Celiac vs. Gluten Sensitivity
According to Dr. Tom, and many other experts, gluten sensitivity causes inflammation in the gut, as well as many other issues. It is when gluten sensitivity progresses that it becomes celiac disease.
Celiac Disease (end stage gluten intolerance) is a common problem
• According to the New England Journal of Medicine, Celiac Disease is one of the most common lifelong disorders in both Europe and the US (NEJM 348;25 June 19,2003). This is not a small problem, if you lump celiac with gluten sensitivity, it is an enormous problem.
• Celiac Disease is a much greater problem in the U.S. than ever recognized in the past. It has been under-appreciated in the US. . (ARCH INTERN MED/VOL 163, FEB 10, 2003)
• Its prevalence has been underestimated, but it is now considered one of the most common genetic disorders in the WORLD. (World J Gastroenterol 2010 May)
• Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder which affects genetically predisposed individuals upon the ingestion of wheat. (Rch, 28; 16(12): 1449-1457 )
• With few exceptions, research has shown an increased risk of death in celiac disease (35-72%). (JAMA, Sept 16, 2009,Vol 302, No. 11)
• With Celiac Disease……every time the disease is clinically diagnosed in an adult, that person has for decades had disease in a latent or silent stage…(N Engl J Med Oct.23 2003,1673-4)
• The majority of Celiac patients had visited 5 or more doctors prior to diagnosis…and it had taken an average of 5 to 10 years, after initial presentation, for Celiac Disease to be diagnosed. (Kumar,V, American Celiac Society, Nov.9,1996)
• The current ratio of clinically diagnosed to undetected cases-that is ‘the size of the iceberg’ is approximately 1 to 8. (Gut 2006;55:1037–1046)
• Multiple studies suggest that patients with celiac disease should be on a gluten-free diet, whether or not they have symptoms or associated conditions. (NEJM 348;25 June 19,2003)
Most Common Signs & Symptoms
The most common system of the body impacted by gluten sensitivity is not the gut, it’s the brain. Ever wake up feeling like you’re in a ‘Brain Fog’? Can’t think clearly and you don’t know what to attribute it to? It may be that you have a sensitivity to gluten.
Research on Gluten Sensitivity
• Patients with non-villous atrophy Gluten Sensitivity are more likely to have negative blood tests. (Proceedings of the Nutrition Society (2009), 68, 234–241)
• Those with inflammation may have an overall worse prognosis than those with villous atrophy, because it’s a lot harder to determine. (JAMA, Sept 16, 2009,Vol 302, No. 11)
• Very few doctors think to treat inflammation in the intestines because the symptoms are not obvious, and aren’t tied directly to gastrointestinal problems.
• Gluten sensitivity is regarded as principally a disease of the small bowel is a historical misconception. (J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2002;72:560–563)
• Gluten sensitivity is a systemic autoimmune disease with diverse manifestations (Lancet Neurol 2010; 9: 318–30)
Do you have any of the following complaints? Could be gluten in the diet. A gluten-free diet may restore your health, and eliminate your problems.
√ Any Abdominal Complaints
√ Abdomen Tender to touch
√ White Blood Cells in the Stool
√ Diarrhea/Constipation Comes and Goes
√ Any Autoimmune Disease
√ Pants Feel Tight After Eating
√ Foggy Brain
√ Signs of Intestinal Permeability (other foods don’t ‘agree’ with you)
(‘Leaky Gut’)
I know I feel WAY better on a gluten-free diet. When I eat gluten I get a foggy head AND joint pain—but no stomach issues. I’ve been gluten-free for 7 years. I’m happy to help you try a gluten-free diet.
Healthy Nest Nutrition coaches clients on what to eat as well as what to avoid for a gluten-free lifestyle. Connect. HealthyNestnutrition.com.
Hi! I’m Robin, the founder of Healthy Nest Nutrition. I am a board-certified holistic nutritionist in Denver, Colorado. My passion is helping people find the right diet for their bodies and then showing them how to make healthy nutrition doable and delicious!
