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Andrew loves to read food labels. Today he wanted to know what gluten free meant. We launched into a research of gluten (homeschool happens anytime) and found out more about celiac disease and people who have a sensitivity to gluten. Having taught science for so many years, I think it’s easiest for me to approach some of Andrew’s questions with a scientific explanation. I found the following video which answered Andrew’s question and gave an awesome visual of gluten.
Science: What is Gluten? Here’s How to See and Feel Gluten
Can Gluten cause Gastrointestinal Issues?
The above video satisfied Andrew’s curiosity about the term gluten-free, but it made me think about people who suffer from gastrointestinal issues. I imagined the gluten balloon, shown in the video, sitting un-digestable in someone’s stomach or stuck in the intestinal track. I started reading and asking more questions and thought I’d share. By all means, this is not a complete research of gluten. I kept a list of my questions and then researched the answers. I really wanted to know if gluten could cause gastrointestinal issues.
What is celiac Disease?
Celiac is an autoimmune disease that happens in people with a sensitivity to gluten found in wheat, barley and rye. There are products that no one would suspect incorporate these ingredients.
Fact: Gluten is a protein.
What are the symptoms of gluten sensitivity?
Do you have any of these symptoms?
- Gas, bloating, diarrhea, and even constipation.
- Fatigue or brain fog after eating a meal that contains gluten.
- Dizziness or feeling of being off balance.
- ‘Chicken skin’ on the back of your arms aka, Keratosis Pilaris. This tends be as a result of a fatty acid deficiency and vitamin A deficiency secondary to fat-malabsorption caused by gluten damaging the gut.
- Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Ulcerative colitis, Lupus, Psoriasis, Scleroderma or Multiple sclerosis.
- Hormone imbalances
- Migraines headaches
- Diagnosis of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. These diagnoses simply indicate your conventional doctor cannot pinpoint the cause of your fatigue or pain.
- Inflammation, swelling or pain in your joints such as fingers, knees or hips.
- Mood issues such as anxiety, depression, mood swings and ADD.
Can people who don’t have celiac disease be gluten sensitive?
Yes! New research is proving this true.
What kind of a test does one take to find out if they are gluten sensitive?
To find out if you have celiac disease or are gluten sensitive requires blood tests and a nonsurgical procedure called endoscopy. If you plan on being tested it is important to keep gluten in your diet. You can’t be tested for what is not in your system!
Untreated celiac disease can damage certain organs and erode the nutrient absorbing villi that line the small intestine, malnutrition, stunted growth in children. Another option is to remove gluten products from your diet. Do the symptoms of gluten sensitivity go away? Then reintroduce gluten to the diet to check if the symptoms return or worsen.
Is Quaker Quick Oats gluten free?
I asked this question because we love our daily breakfast of quick oats, milled flax seed, chia seeds, and 1/3 cup of nuts or sunflower seeds, and ½ cup of fresh fruit. Yes, it is gluten free. However, for people with celiac disease or other gluten sensitivities the product needs to say ‘gluten free’ so they know it’s not cross contaminated.
Could gluten sensitivity cause gastrointestinal issues?
Gluten sensitivity can cause diarrhea for some people and constipation and blockage for others.
On page 108 of the “Blood Sugar Solution” book, Dr. Mark Hyman states, “Gluten causes inflammation through a low-grade autoimmune reaction. In other words, our immune system creates low-level antibodies to gluten but not a full-blown celiac disease. In fact, 7 percent of the population (21 million) have these anti-gliadin antibodies. They have also been found in 18 percent of the people with autism and 20% of those with schizophrenia…….. most doctors dismiss gluten sensitivity if you don’t have a diagnosis of celiac disease, but new research proves them wrong. Celiac disease results when the body creates antibodies against the wheat (adaptive immunity), but another kind of gluten sensitivity results from generalized activated immune system. This means that people can be gluten-sensitive without having celiac disease of gluten antibodies and still have inflammation and many other symptoms.”
Is gluten free for non-sensitive people a hyped diet?
Gluten free are the key words for people who have celiac disease or an intolerance to gluten. It is not a weight loss program. It is true that gluten free grains have less calories than grains containing gluten.
Are gluten free desserts a good choice for someone on a weight loss diet?
The answer to this came up repeatedly in my research. Desserts are just that D-E-S-S-E-R-T-S. It doesn’t matter if they are gluten free or not. Eat sparingly. Fruits are sweet and they are gluten free. They happen to be ‘real’ food too. Common sense also says that sugar is sugar and fruit, because of its natural sugar, should all be eaten in moderation. Additional fats and sweeteners are sometimes added to gluten free products increasing the calorie count which makes weight loss difficult.
Our quest started with Andrew’s simple question and led to more questions on my part. This post is not intended to be a comprehensive essay on gluten, however, by sharing I thought it might spawn more questions for those who suffer from gastrointestinal problems. If you think gluten might be an issue, you could always eliminate it and see how you feel. Just remember to make sure that gluten is reintroduced to your diet before being medically tested. Either way, if gastrointestinal problems exist then one has to ask if gluten could be a culprit.
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