Our garden is off to a great start. All of the seeds germinated well, the seedlings are growing, and we have even been harvesting the quick growing salad greens for fresh organic salads. The greens taste so crisp and flavorful when they are freshly picked and consumed with a few vegetables topped with a healthy dressing.

Many of the herbs have been used for cooking and some of the transplanted strawberry plants have produced berries. The berries are so juicy, no sugar is required. As well, medium sized blueberry bushes that we purchased from a heritage sale have lots of green berries that will eventually turn blue. My children seem to be enjoying the process of watching everything come to life in the garden and are asking many questions about the plants and how long we will have to wait to eat everything, especially the berries.

Our two bunnies haven’t taken an interest in the plants, but our Australian Sheppard is quite interested. Unfortunately, she is attracted to the smell of the mushroom manure and is digging holes throughout the garden. We are not really sure how to distract her from her persistent interest in this soil, we thought we may put some soil in another area of our yard to distract her (it will be her area) from the garden. A small fence around the garden may also help to deter her from this area. Hopefully, these strategies will work. Have you had problems with pets in the garden? If so, how did you deter pets from taking an interest in the garden?

Perennials Currently Blooming In Our Flower garden

Posts I’m Working On Over the Summer

1. Crohn’s Disease And Food Antigens, Is There A Connection?

2. The Celiac Disease And Scoliosis Connection

May 2009, I started to write a 12 part series about celiac disease and gluten intolerance. The series  discusses how gluten can affect each physiological system in the body and the last post includes a symptom checklist (see below). My hope is that this series will empower individuals with the knowledge, information, and references they need to have a meaningful discussion with their doctor. My blog also includes a podcast about diagnosis and all of the ways false negatives can occur. For me, blogging has proven to be a very instrumental way to increase awareness globally. I have found my posts translated into Dutch, Polish, Cantonese, German, and Spanish which is encouraging since undiagnosed CD and gluten intolerance is a global public health problem. As well, I am actively trying to increase awareness through my business (I’m a Celiac Nurse And Gluten Intolerance Consultant), Twitter, Facebook, and Medpedia.

This month, there are many ways that everyone affected by gluten intolerance can increase awareness. Ideas include blogging, using social media, writing in to your local newspaper, sharing information with friends, and participating in the activities or events your local support group has organized. So far, my extra activities this month include volunteering for a local event and sharing a gluten-free recipe (my favorite lemon meringue pie) along with information about CD and gluten intolerance with a BC newspaper. There are so many ways to help. Please share your ideas for increasing awareness below. Perhaps there is another way I can help:)

12 Part Series About Celiac Disease And Gluten Intolerance

1. Part 1 of 12 Part Series: Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Undiagnosed Celiac Disease (includes non-celiac gluten intolerance information at the bottom)

2. Part 2 Of 12 Part Series: Fatigue, Anemia, and Abnormal Bleeding Or Bruising In Undiagnosed Celiac Disease (includes non-celiac gluten intolerance information at the bottom)

3. Part 3 Of 12 Part Series: Sensory Symptoms (Vision, Hearing, Taste, Smell, and Touch)  In Undiagnosed Celiac Disease.

4. Part 4 Of 12 Part Series: Skin Rashes, Hair, And Nail Symptoms In Undiagnosed Celiac Disease (includes non-celiac gluten intolerance)

5. Part 5 Of 12 Part Series: Musculoskeletal (Rickets, Osteomalacia, Osteopenia, Osteoporosis, Arthritis, And Myopathies) Symptoms In Undiagnosed Celiac Disease (includes non-celiac gluten intolerance and allergies)

6. Part 6 Of 12 Part Series: Reproductive (Delayed Puberty, Amenorrhea, Infertility, Impotence, Chronic Pelvic Pain, Fetal Complications, Premature Birth, Miscarriages, And Early Menopause) Symptoms In Undiagnosed Celiac Disease (includes non-celiac gluten intolerance)

7. Part 7 Of 12 Part Series: Urological Symptoms  Associated With Undiagnosed Celiac Disease, A Gluten Sensitivity, Or A Food Allergy/Sensitivity

8. Part 8 Of 12 Part Series: Neurological Symptoms (Ataxia, Neuropathies, Seizures, Migraines, Myopathies, Dementia) With Undiagnosed Celiac Disease, Gluten Intolerance or Sensitivities

9. Part 9 Of 12 Part Series: Psychological And Cognitive Symptoms With Undiagnosed Celiac Disease, Gluten Intolerance or Sensitivities

10. Part 10 Of 12 Part Series: Heart and Lung Symptoms In Undiagnosed Celiac Disease

11. Part 11 of 12 Part Series: List of Diseases/Syndromes Associated With Celiac Disease

12. Part 12 Of 12 Part Series: Celiac Disease And Gluten Intolerance Symptom Checklist 

Many are suffering and quite likely many are dying globally due to undiagnosed celiac disease and gluten intolerance. This breaks my heart when I think of grandparents being lost, couples dealing with infertility or pregnancy issues (potentially leading to loss of a baby), mothers struggling with illness, children with cognitive disabilities that may affect their ability to achieve their potential in life, and many others who are suffering with a variety of misdiagnosis. All of this unnecessary suffering could be prevented with early recognition, diagnosis, and the maintenance of a gluten-free diet. Increasing awareness through a variety of activities can help increase public awareness and help doctors and nurses to include CD and gluten intolerance on their radar while assessing patients. Together, we can all help in our own way to get the 97% that are undiagnosed down to 0.

