Studies showing gluten-free diets help a number of health issues

 

It is estimated that 1 out of 133 people have Celiac Disease, an autoimmune disease which effects the villi in the small intestine.  (basically your small intestine goes from a shag carpet to a linoleum floor).  There is no more villi to help absorb vital nutrients that is crucial for the body to function.  While 97% of Celiacs go undiagnosed, approximately 90 million suffer from a gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity. While symptoms may be similar to Celiac Disease, one would need to undergo a series of screenings to get an official Celiac diagnosis. The University of Chicago has one of the best research institutes on Celiac disease in the country. (In fact they do a free blood screening each fall!)
 

What is gluten? 

Gluten is a protein in the grains: wheat, rye, barley, durum, einkorn, graham, semolina, bulgur wheat, spelt, farro, kamut, and triticale and oats.  (Oats are gluten-free, but there is a risk for cross contamination in the way they are processed in the mills). 

Doctors are very unfamiliar with this disease.  There are almost 300 different symptoms related to Celiac disease.   Hopefully, you and your family can begin finding answers to whatever is ailing your health.  Take the research and have an open discussion with your health care provider.  Click on the health issue to find the research study. 

What are the symptoms?

• Abdominal cramping and pain
• Anemia
• Canker sores
• Chronic diarrhea
• Delayed growth or short stature (common in children)
• Dyspepsia
• Fatigue (especially right after a meal)
• Hypoglycemia (pre-diabetes)
• Infertility/miscarriage and PCOS
• IBS (including constipation, chronic diarrhea, bloating, gas, nausea, acid reflux)
• chronic migraines, foggy thinking
• Chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia
• psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia
• Bone and joint pain including Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

According to other  medical literature, people with the following conditions may benefit considerably from a gluten-free diet:

• Autism
• Ataxia (loss of balance)
• Cognitive problems
• Down's syndrome
• Multiple sclerosis
• Neuromyelitis (inflammation of the nervous system)
• Osteoporosis
• Parkinson's disease
• Peripheral neuropathies
• Seizures
• Thyroid Disease
• Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes

It is estimated that 500,000 people will get diagnosed with Celiac disease thanks to more research.  All of this research is also finding that people who suffer from any of the above symptoms or diseases show a decrease in their symptoms, recover fast, have better digestion which ensures nutrients are being fed into the body through the small intestine.  When the small intestine is damaged by eating gluten, it can have the above effects (fatigue, anemia, digestive issues).  By eliminating the offending food, digestive healing may begin. 

If you feel you have Celiac or a gluten sensitivity, I recommend making an appointment with the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center to schedule a blood test before you take gluten out of your diet.  Click here for their contact info.

The problem with most people is they are afraid to find out if they have Celiac or a gluten sensitivity because it means bye bye yummy foods, right?  That is not the case anymore.  Stay tuned for tomorrow's article, Gluten free is going mainstream and how to navigate around the city of Chicago gluten-free! 

For more info read:  Kids and the gluten free diet