According to Nadine Grzeskowiak, RN, CEN the answer is a resounding YES! I don’t think she really means everyone but what she does mean is quite simple, if you are sick then YES. The reason she suggest this is also quite simple; NO TEST IS 100% accurate.
Here is what she has to say regarding this: 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%.
You can read the whole article here. A great resource is at Nadine’s website; Gluten Free Rn.
How did I find out I needed to eat gluten-free? I followed the elimination diet. For years I searched for answers as to why I was sick and today I don’t tolerate people that complain about their health but rely on pills for the fix without ever trying the elimination diet. Oh but my Dr said it can’t be a food allergy/intolerance. This is a personal pet peeve of mine, since when did when did a Dr become the smartest person on the planet? Not trying to bash Drs at all but I am trying to help people understand that many Drs are not knowledgeable about food intolerances, especially gluten intolerance. In no way am I suggesting I am the smartest person on the planet but I am the smartest person regarding my own health and in the end I am the ONE responsible for my health.
You may have noticed I use the terms gluten-intolerance, allergy and Celiac as though they are the same. They are not exactly the same but what is the same is they all lead to the same thing, AVOID the offending food. Honestly it doesn’t matter how you were diagnosed and it doesn’t matter what you call it as long as you are taking care of your health. Please if you don’t feel good and you can’t find the answers then do yourself a huge favor and try the elimination diet. A suggestion for mother’s that are breast feeding, if your baby is always fussy or colicky please look into the elimination diet – I wish someone had suggested it to me when I was the mother with the fussy/colicky baby.
For more information on the elimination diet check out these places: Wikipedia and my personal favorite; Natural News.
If you wonder what health symptoms may suggest a gluten intolerance there are many sites with this info. A few symptoms for you to think about; migraines, asthma, headaches, digestion woes, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, weight gain, weight loss, fatigue, mouth sores, rashes, discolored teeth or loss of enamel (think cavities), tingling in feet or hands, menstrual problems (heavy and or missed), anemia, IBS, depression, infertility, brain fog, poor memory, appetite – ALWAYS HUNGRY, joint pain, muscle cramping, seizures, stomach PAIN, type 1 diabetes, auto immune disorders, Addison’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, birth defects, miscarriage, malabsorption AND THE LIST GOES ON.
The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness – nfca is one of the best resources on the web. Go, do it, check it out. You may be surprised. Here is the link to their checklist.
You may ask why I write this? I hate to see people suffer, I am passionate that if you don’t feel good you need an answer. Maybe wheat/gluten free isn’t the answer for you but if you take anything from this I want it to be that you are your best advocate. Do your research and try the elimination diet, what have you got to lose? The pain and suffering you go through because your body is trying to tell you something.
Be good to yourself.
7 comments:
Such a good post! I was never diagnosed, but I eliminated gluten on my own and felt better almost immediately (with even better health occurring over the following months). I had just about every symptom, so I figured what did I have to lose. I have been gluten free now for over 3 years, and I immediately know when I have eaten gluten accidentally. I have sometimes been hesitant to talk about my diet because I don't have an official diagnosis, but the way I feel tells the whole story. I am a different person. If someone is unsure, it's such an easy thing to avoid gluten these days. It gets easier every day with new restaurants and companies accommodating the gluten free lifestyle. It's worth a try, and it will change your life for the better if gluten is the problem! Thanks again!
Lori, you and I are very similar in this matter. Thank you for commenting.
Found your googling for local produce markets, found a post on Imran's Market on Evergreen. Wanted to suggest Zam Zam that's also on Evergreen. You'd mentioned not being sure what something was at the other market. The owner of Zam Zam's is incredible and will take time to suggest new things to me, explain what something is when I start looking at it like it's an alien, make preparation suggestions. He's really great, ime.
Sorry for cross post commenting but when I went to read through your blog this post also stood out for me. I have multiple diagnosed autoimmune problems, my pasta loving soul is glad celiac's isn't among them apparently, though it is for some of my family members.. and I'm lucky that my doctor, regardless of the test results, still suggested an elimination diet for me.. Though I've already gone through just about every diet gymnastic that there is.. But wanted to say that it IS possible to find a doctor that knows their limits, which can be great.. my current doc acknowledges that she was trained in western medicine but has no doubt that other traditions have value and that holistic support and care for the body can do nothing but good, though she asks that I keep her updated on other things I do.. in part because she DOES believe it has value and wants to make sure she's aware of my whole health care. I have to give her props for saying she sticks with what she knows and invests her time in staying current in her own field, but sees no reason to devalue or underestimate other methods... If your doctor isn't supportive of your care it IS possible to find one who is. A doctor who doesn't value your health over their own are of focus and expertise is not valuing you as a human.. It's good to be proactive in guiding your own care in life but no reason to settle for paying someone else to be involved in your care who doesn't actually value you if you can avoid it.
wow, long comment from me. but. I also appreciated your post for being so reasonable and balanced. It can be hard as someone with autoimmune problems to constantly be told that eliminating some food will magically cure me. I've tried very hard to control my illnesses through diet. There is no doubt that proper nutrition, and sometimes that must be carefully fit to the individual, plays a huge role in health.. but it's painful to hear single focused and single minded advice over and over. Your post was really a welcome read right now.
bless and take care. :)
I really appreciate your comment. I'm happy my suggesting the elimination diet didn't offend you. It would be wonderful if the elimination diet could heal all and wow wouldn't that make it all so simple.
My stomach is so sensitive I have to be aware of good nutriton more often than I'd like to.
I will be looking up the market and giving it a try. Good to know the staff is helpful.
I'm happy that you get to eat pasta! LOL
Thank you for reading and commenting!
Hi there! Just stumbled on your blog. There are a lot of gluten free foods that can help you with your diet. One of them is quinoa. I'm pretty sure you'll love quinoa since it's an amazing food which is being hailed for its nutritional value. Hope you're well. Take care!
I agree, wholeheartedly! If you have any unwanted symptoms, going gluten-free is great idea. Gluten is known to cause inflammation which is the bottom line of most of our symptoms. Great post!
Thanks for the information. I completely agree that too many people always look for a way to fix their health with out changing their diet. As a society, Americans have the mindset that if you get sick you medicate the problem. We should be looking more towards preventative care and finding healthier diets. I have been eating quinoa as a main staple in my diet along with other healthy food sources and I feel so much better about my life now.
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