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What is Gluten Sensitivity-Intolerance?

Celiac Disease is not the same thing as Gluten sensitivity

Contrary to popular belief, celiac disease and gluten sensitivity are not the same thing. Unfortunately, most doctors aren’t up to speed on this very important topic. Standard procedure in a medical office is to test for serum antibodies to gliadin (the gluten found in wheat), and a substance called anti-tissue transglutaminase. These tests have a tendency to come back negative unless an individual has celiac disease. In essence they are celiac tests. The problem is that most people with gluten sensitivity don’t have celiac disease, they have other diseases or symptoms. Therefor, running tests to look for celiac disease leads to a misdiagnosis. Below is a list of some of the common symptoms and diseases associated with gluten:
  • Asthma
  • ADD/ADHD
  • Autism
  • Thyroid disease
  • Rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions that cause joint pain
  • IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Crohn’s Disease
  • Migraine Headache
  • Neuropathy
  • Vertigo
  • Constipation, gas, bloating, and stomach pain
  • Psoriasis
  • Eczema
  • Fatigue
  • Hormone imbalance
  • Infertility
  • unexplained weight loss
  • weight gain and obesity

Insist that your Doctor Investigate For Gluten Sensitivity

It is important that your doctor knows the difference. More information on gluten sensitivity and celiac disease here…

One Response

  1. At about age 9 months, my 2nd son started to have skin problems. It started with red cheeks, and turned into crusty welts on his cheeks & legs, and by age 18 months he was scratching his body until he bled. His face and legs were called everything from eczema to a fungal infection to a bacterial infection. And the all-over scratching was a skin condition that was incurable. I’ve suffered with eczema since I was an infant, and I’ve always believed that the food that I consumed made it worse.

    My son’s pediatrician refused to do allergy tests on my son, due to the high chance of inconsistencies before age 5. After a year of different diagnoses, trips to Sick Kids Hospital to see the best dermatologist in Toronto, and too many creams and ointments to count, I decided to take my son’s health into my own hands. I was given the chance to have a Hemocode Test done for free (a $400 test) and jumped at the opportunity.

    After a small blood sample from my son’s finger, and a week’s wait, we received a fairly large list of foods that my son had an intolerance to. About 75% of the list were foods/grains containing gluten. We immediately started the diet suggested by the Naturopath and within a few weeks, saw a very positive change in our son. 8 months later, he rarely scratches his skin and his face is under control (with the addition of a steroid-free face cream). We’ve re-introduced almost every food on the list, and the gluten seems to be the only issue.

    My son’s pediatrician and dermatologist both believe that food has no connection to skin conditions, and although they have not told us to stop the diet, they don’t believe it’s helping him. I’ve been tempted to give my son a slice of white bread the day before an app’t, just so that they can see what it’s doing to his skin…but I love him too much and it’s not worth the discomfort he would have for the next 5-7 days.

    Allergies are totally different from intolerances and sensitivities, and I’m not sure why doctors and dermatologists aren’t recognizing this. Whether my son has digestive problems that you’d find with celiac, or skin issues from an intolerance to gluten, they’re both important and should be recognized as a valid health issue.

    I am happy every single day that my husband & I decided to have the Hemocode Test done on our son. I have absolutely no regrets, and it further encourages us to trust our instincts when it comes to our kids.

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