| Many people today are going on gluten free diets. | | | | can delay a diagnosis for several years. I have |
| You can find extensive gluten free sections in Kroger, | | | | personally seen cases of celiac disease where up to |
| HEB, and Whole Foods. Gluten has been in the | | | | 8 biopsies were performed before a diagnosis was |
| national spot light receiving recognition on Discovery | | | | made. Blood antibody tests provide a better degree |
| Health, CNN's Larry King, Oprah, David Letterman, | | | | of accuracy but still have a great degree of false |
| The View, Good Housekeeping Magazine and more. | | | | negatives. Genetic testing offers the greatest degree |
| There is even a "dummies book" available for those | | | | of accuracy and when combined with a patient's |
| with gluten sensitivity.1 | | | | history and examination a diagnosis can be made |
| So What is Gluten? | | | | early and accurately. However, the greatest tool is |
| Gluten is a protein found in the following grains: | | | | patient improvement. If a person starts to feel |
| wheat, barley, rye, and oats. It is also found in | | | | better on a gluten free diet it doesn't matter what |
| processed foods derived from wheat, barley, rye, | | | | blood tests or biopsies reveal. The proverbial proof is |
| and oats. Breads, cereals, and pastas are rich in | | | | in the pudding. |
| gluten. Other foods and/or food additives can be | | | | Once Again, Common Sense Applies - |
| derived from gluten containing grains. Examples | | | | Several years ago, many Americans played an |
| include soy sauce, gravies, soups, whiskey, and | | | | unknowing role in the social experiment known as the |
| modified food starch. Traditional medical thought is | | | | Atkin's diet. This diet, largely devoid of grain provided |
| that the protein gluten interacts with some people's | | | | many with better health through weight loss and |
| immune systems causing an autoimmune reaction | | | | reduction of many generalized symptoms of poor |
| which damages the intestine. However, newer | | | | health. However, there were also those whose health |
| research is identifying that the protein gluten is only | | | | did poorly on the Atkin's diet. People are different |
| part of the problem. Some scientists argue that | | | | and unique. Renowned Nobel Prize winning scientist, |
| many grains (including corn) can create similar | | | | Roger Williams, wrote a book called Biochemical |
| reactions. | | | | Individuality examining these individual differences. |
| So what is gluten sensitivity? | | | | Bottom line: one diet is not right for everyone. |
| It depends on who you ask. Many people use the | | | | Because going on a gluten free takes a great deal of |
| term gluten sensitivity interchangeably with celiac | | | | education and commitment, it is recommended that |
| disease (an autoimmune intestinal disorder). Some call | | | | proper testing be performed to identify whether the |
| gluten sensitivity a food allergy or intolerance. Both | | | | diet is right for you. Remember going gluten free is |
| are correct to some degree. Gluten sensitivity causes | | | | not a trendy diet; it is a permanent lifestyle that |
| celiac disease, but not all people with gluten sensitivity | | | | should be taken very seriously as even small |
| develop celiac disease. This is where the problem in | | | | amounts of gluten exposure can cause problems. This |
| traditional diagnosis can occur. The only way to | | | | month I will leave you with a final thought on gluten |
| confirm whether or not a person has celiac disease is | | | | and grains. When farmers want their cows and pigs |
| to perform an intestinal biopsy. If the results reveal | | | | to gain weight before going to market, they feed |
| villous atrophy (flattening of the intestinal folds) then | | | | them more grain. In the past 100 years, grain |
| celiac disease is diagnosed. If the results are negative, | | | | consumption has dramatically increased, paralleling a |
| then both celiac disease and gluten sensitivity may be | | | | rise in the incidence of heart disease, diabetes, |
| dismissed. Newer research is finding that gluten | | | | obesity, and cancer. Despite the above facts many |
| sensitivity can exist independently without causing | | | | doctors and dieticians continue to blindly prescribe |
| celiac disease. There are more than 180 different | | | | "heart healthy" diets high in grain. |
| disease conditions, syndromes, and symptoms that | | | | Want to learn more? |
| have been linked to gluten sensitivity in the medical | | | | References: |
| literature.2,3 Some common conditions include thyroid | | | | 1. Korn, Danna. Living Gluten-Free... Wiley Publishing |
| disorders, seizure disorders, vertigo, osteoporosis, | | | | 2006. |
| irritable bowel syndrome, and PCOS. There have | | | | 2. Libonati, Cleo J. Recognizing Celiac Disease. GFW |
| been two proposed names in the medical literature | | | | Publishing Jan 2007. |
| for this classification of gluten sensitivity. 1. Non-Celiac | | | | 3. towncenterwellness.com:80 |
| Gluten Intolerance4 and 2. Gluten Syndrome.5 | | | | webwellness_newsletter.html |
| Diagnosing Gluten Sensitivity & Celiac Disease | | | | 4. gluten.net/about.htm |
| The proper tools must be used to accurately | | | | 5. Ford, Rodney. The Gluten Syndrome. RRS Global |
| diagnose gluten sensitivity. Relying solely on a biopsy | | | | Ltd publishing. Sept 2007. |