ALL

1. Celiac disease is the most common genetic autoimmune disease in the world.

2. Celiac disease is the most commonly misdiagnosed disease in the world.

3. Celiac disease blood tests are not pass / fail. They measure antibody levels that suggest how likely an intestinal biopsy will discover damage consistent with celiac disease.

4. Celiac disease can affect any genetically predisposed person of every race or gender and can first present symptoms at any age.

5. Optimal treatment of celiac disease includes 1) a 100% strict gluten-free diet, 2) nutrient deficiency identification and replenishment and 3) education and support that meet the physical and emotional needs of the patient.

6. Most cases of unresponsive celiac disease are due to inadvertent gluten exposure, where the person is consuming gluten without realizing it.

7. The average person with celiac disease has a normal body mass index. The traditional thinking was that a person with celiac disease would be underweight.

8. Silent celiac disease refers to a person who tests positive on blood test and villous atrophy on intestinal biopsy, but exhibits no overt symptoms.

9. Celiac disease presents submicroscopic damage causing nutrient deficiencies before villous atrophy. That is, before an endoscopy with biopsy finds intestinal damage, damage can already be occurring.

10. 50% of people diagnosed with Celiac disease exhibit neurological symptoms at the time of diagnosis.

11. Doctors consider celiac disease to be a gastrointestinal disease. Many people with neurological symptoms due to celiac disease do not exhibit gastrointestinal symptoms. These people have a decreased chance of receiving a proper diagnosis and treatment.

12. Anxiety can be the only symptom of celiac disease. In this case it is due to nutrient deficiencies.

13. Celiac disease tests are not pass / fail. A patient can test “negative” on one day and positive two weeks later. Follow up testing should be performed if symptoms do not resolve.

14. Patient education is the most important predictor of good clinical outcome in celiac disease. The more you know, the more likely you will be to avoid gluten, develop a diet that works best for your health and lifestyle, get well and stay healthy.

15. Celiac disease symptoms can be completely different among family members.

16. Celiac disease symptoms number over 300, are widely varied in nature, affecting every and any body system and organ. (The 300 symptoms list was first presented in “Recognizing Celiac Disease,” authored by Cleo Libonati, RN, BSN and published by Glutenfreeworks.com in 2007.)

17. Symptoms in celiac disease are due to inflammation and/or nutrient deficiencies from chronic intestinal damage.

18. Celiac disease diagnosis can take10 years or more from the time symptoms first present. It is frequently the last disease doctors consider.

19. Celiac disease affects over 3 million people in the United States, yet the vast majority are not diagnosed. The symptoms of celiac disease are frequently considered the definitive diagnosis, leaving the true underlying cause untreated.

20. Exposure to gluten is the most important environmental factor in celiac disease. The sooner gluten is removed from the diet, the more likely full remission will be achieved and long term complications can be avoided.

21. Although celiac disease is now known to cause over 300 symptoms, the medical community has traditionally instructed doctors that celiac disease affects children, presenting symptoms of 1) diarrhea, 2) wasting muscles, 3) anemia, and 4) abdominal distention (bloating). You must request celiac disease testing if you do not fit this list, and often even if you do. Assuming doctors look for celiac disease is a mistake.

This article brought to you by the Gluten Free Works Health Guide! Everything you need to know about celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, your symptoms and how to fix them!

Celiac disease causes malabsorption of nutrients. As the video states, get these nutrient levels tested when you are diagnosed with celiac disease: vitamins A, D, E, K, folic acid, B12, and minerals iron, calcium, and phosphorus.

If your doctor never tested you, ask him to test you now. If you don’t have a doctor, or if you do, we recommend Spectracell Laboratories. Spectracell tests the nutrient levels inside your cells, not just those that are in your blood. This gives you an accurate result. (We are not affiliated with Spectracell.)

Do you recognize this circular hair loss pattern? It is called alopecia areata. According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, “no FDA approved treatment or cure exists yet.”

No cure, eh? It is amazing how many times I hear this “no cure” declaration when I KNOW people who have been cured of the condition in question, in this case, alopecia areata. Maybe they mean no DRUG exists that cures it.

I was recently shopping at a department store to pick up some new exercise shorts when the security guard walked past me.

Read More »

When I was in kindergarten, I had to take speech lessons. Oh, I could talk, and I did nonstop to anyone who would listen. The problem was that nobody could understand a lot of the things I had to say. When I spoke, I heard “s.” Other people heard “sschhshs.” Kids at school would ask my name. I would say, “John.” They would ask, “Sean? Joe?” My friends would tell them my name.

I remember once, my speech therapist, a kindly older woman, remarked that I had geographic tongue. She stuck her tongue out to show me hers. It looked like the photo here. Gross!

This is actually what my tongue looks like from time to time. Actually, this is a photo of my tongue from several years ago. Yes, it is painful.

Doctors told me they didn’t know why it looked that way. For all of my childhood, I thought that was just the way I was.

Well, the cause is Read More »

This is a Celiac Disease Awareness Month Public Service Announcement.

Many people, including doctors, believe that the blood tests for celiac disease are pass/fail, and that if you have a negative result you can never in the future have a positive result. This is wrong. See how all the celiac disease tests work on our Diagnosis page.

This message was brought to you by our  Gluten Free Extravaganza sponsors, , , and !

This is a Celiac Disease Awareness Month Public Service Announcement.

Celiac disease affects 1% of the worldwide population. In the United States, it is estimated up to 17% of people with celiac disease are diagnosed. The rest are sick, but have no idea what is causing their problems.

This public service announcement is brought to you by and The Gluten Free Extravaganza. Be sure to visit the Gluten Free Extravaganza Website where we are giving away 100s of prizes all month!

This is a Celiac Disease Awareness Month Public Service Announcement.

Be sure to visit the Gluten Free Extravaganza Website where we are giving away 100s of prizes all month! This message was brought to you by our sponsor, ! Visit Better Batter’s website to view all of their scrumptious baking mixes!

This is a Celiac Disease Awareness Month public service announcement.

Pass it on! Celiac disease diagnosis can take years. Not because tests don’t exist, but rather because doctors do not consider celiac disease when looking at your symptoms. Frequently, a symptom of celiac disease will receive the diagnosis, leaving the underlying cause untreated. Request to be tested if your symptoms match any on this symptom list.

Be sure to visit the Gluten Free Extravaganza Website where we are giving away 100s of prizes all month! This message was brought to you by our sponsor, Kay’s Naturals. Visit to see all their gluten-free, protein rich snacks and cereals.

Gluten Free Works is hosting a Gluten Free Extravaganza to celebrate Celiac Disease Awareness Month!

12 Gluten Free companies have donated hundreds of prizes.

50 people won prizes the first week. We’re picking 30 more winners today!

Sign up here to enter to win! Everybody wins something!

Here are some of the winners and the prizes they won:

Nicole D. – Consult with Amy Macklin, RD, LDN Gluten Free Roots!

Debbie L. – Kitchen Table Bakers – Parmesan Crisps!

Read More »