Treatment Guide

Everyone on a Gluten Free Diet?

I have thought for a long time about this very question.  Who would suggest such a thing?

I would. The main reason I would dare to make such a statement is because we have been so negligent in recognizing and treating people with celiac disease.  Not a day goes by that I don’t hear about or speak to someone directly who has suffered needlessly for years.  The other main point I want to make is that NONE of the currently available testing is 100%.

The blood tests and endoscopic biopsies are great tools if they are positive. If they are negative, I have heard of too many people tell me ‘I don’t have celiac disease, my blood test/biopsy was negative’.  This is a major cause for concern to me.  Both of these tests do not confirm you don’t have, or will never develop celiac disease.  First, neither test is 100% reliable.  Second, both tests are simply a snapshot of right now.  I have also seen test results that are clearly positive for celiac disease, but read as negative by a medical provider that does not understand what the results mean.

The genetic testing is great and it is my first choice when testing people.  The test is a cheek swab, I get results in one week and it is covered by most insurances.  I utilize Kimball Genetics in Denver, Colorado,  www.kimballgenetics.com.

I have run into this scenerio in the past week: a 12 year old on a gluten free diet for several months, a remarkable recovery from many symptoms while on the gluten free diet, and yet, she tests negative for DQ2 and DQ8. Is she at risk for celiac disease if she eats gluten?  Are there other genes that could be looked at?  I am gathering more data on this because nothing is black and white with gluten intolerance, there are many grey areas.  Other than, of course, the need to be on a strict gluten free diet for the rest of your life if you have celiac disease.  Not much grey there.

So, this leads me back to the original question: everyone on a gluten free diet? In my perfect world, the answer would be a resounding YES!  If people would simply try the gluten free diet for a month, most, if not all of those people will feel better.  It remains simply a diet change.  Change your diet and feel better, doesn’t that sound appealing? To some yes, and to others, not really. Not without the proof that they need to change their long held diet and lifestyle habits.  It also sounds quite un-American to say ‘I can’t eat wheat, barley, rye and oats’, by extension, bread, pies, cakes, beer and pizza.

My most recent convert to a gluten free diet, said to me, “You know I don’t even miss the bread anymore, it doesn’t even appeal to me, I feel so much better on the gluten free food”. This is a woman who has had symptoms for most of her 76 years and I had a hard time convincing her to try the gluten free diet for a month.  She is convinced now.  I can tell many stories with the same happy ending.  I can also tell you that most men have a harder time changing anything, let alone their diet, than women.  Trust me, I am a nurse and I have no reason to lie to you.  Try it.  Go gluten free for a month and contact me with your results.  GO!

[This article is a reprint of a Glutenfreeworks.com article originally published in 2008.]

————————–
Author Information: Nadine Grzeskowiak, RN, CEN, Corvallis, OR
Nadine Grzeskowiak is a national expert and speaker for diagnosis and treatment of gluten intolerance and celiac disease.
Website: http://glutenfreern.com

About Nadine Grzeskowiak, RN, CEN

3 comments

  1. Great article!!! I just shared it on my Facebook wall and page to over 6000 people. Everyone should read this!

  2. I love that you point out that testing isn’t 100% accurate and you don’t need a test to feel better. People have long forgotten you are what you eat, I firmly believe if you just stop eating the offending foods you will feel better. How do you find the offending food? The elimination diet is how I KNEW I had to eat gluten free, quite simple really isn’t it? I am not saying testing is useless as it does help many people find out their allergies but again as you said no test is 100% accurate which leads us back to the elimination diet.

    Thank you for posting such great information.

  3. Most doctors don’t know much about nutrition to help us with gluten problems.
    They’re too much in a rush to find a quick fix with pills than to try to figure out
    the real cause of an illness.

    I tried the gluten free diet, and I felt better for a while, but sometimes my symptoms of fatigue and inflammation return.
    One thing is clear, I can eat a huge breakfeast with rice as my staple now, with an egg, beans and spices and I don’t feel full (bloated). That’s my test; my proof.

    Whereas I used to feel bloated after eating 2 toast in the morning and after a sandwich for lunch and the need to nap after eating bread.

    And by not eating bread, it forces me to eat better more natural food.
    I really think from reading on this website and books, that many many illnesses are caused by gluten.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

x

Check Also

Gluten-Free Lobster Bisque Recipe

A bisque is a rich, creamy soup made with one or more types of seafood, ...

Curried Cauliflower with Peas Recipe

A big thank you to Aida Mollenkamp (see my interview with her here) for this recipe ...

Gluten-Free French Toast Recipe

What makes this gluten-free french toast recipe so delicious is gluten-free breakfast bread, a moist, ...