A summary of a recent Living Without article May 7, 2012
Any time you have a medically ordered dietary restriction, life changes. Things that most people take for granted, such as grabbing a quick snack while out and about or enjoying the buffet at the office party, become potentially life-threatening adventures. There is so much information, and mis-information, about living with celiac disease. How do you sort through the constant barrage of gluten-free data?
I recently read an excellent article in Living Without where they lay out seven of the top myths associated with Celiac Disease. The article is long but well worth the read and I wanted to provide a quick summary of the questions and the realities and encourage you to read the full article, especially if you are new to the world of gluten-free living.
1. Can I outgrow celiac disease? No. It’s an autoimmune disease and as such you can manage the symptoms and even go into a form of remission where the disease appears to be inactive and you may not experience immediate symptoms when ingesting gluten. However, the reaction may be delayed and can cause long-term intestinal damage.
2. If I feel better, do I really need to keep up with annual testing? It is highly recommended that anyone with a true celiac diagnosis maintain optimal health with annual testing. Specifically, the following tests should be performed each year:
- Celiac Antibody Test (It is recommended that anyone who was quite sick prior to diagnosis, may require more frequent testing.
- Nutrient Testing by blood test to determine any nutritional deficiencies. The damage done to the intestinal track as a result of celiac disease can hinder the body’s ability to absorb necessary vitamins and minerals.
3. How can I find a qualified gluten-free practitioner (doctor, nutritionist etc.) to help with my gluten-free diet? Research, research and more research. As with finding any health-care practitioner, do your due diligence. Search for someone who is licensed, experienced and was trained in a credible program. The article recommends asking the following questions:
- Are you a registered dietician?
- How much expertise do you have working with celiac patients?
- How many celiac/gluten-intolerant patients have you treated?
- How long have you been treating celiac disease?
- Patience – You may need to give your body more time to heal
- Related medical issues: malnourishment, bacterial overgrowth or other associated medical conditions may be impeding your progress
- Concurrent food intolerance– Many celiacs have additional food sensitivities or allergies such as lactose intolerance
- Misdiagnosis– If you have no relief after implementing a gluten-free diet, you may need additional testing to determine an accurate diagnosis.
- Inadvertent gluten intake – This is the number one reason for slow or no recovery. You may need the help of a qualified and experienced practitioner to assist you in completely eliminating gluten from your diet
5. What’s up with my other food sensitivities? It is possible that the intestinal damage done by untreated celiac disease can create food intolerances to other items such as corn and dairy. Some of these reactions may be temporary and may subside as your intestinal tract heals. It is highly recommended that an experienced. specially trained dietician, along with your physician, monitor and manage your special dietary needs.
6. How can I travel and maintain my gluten-free diet? The good news is that more and more restaurants offer gluten-free options. However, the reality is that anyone with severe dietary restrictions will have to adjust to some new rules. Preparation and planning will go along way towards making traveling for business or pleasure less stressful. Pack some food that you know you can eat. Check out the LivingWithout.com/travel section to read about international gluten-free travel tips.
7. How can I afford this gluten-free lifestyle? Everything gluten-free seems to cost twice as much. The best way to manage the costs of gluten-free living is to use the freshest, least processed food available, cook at home, utilize gluten-free mixes, buy in bulk, fill the freezer and learn about labels.
