Approximately 1 in 100 people in the world suffer from Celiac Disease, where about 6 out of 100 have conversely reported some kind of sensitivity or allergy to foods containing gluten proteins such as grains, wheat, barley, and rye. But what’s the difference?
When someone is Celiac, gluten isn’t causing the damage directly, rather it triggers the immune system to attack the small intestine, destroying the digestive tract. Celiac is, as a result, classified as an autoimmune disease. When people with the condition experience a gluten exposure, it will often prevent the synthesis of important vitamins as well, making it difficult to function optimally.
Some people with Celiac Disease will feel the effects for weeks if they eat even a tiny amount of gluten, making the condition extremely serious. Sufferers are often confined to their beds for days, affecting their ability to lead the most productive lives. Many will agree that the condition greatly restricts their food options, particularly when they try to eat out. As a result, they will avoid restaurants, or eating at social functions for fear that they might be exposed – causing them further anxiety.
Regardless if someone’s body is rejecting gluten for autoimmune reasons or not, many will choose a gluten free diet simply to safeguard against stomach pains, bloating, fatigue, inflammation, among other uninvited reactions. Nevertheless, it is impossible to know whether you’re suffering from an autoimmune disease without the proper medical testing. Celiac Disease and a more severe case of Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity can cause similar or nearly identical symptoms.
If you’re experiencing issues with gluten consumption, and tired of feeling sick and tired, I can help. At Women’s Best Health, we recognize that sometimes traditional testing misses the mark when it comes to retrieving a proper diagnosis. Here, we always search for the root cause, and while conventional methods will test the saliva, stool or blood, for one of the major proteins found in wheat (Alpha Gliadin) – there are over 23 more that could be the culprits triggering Celiac or a gluten/wheat allergy. We test for a reaction to multiple proteins, so if your body happens to give off stable results to Alpha Gliadin testing, we will not dismiss you, rather we’ll see whether your issue lies somewhere else.
Contact us if you were tested for gluten sensitivity and were told your test was negative however, you continue to experience health problems. Reach out to us as well if you are currently eating gluten free but still experiencing symptoms. We take a different approach to autoimmune conditions at our office. Rather than suppressing the immune response with drugs, natural treatments are used to support and modulate your body.
If you want to manage the effects gluten may be having on your body, please give our office a call at (954) 782-4855. For more details about how we can help, please visit our website at www.womensbesthealth.com and take control of your gluten intolerance once and for all.