Woes of Wheat - How Gluten May Harm Your Health

Do you tolerate wheat and other glutenousgaino Fatigue
grains? I don't and either do millions of Americans.Second, if you go to your doctor, he or she will
Most people don't realize that their health issuesmost likely not look for the CAUSE of the
are tied to gluten. We need to pay attention toproblem but rather the treatment of symptoms
the clues our bodies are giving us about ourvia some sort of drug, which in most cases,
health.causes other problems. Most doctors practice
I have been doing a lot of research onreactionary medicine. They wait for a patient to
gluten-containing grains like wheat, barley, rye, andcome in with a problem and then try to fix it with
oats and I think it is really important to share thedrugs or surgery -- what they were trained to do
following information. Gluten intolerance is veryin medical school. They have scant nutritional
common and the cause of digestive and othertraining, if any, and they don't focus on wellness
health issues for many people, my self included.and prevention.
According to statistics from the University ofFor example, when I was struggling terribly with
Chicago Celiac Disease Center, an average of oneacne, I went to several dermatologists. All of
out of every 133, otherwise healthy people, in thethem prescribed some sort of cream which never
United States suffers from the digestive diseaseimproved my skin condition. Most of the creams
known as celiac disease (CD). Previous studiesmade my skin red, flaky, and irritated. One of the
have found that this number may be as high as 1doctors prescribed an antibiotic which then caused
in 33 in at-risk populations. Even more common,yeast infections and never cleared up my skin! I
are people who suffer from a less-extreme, butstruggled with skin eruptions for years. With
still dangerous, gluten intolerance.dietary intervention, including eliminating wheat
I wish my mother knew about this. My fathergluten, I was able to clear my complexion.
recently told me she had chronic diarrhea sinceUnfortunately, I have some scarring from those
the age of 30. Even though she went to doctorsyears of acne. I still find that if I eat certain foods
for it, they couldn't help her but they neverthat I am sensitive to, like wheat, an eruption will
tested her for wheat intolerance or celiac disease.occur.
They should have. She died of colon cancer twoThe solution to celiac disease or gluten intolerance
years ago. I am her daughter with half her genes.is to take glutenous grains out of your diet. Not
I cannot tolerate wheat gluten. I experienceonly are glutenous grains harmful for so many
mushy-consistency diarrhea. Fortunately for me, Ipeople, but so are other processed grains that
got nutritional training, looked at my symptoms,rapidly break down to sugar and cause a steep
changed my diet, and no longer have thoserise in blood sugar and insulin. Repetitive dietary
repeated mushy stools.sugar and insulin spikes lead to health conditions
This brings up two points: 1) You, too, may havesuch as obesity, high cholesterol, high blood
or know someone with a problem with gluten, andpressure, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
2) most doctors will not help you.With grains, your best bet is to eat non-gluten
First, here are some of the many healthwhole grains like: amaranth, brown rice,
conditions, that may indicate celiac disease orbuckwheat/kasha, millet, teff, quinoa, and wild rice.
gluten intolerance:o Acneo Nauseao DiarrheaoEven with those grains, I would eat them
Constipationo Abdominal paino Osteoporosis ormoderately and make sure they are properly
osteopeniao Tooth enamel defectso Vitamin Kprepared. I work with many clients to
deficiencyo Central and peripheral nervous systemrecommend, create, and give access to recipes
diseaseo Mental impairment (e.g., dementia,that are gluten-free. At first it is overwhelming to
depression, autism, Asperger's syndrome, ADHDswitch to a gluten-free diet, but then a whole
or schizophrenia)o Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH)oworld of healthy eating and consequent improved
Anemia of various typeso Infertility and earlierhealth is opened up.
menopauseo Organ disorderso Weight loss or