| Are you one of the millions of people who love bagels | | | | to determine if you are gluten sensitive. |
| for breakfast or bread with dinner? Let's face it bread | | | | Look for foods made with oats, quinoa, rice, corn, |
| is one of the staples in the food chain that has | | | | millet, and amaranth. |
| sustained hungry eaters for centuries. | | | | Prepared foods, such as frozen macaroni and |
| Why then is there so much talk about the adverse | | | | cheese, will list the gluten content on the package. |
| affects of consuming gluten? Bread is supposed to be | | | | Website to gluten-free recipes, products, and local |
| good for you, right? This may be true for most people | | | | support groups are available online. |
| but not for others who experience symptoms such as | | | | Ask your market to offer tours highlighting |
| bloating and diarrhea. Some of my patients even | | | | gluten-free items on the shelves. |
| complain of fatigue, weight loss, and perhaps muscle | | | | Request your local market expand gluten-free |
| and joint pain. When I delve further into their eating | | | | options. |
| habits to determine the cause of their problem, nine | | | | Restaurants and cruise ships often have |
| times out of ten I find their symptoms tied to gluten | | | | gluten-free options for pizza, pasta, and breads. |
| sensitivity. | | | | With gluten sensitivity becoming so well-known, |
| What is gluten sensitivity and how do you know if you | | | | you might find if you ask for gluten-free food when |
| have it? If you are asking yourself this question, you | | | | you dine out, others in your group will ask for it as well. |
| are not alone. Let me explain. | | | | If temptation is an issue, ask to have baskets of |
| "Gluten" is a family of proteins found in wheat along | | | | crackers and bread taken away after the other |
| with oats, rye, and barley. Gluten sensitivity is caused | | | | guests have helped themselves. |
| by an immune reaction to the gluten. A simple blood | | | | Keep Your Digestive Tract Healthy! |
| test can determine whether you have specific | | | | Once you eliminate gluten and your digestive tract is |
| antibodies to gluten. An inherited form of gluten | | | | healing, there are ways to keep it working well. Eat a |
| sensitivity is called Celiac Disease and can affect 1 out | | | | variety of healthy fruits and vegetables. At night, drink |
| of 133 people. Celiac Disease is often diagnosed by a | | | | a glass of water with a spoonful of psyllium husks |
| biopsy of the small intestine that may reveal physical | | | | mixed in. This adds fiber and helps remove unwanted |
| damage. Other forms of gluten sensitivity or allergy | | | | material from the body. Yogurt can help restore the |
| can develop as people grow older. | | | | balance of intestinal bacteria, which is important for |
| What Happens If You Keep Eating Gluten? | | | | digesting food. |
| Some of the symptoms of gluten sensitivity are felt in | | | | Damage caused by gluten sensitivity can interfere with |
| the digestive tract. Others are more generalized. The | | | | the body's ability to process food. Your digestive |
| body releases chemicals during many immune | | | | system may need some help in returning to health. |
| responses that can cause the vague symptoms of | | | | Here are some natural ways to help with healing. |
| joint pain, fatigue, and muscle pain. | | | | Take a multivitamin, because a damaged intestine |
| If the gluten-sensitive person continues to eat | | | | absorbs less of the nutrients in food |
| gluten-containing food, the body will keep making | | | | L-glutamine is helpful for healing the lining of the |
| antibodies to gluten. This immune reaction causes | | | | small intestine |
| physical damage to the lining of the small intestine and | | | | A probiotic supplement can help restore the good |
| makes it difficult for the body to absorb nutrients. This | | | | bacteria in the intestine |
| leads to diarrhea and weight loss. If left unchecked, the | | | | Digestive enzymes can help your system digest |
| damage can eventually be life-threatening. Fortunately | | | | food while the natural enzyme balance is recovering |
| the small intestine has the ability to regenerate healthy | | | | Fiber, such as psyllium and flax, can help the |
| cells and it will recover over time if gluten is removed | | | | intestines to function efficiently |
| from the diet. | | | | If you have been suffering for months or years with |
| What If You're Gluten Sensitive? | | | | gluten sensitivity, be patient. Give your body time to |
| Listed below are just a few things you can do if you | | | | heal once you remove gluten from your diet. Avoid the |
| suspect you might have some of the symptoms | | | | bakery counter, and instead eat healthy, gluten-free |
| described above: | | | | foods. A gluten-free eating plan can lead you to a |
| Check with your doctor and ask for a blood test | | | | delicious diet that is better for your overall health! |