| If you suffer from symptoms of abdominal or | | | | improve on a gluten free diet. The low |
| stomach pain, excess bloating, gas, diarrhea, | | | | carbohydratediets have not only been popular |
| fatigue, bone or joint pain, skin rashes, headaches, | | | | because many have lost weight but |
| difficulty concentrating or irritability you may have | | | | manyexperienced dramatic improvements in their |
| gluten sensitivity. It is the most common genetic | | | | general feeling of well being, increasedenergy, |
| condition and one that is frequently undiagnosed | | | | relief of fibromyalgia, joint aches,improved skin, |
| or misdiagnosed. Gluten proteins in wheat, barley, | | | | fewer headaches, and improved digestive |
| and rye are the cause. However most people and | | | | symptoms. Full benefits may have been missed |
| their doctors are unaware that gluten is the | | | | though because gluten was not completely |
| cause. Because they are unaware that there are | | | | eliminated. |
| screening blood tests (and stool tests) available | | | | Though gluten can cause serious damage to the |
| they remain undiagnosed and untreated when a | | | | intestine that results in poor absorption and weight |
| gluten-free diet usually relieves these symptoms. | | | | loss it may also cause weight gain. This is because |
| How could this be? | | | | it is insulinogenic, meaning it stimulates the release |
| Diagnostic blood tests are available for gluten | | | | of insulin by the pancreas that promotefat |
| sensitivity but many doctors are unaware that | | | | storage and weight gain. This also can cause |
| such blood tests exist. Most are unaware that | | | | either too high or too low blood sugar levels. |
| specific genes result in an increased risk for gluten | | | | Some people willgain weight despite malabsorbing |
| sensitivity and can be detected in blood. Even if | | | | essential nutrients. More than 10% of insulin |
| they are aware of the tests they may fail to | | | | dependent diabetics have Celiacdisease. Whether |
| recognize the many symptoms of gluten | | | | the Celiac or the diabetes came first is not |
| sensitivity (over 250 exist) and don't order the | | | | known, butthey commonly occur together. |
| tests. Sadly, the condition often goes | | | | CD is also often associated with other |
| unrecognized and untreated. Yet it is very | | | | autoimmune conditions including lupus, rheumatoid |
| common and reversible with a gluten-free diet. No | | | | arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, autoimmune |
| medication is required. | | | | hepatitis and thyroid problems. It is a reversible |
| Worldwide nearly 1 in 100 people have the most | | | | cause of infertility, low birth weight infants, |
| severe form of glutensensitivity or intolerance | | | | pre-term labor and recurrent miscarriages. |
| known as Celiac disease (CD). It estimated | | | | Untreated it is associated with a significantly |
| thatmore than 90% areundiagnosed. As many as | | | | increased risk of numerous cancers and |
| 10-30% of people of | | | | lymphoma. It is a common cause of unexplained |
| Northern European ancestry, have lesser forms | | | | iron deficiency anemia andpremature osteoporosis. |
| of gluten sensitivity that causesymptoms that | | | | |