Wellness Wednesday: How Gluten Was Poisoning Me 🌾 ☠️

Greetings, Wellness Warriors!

For 20 years, I thought my skin was plotting against me. Psoriasis had taken up permanent residence, and every dermatologist I visited gave me the same story: “Here’s a cream… have you tried not scratching?” I’d leave with a prescription, or worse, a recommendation for a biopsy (no thanks after 5 of them!). But deep down, I knew something wasn’t right.

It wasn’t until I tested for food sensitivities that I realized gluten was the skin villain in my story. And the plot twist? Cutting out gluten, healing my gut, and avoiding certain foods cured my psoriasis.

The MRT (Mediator Release Test) Changed Everything

I took the MRT (Mediator Release Test), which measures how your body reacts to different foods, and the results were like a bad food horror movie. Not only was gluten a major villain, but other foods like coconut (seriously, coconut?!) and lactose-filled dairy were basically breaking out of my gut and lighting my skin on fire. It was leaky gut city, and my skin was the one paying for it.

Healing My Gut = Healing My Skin

So, I did what any self-respecting adult would do when they realize gluten, coconut, and dairy are the bad guys: I broke up with them. Not even a text or call - just straight ghosted them. And guess what? My psoriasis cleared up like magic.

Turns out, when you heal your gut, your skin thanks you. Now, instead of prescription creams, I focus on what I’m eating (and what I’m not eating), and it’s been a game-changer.

Why is Gluten in the U.S. Worse Than in Europe?

Here’s where it gets interesting: Gluten in the U.S. is not the same as gluten in Europe. American gluten is basically on steroids. We use hard wheat, which is higher in gluten content, making our bread stretchy and fluffy, BUT also harder for your gut to digest. In Europe, they use soft wheat with lower gluten levels. Plus, they let their bread ferment longer or their pasta cure, which helps break down gluten naturally. 🍝

When I ate gluten in Europe, my gut and skin were like, “We can work with this.” But back in the U.S., my symptoms came roaring back, and I was like, “Well, that explains it.”

Shocking Statistics & Facts:

Over 8 million Americans are living with psoriasis and over 31 million have eczema. That’s a lot of people scratching their heads… and skin Source: National Psoriasis Foundation.¹
54% of people with psoriasis report improved skin conditions after removing or reducing gluten in their diets. Many people may have undiagnosed food sensitivities causing their skin to flare up. Imagine the number of people who could heal just by tweaking their diet.²
The gluten sensitivity epidemic is real, especially in the U.S. where hard wheat and high-gluten foods dominate. Studies show that gluten sensitivity can exacerbate autoimmune conditions like psoriasis, and the quality of gluten in the U.S. is likely making things worse.³

My Gut-Healing, Skin-Saving Advice

If you’ve been battling psoriasis, eczema, or any chronic skin condition, here’s my advice: Listen to your gut. Literally. A Mediator Release Test might show you that your favorite foods are actually making you miserable (who knew coconut could be a villain?). Once I cut out those foods, my skin went from a flaky mess to smooth and clear.

And if you need help figuring out what your body is trying to tell you, I’m here. You can join my private coaching where we’ll get your gut and skin in synced up. Or come hang with me in my Iconic Life community and follow me on Instagram for daily tips on gut health, longevity, and maybe some gluten-free recipes that don’t taste like cardboard. @billybosch on Youtube, and @billy_bosch on TikTok and for even more content on Gluten and all things longevity related!

Feel free to share this email with your fellow health enthusiasts and foodie friends. Let's spread healthy living far and wide! 🌎

To better health and better bread, 🥐🍕

Billy Bosch
Iconic Life

Citations:

National Psoriasis Foundation - Psoriasis Statistics: LINK,
National Eczema Foundation - Eczema Statistics: LINK
National Library of Medicine (2017): LINK
Frontiers in Nutrition (2020): LINK