Gluten Free Diet Not Just for Celiac Disease
Used for Weight Loss, Autism, ADHD, Wheat Intolerance and More
Aug 21, 2009
Celiac disease diagnosis is one great reason to avoid gluten, but it’s certainly not the only reason to follow a gluten free diet. Gluten intolerance is increasing throughout the world, and millions are discovering that eating wheat and other foods that contain gluten is causing problems for them.
Reasons to Go Gluten Free
Gluten is a type of protein that Alessio Fasano, M.D., calls "useless" to the human body. At best, it is filler that is taking the place of nutritious food; at worst, it is a poison that is causing the body to self-destruct. Dr. Fasano is Director of the Mucosal Biology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine.
A gluten free, casein free diet is often prescribed by Kenneth Bock, M. D., for patients who have Autism, ADHD, asthma or allergies. In his book, Healing the New Childhood Epidemics (Ballantine, 2007), he explains that gluten and casein are proteins that cause problems in the body, triggering the immune system.
Gluten Free Diet May be Among Natural Cures for Diabetes and Other Medical Conditions
A gfcf diet can help improve symptoms associated with many medical conditions. Examples of conditions that might be helped by the diet are fibromyalgia and diabetes. A gluten free diet may make it easier to control blood sugar levels, according to Donna Korn in Living Gluten Free for Dummies (Wiley, 2006).
The desire to improve a chronic disease may prompt some to go gluten free. A gluten free diet might also help those who haven’t been diagnosed with a chronic disease, but are suffering from various symptoms such as headache, constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, or acid reflux.
Gluten Free Casein Free Diet Can be Healthy and Easy to Follow
Removing gluten from the diet may be enough for some people, but many people will need to remove both gluten and casein from their diet to see improvement in their symptoms. According to "Celiac Disease: Wheat Ails You?" on the American Diabetes Association website, many who have problems with gluten also need to avoid dairy products.
Following a gluten-free, casein-free diet (gfcf diet) can be complicated, but it does not have to be. Increasing numbers of food manufacturers such as Pamela's Products and even Betty Crocker are producing foods that are safe to eat. Substitute foods may be tasty, but are not necessary for a healthy diet.
A simple diet of unprocessed fruits, vegetables, and protein sources such as legumes, fish and meat is naturally gluten free and casein free. Eating nutritious whole foods is healthier than eating processed foods. If packaged foods are purchased, reading and knowing ingredients on food labels is a must. Milk ingredients and gluten ingredients are hidden in many foods.
Consult a Medical Professional Before Going Gluten Free
Only a medical professional can give medical advice, and it is always best to consult a medical practitioner such as a doctor prior to making any changes in diet or exercise. Suite101.com, while making every effort to present accurate information, is not a source of medical advice.
Going gluten free before consulting a doctor is not advisable for those who want a medical diagnosis. Some sources, such as the American Diabetes Association article mentioned above, say that trying a gluten free diet might help to convince a doctor (that a patient has celiac disease), but consulting a professional prior to making dietary changes is especially important if celiac disease, wheat allergy, gluten allergy, or gluten intolerance is suspected. Why? Staff at the Mayo Clinic say that cutting gluten and/or casein before being tested can invalidate the medical test results. Antibodies and intestinal damage can only be detected when a person has been eating the offending foods.
When gluten (and/or casein) is removed from the diet, the body will begin to heal, and will cease production of the substances for which the doctors will test. Conceivably, even confirmed celiacs could "pass" the typical screening tests after being on a gluten free diet. If a medical diagnosis is needed, patients should consult a doctor before making dietary changes in order to avoid interefering with an accurate diagnosis.
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