. And you can easily increase the healthy fats by dipping these rolls in avocado oil or slathering with some grass-fed butter.

There’s no kneading required and no yeast. Simply measure, mix and bake for delicious body-and-brain friendly Paleo dinner rolls!

Here’s the recipe:

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 1 h

Total Time: 1 h 10 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp. Starwest Botanicals Organic Psyllium Husk Powder
• 4 large pastured eggs
• 8 Tbsp. Nutiva Organic Coconut Flour (70 g)
• 1 medium zucchini (160 g), finely grated
• 2 Tbsp. avocado oil
• 2 Tbsp. organic apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup filtered water
• 1 Tbsp. dried basil
• 3 tsp. non-aluminum baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 F. Grease a sheet pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine coconut flour, baking powder, herbs, sea salt and psyllium husk powder.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the eggs, apple cider vinegar, avocado oil, water and shredded zucchini.
4. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix with an electric mixer on medium speed to fully combine.
5. Grease hands and scoop dough out by golfball-sized mounds.
6. Roll gently and place on baking sheet. (I left mine round, but you can flatten a bit or make into sub rolls if you’d like)
7. Brush with avocado oil and transfer to oven. Bake to golden brown and hollow when tapped – around 45 minutes depending on size.

Nutrition & Macronutrient Ratio

Nutrition Information Per Serving

74 calories, 5 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 2 g monounsaturated fat, 1 g polyunsaturated fat, 71 mg cholesterol, 5 g carbohydrate, 2 g NET carbs, 0 g sugar alcohols, 1 g sugar, 3 g fiber, 3 g protein, 197 mg potassium, 124 mg phosphorous, 133 mg sodium, 6 mg magnesium

67 % FAT | 19 % PROTEIN | 14% CARBOHYDRATE

While the Paleo diet has major advantages over the Standard American Diet, many people who “go Paleo” are still consuming high levels of carbs (like excess fruit or honey-sweetened treats) that can cause blood sugar imbalances, sluggish fat burning and insulin resistance over time.

For dozens more low-carb, grain-free bread recipes, see Healing Gourmet’s newest recipe book, Keto Breads… and learn why the bread you’re eating (including gluten free) could be ruining your health.

Have you tried a ketogenic diet? What health improvements did you enjoy?