What is Gluten and why does it hurt some people?

In the 70' it was cool  to become a Vegetarian, in the 80's people were about  how environmentally friendly it was. In the 90's it was popular to be a Vegan, nothing with a face. Now it seems to be trendy to be Gluten-Free. 


Living Gluten-Free is not about being trendy, or living with an food allergy. With an allergy it infers that you can pop some anti histamine or medication to manage it.


It is about having a toxic reaction to gluten, which is a protein found in specific grains. It is hereditary, you can pass this to your children and is likely that another family member had it. It is an autoimmune problem which means it will cause the body to attack itself. It is also chronic in that it is life-long. 

Definition (Canadian Celiac Association)

Celiac disease is a medical condition in which the absorptive surface of the small intestine is damaged by a substance called gluten. This results in an inability of the body to absorb nutrients: protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, which are necessary for good health.

Although statistics are not readily available, it is estimated that 1 in 133 persons in Canada are affected by celiac disease.

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, triticale, barley. In the case of wheat, gliadin has been isolated as the toxic fraction. It is the gluten in the flour that helps bread and other baked goods bind and prevents crumbling. This feature has made gluten widely used in the production of many processed and packaged foods.


At present there is no cure, but celiac disease is readily treated by following the gluten-free diet.



Common symptoms are anemia, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, cramps and bloating, irritability.

In other cases, sufferers from gluten-intolerance develop an intense burning and itching rash called dermatitis herpetiformis. The intestinal symptoms of celiac disease may or may not appear in dermatitis herpetiformis.



Is there a cure?
Not yet. However, research efforts continue. But celiac disease can be controlled. Strict adherence to the GLUTEN-FREE DIET is essential for good health.

(www.canadianceiacassociation.com)

There are also other diseases that seem to go hand in hand with having Celiac go undiagnosed. These include:

• infertility and spontaneous miscarriages
• inetestinal cancers
• anemia
• osteoporosis
• vitamin deficiencies
• thyroid problems
• fibromyalgia
• type 1 diabetes
• rhumatoid arthritis

It is important to note that Celiac disease has been found to influence mood and behavior disorders including:

• ADHD
• Bipolar disorder 
• Depression

It has also been linked to Autism spectrum disorders. It is being studied currently if living gluten-free can improve the condition.