Health benefits and concerns

Allergies and sensitivities (Food and chemical)

Healthcare providers often recommend a low-allergen diet, also known as an elimination diet, to people with suspected food allergies in order to find out if avoiding common allergen foods provides relief from symptoms. Such a diet systematically eliminates foods and food additives considered to be common allergens, such as wheat. Most elimination diets are quite restrictive, and can increase the likelihood of nutritional deficiencies. A successful elimination diet is usually followed by the reintroduction of eliminated foods one at a time, to identify which ones are causing allergic reactions and therefore need to be eliminated indefinitely. After strictly avoiding problem foods for a period of time (usually months or years), some people can enjoy these foods again without experiencing allergic reactions.

Coeliac disease

Coeliac disease (also called gluten-induced enteropathy) is an intestinal disorder caused by intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. While oats contain a substance similar to gluten, modern research has found that eating moderate amounts of oats does not appear to cause problems for people with coeliac disease.In one of these reports, approximately 95 percent of people with coeliac disease tolerated 50 grams of oats per day for up to 12 months. Strict avoidance of wheat, barley, and rye usually result in an improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms within a few weeks, although in some cases improvement may take many months.

Tests of absorptive function usually improve after a few months on a gluten-free diet. Coeliac disease is associated with various degrees of osteoporosis and bone mineral loss. Long-term adherence to a gluten-free diet ensures normal bone density and is an important preventive measure in young people with coeliac disease.

Colon and breast cancer

Until recently, most studies reported that people who ate a high-fibre diet were found to be at low risk for colon cancer. Some researchers believed protection against colon cancer comes specifically from eating wheat bran as opposed to other fibres. A clear understanding of how fibre might protect against colon cancer risk remains somewhat elusive.

IP-6 (also called inositol hexaphosphate, phytate, or phytic acid) is found in many foods, particularly oat and wheat bran and unleavened (flat) bread. Until recently most IP-6 research focused on interference with the absorption of minerals—a side effect of consuming IP-6. More recently, however, animal studies have found that IP-6 has anticancer activity, particularly in relation to colon and breast cancer. Although these animal studies look promising, it is not known if the IP-6 content of whole grains has anticancer activity in humans.

Crohn’s disease

Some people with Crohn’s disease have food allergies and have been reported to do better when they avoid foods they are allergic to. One study found that people with Crohn’s disease are very likely to react to cereals. However, the allergy theory cannot account for all, or even most, cases of Crohn’s disease. Until more is known, it is premature to conclude that food allergy plays a significant role in the development of Crohn’s disease, or that a hypoallergenic diet will help in managing this disease.

Eczema

Eczema can be triggered by food allergies. According to data from double-blind research, most children with eczema have food allergies. A doctor should be consulted to determine if allergies are a factor. Once the trigger for the allergy has been identified, avoidance of the allergen can lead to significant improvement.However, ‘classical’ food allergens (e.g., wheat) are often not the cause of eczema in adults. A variety of substances, including wheat, have been shown to trigger eczema reactions in susceptible individuals; avoidance of these substances has similarly been shown to improve the eczema.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Limited research has suggested that fibre may help people with IBS. However, most studies have found that IBS sufferers do not benefit by adding wheat bran to their diets and some feel worse as a result of wheat bran supplementation. It has been suggested that the lack of positive response to wheat bran may result from wheat sensitivity, which is one of the most common triggers for food sensitivity in people with IBS. Rye, brown rice, oatmeal, barley, vegetables, and psyllium husk, all good sources of fibre, are less likely to trigger food sensitivities than is wheat bran. However, except for psyllium, little is known about the effects of these other fibres in people with IBS.

Ménière’s disease (MD)

Ménière’s disease is associated with food allergies, including wheat, in some people, according to many preliminary reports. In a controlled study, participants with Ménière’s disease who underwent allergy treatment, who avoided foods suspected of provoking allergic reactions reported statistically significant improvement in tinnitus, vertigo, and hearing. In this study, wheat was among the most common food allergens.

Psoriasis

Anecdotal evidence suggests that people with psoriasis may improve on a hypoallergenic diet. Three trials have reported that eliminating gluten (found in wheat, rye, and barley) improved psoriasis for some people. A doctor can help people with psoriasis determine whether gluten or other foods are contributing to their skin condition.

Rheumatoid arthritis

In one study, the vast majority of RA patients had elevated levels of antibodies to milk, wheat, or both, suggesting a high incidence of allergy to these substances. English researchers have reported that one-third of people with RA may be able to control their disease completely through allergen elimination. Identification and elimination of foods that trigger symptoms should be done with the help of a physician.

In another trial, this one lasting 14 weeks, a pure vegetarian, gluten-free (no wheat, rye, or barley) diet was gradually changed to permit dairy, leading to improvement in both symptoms and objective laboratory measures of disease.

Seborrheic dermatitis

A preliminary report suggested that an allergy elimination diet for an infant may be useful in the treatment of cradle cap. The most common offending foods identified were milk, wheat, and eggs. More research is needed to confirm the value of this approach in the treatment of cradle cap.

Health benefits and concerns for grains
Many health benefits and concerns associated with this food are applicable to other grains. Read about health benefits and concerns for grains for a full description.