What Is the Treatment for Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance?
The treatment is identical for both celiac disease and gluten intolerance and involves removing all sources of gluten from the diet.
This means that a person with a gluten allergy should not eat bread products, pastas, or processed food of any kind that contains wheat, rye, or barley in any form. Individuals require special dietary counseling.
Fortunately, many alternative sources for gluten free breads, pastas and other foods now exist and are easier than ever to find.
What Are the Results of Avoiding Gluten?
If you are allergic to gluten, then the result of removing gluten from your diet is generally a reversal of your health problems. Symptoms very often resolve, some faster than others, and you gain a new definition of optimal health. Even celiac disease is reversed, usually resulting in complete recovery of the damage to the small intestine.
What if Someone with a Gluten Allergy Chooses Not to Avoid Gluten?
Of course, they continue to suffer the symptoms that their gluten allergy is causing. However, the long term consequences are much more severe. People with celiac disease are known to be at higher risk for many conditions, including cancer of the digestive tract, thyroid problems, anemia, osteoporosis, and many autoimmune conditions. If you or someone you know suffers from any of the symptoms listed above, be sure to be screened for food allergies via blood testing.
Case Studies
Case #1:
27 year old male with loose stools, gas, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, inability to gain weight, acne on back, poor endurance, and hypoglycemic/needing to eat every 2-3 hours.
Patient was very athletic and in most respects would be considered extremely healthy. Allergy testing demonstrated a severe allergy to gluten. Removal of gluten from his diet resulted in complete resolution of his Irritable Bowel within 2 days. Over time acne cleared, endurance improved dramatically, and he is no longer hypoglycemic.
Case #2:
24 year old female with a long history of sinus infections including two sinus surgeries, asthma, diarrhea, headaches, chronic fatigue, and dizziness. Food allergy testing was positive for allergies to gluten, dairy, and eggs.
This patient also tested positive for hypothyroidism and iron deficient anemia. Removal of these foods from the diet and treatment of hypothyroidism and anemia has resulted in significant improvement in energy and the resolution of diarrhea and dizziness. Sinus infections have been greatly reduced, as have headaches, and her health continues to improve with time.
Case #3:
30 year old female with infertility, gas, bloating, acne, headaches, and insomnia. This patient has been attempting to get pregnant for 1 ½ years. Her menstrual cycle was consistently abnormally long at 35 days. All female hormone and standard fertility related tests were negative.
Food allergy testing was positive for gluten (a known cause of infertility), dairy, corn, and garlic. After removal of the food allergens, this patients next menstrual cycle returned to a normal 28 days. Pregnancy next?!
Article Courtesy: Dr. Stephen Wangen
Image thanks to achooallergy.com via creativecommons.org
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