Gluten can lead to many health problems and cause many chronic disease states. It can contribute to anemia, acid-reflux, autoimmune diseases, depression, migraines, bone loss, IBS, chronic fatigue, gas and bloating, skin rashes, and even unexplained infertility.

Gluten sensitivity/intolerance is a major cause and contributor to disease in the U.S. Unfortunately, it is one of the most under diagnosed conditions. Most doctors dismiss gluten as a problem unless a person develops celiac disease. Because of this, millions suffer needlessly with a multitude of health problems.

To find out if you gluten is a problem for you then you need to get the right testing. The best testing available now is genetic testing.

Traditional diagnostic testing has focused on blood antibody tests and or intestinal biopsies.

Unfortunately traditional tests for gluten sensitivity are often incorrect!

Why? They only measure a fraction of how a person’s immune system can react to gluten. Add to the problem that different grains contain different types of gluten. Blood tests only measure the gluten found in wheat (gliadin). The other problem is that people react to gluten in different ways. Some people have immune reactions, some have intestinal problems, some develop psychological problems, some suffer with migraine headaches, psoriasis, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis… The list is over 200 diseases long. I can’t even begin to tell you how many patients have come to my office after they were already biopsied or blood tested and told that they did not have gluten intolerance only to find out that their gene DNA tests were positive.

Unfortunately, the traditional definition of gluten is not 100% correct!

Why? Most of the research regarding gluten is directly linked to celiac disease, and most of the research on celiac disease focuses only on 3 grains (wheat, barley, rye) and sometimes a fourth (oats). There are a number of studies that have linked the gluten in corn to adverse reactions! But wait, there is more… Almost half of the people diagnosed with celiac disease do not get better on a traditionally defined gluten free diet! So the big question is…Why?! The answer – The traditionally defined Gluten Free Diet is not really gluten free.

There is usually a 30-50 year gap in medical research and its application in actual practice. Point being don’t expect your gastroenterologist or other specialist to start discussing gluten with you. Fact is many doctors are on cue with the research curve, and many are not.

References
www.glutenfreesociety.org

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