Not Coeliac? What about Gluten-Sensitive?

After dealing with many...many Mum's about to embark on the gluten free world I thought it timely to try to help validate the huge lifestyle change they are about to take with their children. As a Nurse and a Mother myself, I've learnt there is valuable truth to Mother's instinct, and time and again its hit the nail on the head. For many...trying a gluten free diet is the  last ditch attempt to uncover that nagging feeling that their child's health is "not quite right".

In his book 'Full of It.. The Shocking truth about Gluten' Dr Rodney Ford MD, MBBS, FRACP, makes some very startling yet medically sound connections between gluten and the epidemic of health problems associated with the new generation. Perhaps we should call them the "Intolerant" Generation as it seems 1 in 10 of them now have a food allergy, sensitivity or intolerance. The following is some excerpts from his book.

**Please note that Dr Ford is NOT talking about Coeliac Disease**
Here are some figures to give you some idea about the extent of the poor health that is experienced in our communities:
1 in 4 have asthma or hay fever of eczema.
1 in 10 children have learning difficulties
1 in 10 children are labelled dyslexic or dypraxic
1 in 10 have constipation and/or diarrhoea.
1 in 10 have abdominal pain or irritable bowel
1 in 15 children have been diagnosed as ADHD
1 in 200 are diagnosed with Autism.
Many children often have several of these conditions.

Dr Ford goes onto state that...

Dr Kenneth Fine (Gastroenterologist USA) has found high levels of gluten IgG-gliadin antibodies in the blood of 11% of the general American public. 1 in 10 people have high gluten antibodies (Without having Coeliac Disease) He has also looked for similar antibodies to gluten in the faeces. His research has revealed that theses antibodies are detected in the stool in as many as 35% of people who otherwise appeared to be normal people (no symptoms) He goes onto say that if high risk patient populations are tested (in other words, people with chronic symptoms) then the percentage of those with high gluten antibodies will exceed 50%

The term "gluten-sensitive" applies to any reaction that is caused by gluten. This includes the many symptoms experienced throughout the gastro-intestinal tract. But it also applies to the host of the other non-gastroenterological symptoms. These include brain disorder, skin problems, muscle and joint problems. Gluten-sensitivity occurs ten times more frequently than Coeliac Disease.

If you have any chronic health problems that just won't go away, then you might be gluten-sensitive. There is a three-step process to find out if you are affected.
1. Check out your symptoms
2. Get your blood tested at the GP
3. Interpret your results.
Because there is no single recognisable illness caused by gluten, this entity has been hard to define. This is why these gluten-sensitive problems have been overlooked for so long. However with the blood tests now available, ti has become much easier to diagnose.

Do you or your family have any of these problems?
*tired and exhausted
*uncomfortable tummy
*bloating and gas troubles
*gastric reflux or heartburn
*diarrhoea or constipation

*unhappy with your weight
*not growing well
*eating problems
*lack energy, weakness
*run-down

*runny nose and sinus problems
*chronic iron deficiency
*osteoporosis or growing pains
*dermatitis, eczema, itchy or bad skin
*infertility

*headaches or migraine
*feel depressed or moody or grumpy
*find it hard to think clearly
*poor sleep

*hyperactive or cranky
*Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
*autism
*mental health problems

Sound familiar? These symptoms are so broad and wide reaching that it is also essential that other clinical diagnosis (ie Diseases) should be conclusively ruled OUT, before a diagnosis of Gluten-sensitivity is accepted. Coeliac Australia also conclude that a small bowel biopsy is the ONLY way of definitively diagnosing Coeliac Disease. Do not start upon a gluten free diet before having your blood test!! your test result will, of course not give an accurate reading!

So there you go, might not be "in your head" afterall!