| Gluten: Is it ruining your health? |
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Do you hurt all over, or have traveling pain?
Do you feel tired all the time?
Do you suffer from depression, anxiety or mood swings?
Have you experienced irregular periods, miscarriages or infertility?
Have you been diagnosed or have a family history of autoimmune disease including; Type 1 Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, etc.?
These seemingly unrelated issues may be connected to one culprit: the bodies reaction to, or inability to break down, gluten. This is called Gluten Intolerance. It is a sleeping epidemic that is affecting millions. One in every three people have some form of gluten intolerance. Celiac Disease
One common form of gluten intolerance is Celiac Disease (CD), an autoimmune disease. When a person with CD eats gluten, the immune system responds by creating antibodies that attack the lining, or villi, of the small intestines. These villi are essential for proper digestion and nutrient absorption.
In medical school they teach that 1 in 5000 people have CD, but recent studies show the numbers somewhere between 1 in 33 and 1 in 57. This is one reason that CD goes undiagnosed so often. Gluten Intolerance and Other Autoimmune Diseases
Other common autoimmune disorders are associated with gluten intolerance:
Common Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance Approximately 50 percent of symptoms seen in doctors' offices are related to food sensitivities. Allergy reactions to food can show up in nearly any organ or part of the body, and can cause any set of symptoms that come from altered function of these tissues or organs.
Here are some telltale signs and symptoms. You may be gluten intolerant or have CD if you have two or more of the following ongoing complaints:
Gluten Intolerance and Other Associated Conditions
Gluten intolerance is now also being associated with:
These conditions are believed to be an inability to digest the gluten, rather than an autoimmune reaction as with CD and other autoimmune related gluten intolerances. The Leaky Gut Syndrome Connection
Recently a study done revealed that nearly all CD patients have what is often called Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS). LGS results in the widening of the cells in the intestinal walls, allowing foreign antigens (toxins and food particles) into the blood stream. Recent research suggests that these "foreign" antigens, which get into the bloodstream through LGS, may be involved in autoimmune diseases. The amino acids in the antigens have the same structural form as many of our body tissues. The immune system recognizes there large particles as foreign substances and makes antibodies to attack them. Because the antigen has the same structural form as similar body tissues, those tissues are also attacked. The result is an autoimmune reaction; the body attacking itself. Testing and Treatment
There are many different lab tests for celiac disease and gluten intolerance. If you would like to schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss your options please contact our office. The first line of treatment for Gluten Intolerance is a gluten free (GF) diet. Gluten is found in wheat, barley, rye, kamut and spelt, and sometimes oats. It is also hidden in many prepared foods, sauces, makeup and body care products. Along with a gluten elimination diet you must also treat and reverse the Leaky Gut Syndrome. We have a dedicated GF Diet Consultant that will help guide you through the best course of diagnosis and treatment, along with helping you develop your GF diet and lifestyle.
Call 801-771-2200 to schedule your complimentary consultation. |
