Jen deNutrients

Hi, I'm a dietitian with an autoimmune condition and previous work experience with prenatal health. I've been researching why the advice I gave when I was working helped so many women at the time worked - but isn't in the mainstream medical treatment yet. Increasing magnesium rich foods such as beans, nuts, and seeds helped women that had a history of preeclampsia or high blood pressure to have a normal pregnancy. 

In a nut shell - oxidative stress causes the placenta to increase flow of calcium. Too much calcium can cause other cellular reactions and fluid changes. And oxidative stress can be caused by gluten exposure when there is an underlying celiac autoimmune condition or probably other autoimmune conditions.

Re oxidative stress, and calcium channels in the placenta: Open Original Shared Link

Re Celiac Sprue and oxidative stress, "long chain omega 3 fatty acids, plant flavonoids and carotenoids" were suggested as antioxidants that may help reduce the "oxidative stress, gene expression & production of inflammatory mediators":  Open Original Shared Link   Carotenoids include beta-carotene from carrots. Orange, red and dark green fruits and vegetables are generally good sources of carotenoids and plant flavonoids are also found in a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables. Omega 3 fatty acids are found in fish oil supplements or salmon, tuna, sardines - limit as a mercury source however during pregnancy or child bearing years. Vegetarian sources of a precursor omega 3 fat include flax seed meal (ground is digestible, whole flax seeds aren't really), walnuts, and hemp seed kernels.

Sesame seeds, or tahini, sesame paste, has been shown in sports research to help reduce oxidative stress. The trial subjects ate 2 tablespoons per day of the seeds. Open Original Shared Link

Dark chocolate has also been shown to be beneficial antioxidant source.

Best wishes to any Celiac sufferers - I avoid gluten due to intolerance, initially for fibromyalgia like symptoms, and later autoimmune thyroid  antibodies were found but not antibodies for Celiac Sprue.

A dietitian can help work out more balanced diets when major food items have to be excluded for health purposes. A professional organization offers a search feature for helping to find a Registered Dietitian Open Original Shared Link

Udi's brand also uses sodium carboxymethyl cellulose in many products, a food additive emulsifier that may cause intestinal symptoms. Emulsifiers help stabilize the bread and give it a great texture but the additive may also possibly be emulsifing the intestinal lining. Our intestinal cell walls are lined with electrically active proteins that are shaped somewhat like bottle brushes with a stiff backbone protein handle topped by electrically active bristles that act like magnets that repel each other and help keep the tube shape of the intestine open. So food additive emulsifiers may be disrupting the ability of the intestinal walls to stay open. Xanthum gum is also an emulsifier.