By LA Ferguson
This was a question that I asked a Gastric doctor in 2004. Let me start from the beginning, as a child I would always suffer from stomach aches and stay home from school.
My mother would lovingly make me the standard sick kid meal
“Cream of Wheat”. After the warm bowl of cereal was eaten and of course, you know I had to eat a piece of toast with in, my stomach was in knots.
Once I hit adulthood I had to understand what was wrong with me. Sadly I was misdiagnosed with IBS. I was unaware that my diet was the sole reason I felt miserable for 15 years.
Thankfully, I learned
what was making me sick. My life changed when my diet changed. I periodically still
have flair ups. Sometimes unbeknownst to me, I eat something that has been cross
contaminated with wheat.
It is a daily struggle when you are not preparing your
own meals. But I have learned to ask a lot of questions where ever I eat.
Facts about Gluten -
- Gluten
is a protein chain found in the grains wheat, barley, and rye.
- More
than 55 diseases have been linked to Gluten.
- Gluten
Intolerance affects men and women across all ages and races.
- 15%
of the US population has some form of Gluten Allergies and are unaware of it.
Could you be one of them? Most of us
unknowingly love Gluten, it gives our favorite foods that special
touch: It makes pizza dough stretchy, gives bread its spongy texture, and is
used to thicken sauces and soups.
There are
three variations of Gluten Allergies: Celiac Disease, Gluten Intolerance and
Gluten Sensitivity.
Celiac
Disease is an autoimmune digestive disease that damages the villi of the small
intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. Celiac Disease
can lead to a number of other disorders including infertility, reduced bone
density, neurological disorders, some cancers, and other autoimmune diseases.
(Source: Fasano A, Berti I, Gerarduzzi T, et al. Prevalence of Celiac Disease
in at-risk and not-at-risk groups in the US. Archives of Internal Medicine)
Gluten
Intolerance can affect nearly every tissue in the body, including the brain,
skin, endocrine system, stomach, liver, blood vessels, smooth muscles and even
the nucleus of cells. Symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, bloating, joint
pain, headaches, brain fog and abdominal pain.
Gluten
Sensitivity experience periodic symptoms after ingesting wheat based products
over course of days or possible even weeks. This segment can eat Gluten but
must be mindful of how much they consume before problems flair up.
Dr. Fasano,
who heads the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research and who
published a paper describing the molecular basis for Gluten Sensitivity in
2011, says people who are Gluten Sensitive frequently have "IBS-like"
symptoms, including diarrhea and stomach ache.”
Quest
Diagnostics, a leading testing company, has seen requests for celiac blood
tests jump 25 percent. But Dr. Alessio Fasano, didn’t anticipate other
developments. He now estimates that 18 million Americans have some degree of Gluten
Sensitivity. And experts have been surprised, in general, by the rising
prevalence of celiac disease overall.
“It’s not
just that we’re better at finding it,” says Dr. Joseph A. Murray, a
gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. “It truly has become
more common.” Despite the increase in numbers, it is estimated that 83% of
Americans who have Celiac Disease are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other
conditions.
Studies have shown that the average person waits anywhere from 6-10
years before they are correctly diagnosed. (Source: Daniel Leffler, MD, MS, The
Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center)
Research shows that
many of you may have Gluten Allergies and not know it. One of the most effective
ways to determine if you have a Gluten Allergy as an issue is the elimination
diet.
That means for at least 2 to 3 weeks stop eating any type of wheat base
food. After you have done this for a couple of weeks, reintroduce Gluten back
in to your diet. If you feel
significantly better or if you feel worse when reintroducing Gluten, it is more
likely than not - Gluten is a problem for you. In order to get accurate results
from this testing method you must elimination Gluten from your diet.
When I say
eliminate Gluten – I mean 100% - completely GONE. You must read labels and ask
questions. You can find Gluten hidden in more products than you probably
realize. For example: licorice,
ice cream, puddings, salad dressing and packed sliced meat, just to name a few.
You must read labels carefully. If you dine out, you must notify the server
that you cannot have any wheat touch your food. Restaurants will accommodate
because they understand the severity of food allergies.
Here’s a check list
you can use to see if you suffer from any of the symptoms.
Digestive
Symptoms
- Frequent bloating or gas
- Diagnosed with IBS or acid reflux
- Daily diarrhea or chronic
constipation
Neurologic
& Skeletal Symptoms
- Migraine or headaches
- Joint pains or aches
- Brain fog
Hormonal
& Immune Symptoms
- Depression or anxiety
- Ongoing fatigue
- Chronic eczema or acne
If you experience four
or more of these symptoms it
could indicate that gluten may be impacting your health. Due to the similarity
of symptoms with Celiac
Disease and Gluten Intolerance, it’s necessary to have a blood test by your
doctor to determine which one you suffer from.
Keep in mind, if you experience even one of these symptom
in a severe and/or chronic way, it can be a sign of Gluten Sensitivity. Try the
elimination diet and see if symptoms persist.
