[dropcap]Y[/dropcap]ou’re destroying a significant asset...your brain. The long hours you spent in school, reading books and fine tuning, your mind is now irrelevant and useless.

Today, your mind is controlled by a foreign invader. An invader you think you need, but don’t.

Your invader’s name is gluten.

According to Park Ridge MultiMed, 90% of all people who are affected by gluten don’t know about it.

And as an entrepreneur you need your brain to function properly. [TWEET THIS]

Your mind needs to be sharp.

A cognitive block from a child's perspective

Dr. David Perlmutter tells a story about a nine-year old girl who had difficulty thinking and focusing. As weeks went on she would fall further behind in school. She ended up testing in many areas below a third grade level. Growing increasingly frustrated her parents decided to homeschool her. She had no significant health problems and was neurologically and physically normal.

It was later found that the young girl was gluten sensitive, a surprisingly overlooked problem today.

It wasn’t reported if this child suffered from ADHD but we do know that ADHD affects many children. It’s a significant hindrance to a childs learning capabilities.

Noursished Health cited research through a 2006 research study by the Regional Hospital of Bolzano in Italy strongly correlates ADHD symptoms with untreated celiac disease and indicates that a gluten free diet should improve symptoms quickly. Gluten and casein are the two proteins with the most common connection to mood disorders, behavioral disorders and ADHD, although there may be others. More and more research is finding that gluten intolerance will manifest with neurological symptoms instead of the more traditional digestive complaints. A 2004 research study published in the “Journal of Pediatrics” found that celiac disease test subjects were over 50% more likely to develop neurological disorders, including ADHD.

But what about you as a business owner? How might this affect the way you run your business?

Let’s dig a little deeper...

What is gluten and how does it affect the brain

Gluten sensitivity is a result of elevated levels of antibodies against gluten, gliadin. This antibody joins forces with gliadin when you consume foods containing wheat, barley or rye. When the forces combine, specific genes are turned on within an immune cell in the body. Cytokines, an inflammatory chemical is turned on and results in a damaged brain.

Elevated cytokines are seen in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, autism and Alzheimer's disease.

Your brain is highly sensitive to any type of inflammation and responds poorly to cytokines. The anti-gliadin antibody can then directly join forces with specific proteins in the brain. These little brain proteins look like the gliadin protein found in gluten. The trouble is the anti-gliadin antibody just can’t tell the difference. Not good!

When they combine it leads to the formation of cytokines, a foe of your brain, and ends with poor brain health and function.

To make matters worse, gluten symptoms

We now understand how gluten plays a role in turning on genes within our brain and that our brain would rather avoid the nuisance of cytokines and inflammation.

You have a war going on in our head.

Depression and anxiety are above national averages for people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. ⅓ or more of celiacs suffer from some form of depression and 17% have an anxiety disorder.

Brain fog is a common occurrence in people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. This is the feeling of your brain feeling cloudy, clumsy and often times you feeling stupid. Which we know you’re not. Brain fog restricts brain function and your ability to make cognitively crisp decisions.

Insomnia is very common. It’s noted that inflammation signals come from your gut inflammation zones and pass the blood brain barrier. Once passed they harass neuronal pathways, messing with natural sleep chemistry.

Early cognitive decline and dementia is a result of years of gluten consumption. This is a product of molecular toxicity, in regards to gluten intolerance, that spills over into the brain. Once this happens it produces regions of oxygen and nutrition delivery. Your neuronal pathways in this region will not perform to their potential. Gluten ataxia is worth looking more in to.

Fatigue is an occurrence due to your immune systems excessive share of protein and energy sources. It also affects the pathways for turning oxygen, fatty acids, and glucose into energy.

Constant headaches and migraines are reported by many gluten sensitive patients. The mechanism of why is unknown but after eliminating gluten from their diet the headaches lessen or completely disappear.

Gluten symptoms are in no way good for you or your brain or your business. If you currently suffer from these gluten symptoms take a new look at your eating habits.

Eliminate gluten and take the high road

Eliminating gluten from your diet isn't hard.

Okay, I’ll wait for you to stop screaming at me through your screen.

Great, now you're back.

You need to adopt a sound nutrition plan. Just eliminating gluten is ludicrous so start with a plan. Small wins is key. Forcing your way through a dramatic change is scary and ends in a 95% failure rate.

Eliminate one weakness at a time. If you enjoy eating cereal in the morning and scarfing down sourdough bread at night, eliminate one first. Then proceed to eliminate every last drop of gluten from your diet. As you begin doing this introduce quality fats into your nutrition plan. Quality fats are satiating and will help offset your gluten cravings.

Really focus on your nutrition to get your gut and brain back on track.

After you eliminate gluten from your diet, your mind, your body and your business will thank you.

Have you experienced these gluten symptoms? Tell us your story below. Then tell us what's stopping you from eliminating gluten from your diet.