Is Gluten-Free for Real or just a fad? Well, for those with gluten sensitivity, it certainly is for real and can cause multiple health problems.
And did you know that about half the people with gluten sensitivity don’t have any gut symptoms?
Often with gluten sensitivity and celiac disease, there are only brain and neurological symptoms/disorders, such as:
- anxiety
- depression
- mood swings
- dizziness
- brain fog
- ADD / ADHD
- dementia
- Parkinson’s
- Multiple Sclerosis
- seizures
- ataxia
- neuropathy
Other gluten sensitivity and celiac symptoms can include:
- abdominal pain, gas, and bloating
- diarrhea and/or constipation
- fatigue
- PMS
- lack of menstruation
- infertility and miscarriages
- migraines/headaches
- joint pain and inflammation
- muscle aches
- acne
- dermatitis, eczema, and skin rashes
- “chicken skin” on the back of the arms
- canker sores
- thyroid dysfunction
- anemia
- failure to thrive and short stature
- developmental delays
- learning disabilities
- asthma
- hair loss
- autoimmune diseases
- and many other conditions…
There are actually two types of gluten sensitivities. One is Celiac Disease, an autoimmune condition resulting in intestinal damage from gluten.
And second is non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) which can still cause almost all the same symptoms and conditions, just not intestinal damage.
Many can go their whole life without being properly diagnosed. One reason is that basic lab tests your doctor would routinely order don’t check for gluten sensitivity.
Even if you can get your doctor to order the typical gluten antibody or celiac test, the results miss more than 50% of the cases.
A few years ago, a college student came to the Natural Medicine Clinic complaining of acid reflux, burning in her stomach, bloating, and constipation which all started four years earlier.
She used to have PMS but then had not had her menstrual period for many months. She also had very low energy and said she was tired all the time.
She had been to many doctors, including the Mayo Clinic. They could not find anything wrong with her but prescribed her laxatives and acid-blocking drugs.
Using a very sensitive diagnostic test, we were able to determine she, in fact, did have gluten sensitivity.
After placing her on a gluten-free diet and some nutritional supplements to enhance healing, all her symptoms cleared up within two months, and she was feeling great!
The gluten sensitivity test I’ve found most helpful checks for not just the usual 2-4 components that the major labs offer but 24 antibodies involved with gluten sensitivity and celiac disease.
So while gluten-free may seem like a passing fad, if you truly have gluten sensitivity, it can cause a whole host of problems.
And getting to the root cause of your condition is one of the most important things you can do for your health and wellness. Like I said earlier, not all gluten sensitivity symptoms are in your gut. Gluten has effects on the brain that chemical imbalances also do.
If you need help in finding your health solutions or would like to find out if gluten is affecting you or a family member, email us at info@nmcwellness.com or call us at 561-627-5800. We would be happy to help.
Yours for Optimal Health,
Dr. Tom Rofrano