This idea blossomed because my husband and I have a natural love for gardening, we enjoy unusual colors or types of fruits and vegetables, and we are attempting to eat organic and local as much as possible. My father had a large vegetable garden when I was a young girl. I remember helping him in the garden and recall the wonderful taste of fresh foods and the pleasure of picking something that we grew. Similarly, my husband assisted his parents with their garden and developed his appreciation for gardening and nature through them. Therefore, gardening for us is a hobby that we mutually share, not a chore. We hope to pass this love and knowledge of gardening on to our children so that they can pass it on to their family. I believe it is a valuable skill, teaches our children about botany, and adds to the fresh supply of local produce that we can use to create tasty nutritious dishes for our family. As with most home gardens, all of our home grown produce will be naturally gluten-free.

  We do have one challenge though, our children have two dwarf bunnies, Blossom and Lucas, who share our backyard with us. On nice days they can be seen frolicking around the yard, scooting in and out of our flower plants. I quite like having them there as it adds to the kid’s fun and I have to laugh at their amusing stunts/antics. So far, they haven’t eaten my Hostas or any of my other plants. I hope this continues for our new garden as well. Regardless, they are part of the family so we will have to work around them. There will likely be some other additional challenges that we will encounter as our garden evolves. I look forward to this learning curve and will share our challenges as well as our successes (and pictures) in some future posts.

My Family And I Identified 10 Benefits With Creating And Maintaining An Organic Garden

1. Our love of gardening will be shared with our children. They will learn about designing, planning, and building a garden area. As well, they will learn about water conservation, composting, and how to problem solve when we work through the challenges of organic gardening.

2. Gardening together as a family is a great way to spend some quality time together. You can chat while you are creating. My husband is also building an informal cooking area (rustic Jaimie Oliver style) with benches in the middle of the garden which promotes discussion while preparing food together.

3. We really enjoy picking our fruits and vegetables fresh from the garden. They taste great fresh and we know they have not been artificially ripened (see the movie “Food INC” for more details). Our kids eat snow peas, grapes, lettuce, and tomatoes fresh off the plant while they are playing in the back yard in the summer. This is very nutritious and promotes healthy eating. Their friends join in on play dates.

4. Everything growing in our garden will be 100% gluten-free:)

5. We can grow a wide variety of herbs and fresh fruits/vegetables (with unusual colors) for our gluten-free dishes.

6. It is good for the environment to buy local or grow your own food instead of buying food that has been shipped from miles away. (I still do buy some products such as pineapples and bananas that have been shipped).

7. Organic gardening will provide us with food that is free of pesticides, artificial fertilizers, and that has grown and ripened naturally.

8.The rain barrels will provide chemical-free water for our plants and and helps to conserve water.

9. Composting will help decrease our garbage and will provide nutrient rich fertilizer for our plants. 

10. Hopefully, organic gardening will benefit us financially too since it may be cheaper to grow organic food, than to buy it.

Overall, I’m suspecting the benefits will outweigh the challenges. Once the summer is over and everything has been harvested, then I can evaluate whether organic gardening is worth the time and effort we have invested. If you are an organic gardener or if you have an organic gardening blog, please share tips with us or provide a link to your blog below. Thank you!

Note: If you have a very small backyard or only a sunny balcony to garden on, then container gardening can work well. I have grown snow peas, carrots, tomatoes, and lettuce successfully in pots which was great for my kids when they were young. Each child had their own pot to care for. It was a great learning experience. Many other personal benefits can be gained too. For me, gardening is a way to relax, share, and promote a connection with nature.

My Story

The idea of a blog evolved over time. By the time I was diagnosed in 2004, I was quite ill. I had suffered for 5 years with intermittent IBS, difficult pregnancies, multiple other symptoms, and a variety of diagnosis. I also had 3 little girls, ages 10 months, 2 years, and 4 years. My memory of that time in my life is a bit of a blur. While sick, I tried to find a little time in the evenings once my children were in bed to do some research and one night I came across Celiac Disease. Unfortunately, this is a disease that I only had about 5 minutes of training with in University and it was presented as a childhood disease. The symptoms matched mine so I put myself on a gluten-free diet and felt better. Fortunately, I saw another specialist (I had seen a specialist and had a colonoscopy prior to this) 2 weeks after that and he tested me for CD and everything came back positive. My family was screened and my one daughter’s test came back positive as well.

Since my CD diagnosis, I have been so busy focusing on raising my children, being involved at their school, working at our local hospital and keeping up to date with celiac disease. The sad realization that approximately 97% of individuals with Celiac Disease remain undiagnosed inspired me to fulfill a mission to do my part to increase diagnosis. Working with a variety of patients at the hospital has allowed me to identify potential Celiacs in the hospital population. Many undiagnosed Celiacs have frequent doctors visits and are admitted to the hospital with a variety of diagnosis. I have requested Celiac screening for many patients and luckily the doctors have been receptive to my requests. During this time, I was also mapping out a potential book between 5-6am each morning, prior to my children waking up. Once my youngest entered grade 1, I knew I could begin writing this book (A 12 Part Series About CD And Gluten Intolerance) and I decided to put it on a blog so it would be available free to others globally. I have found my blog translated into a variety of languages on the internet which is very encouraging.

Many are suffering and quite likely many are dying globally due to undiagnosed Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance. This breaks my heart when I think of grandparents being lost, couples dealing with infertility or pregnancy issues (potentially leading to loss of a baby), mothers struggling with illness, children with cognitive disabilities that may affect their ability to achieve their potential in life, and many others who are suffering with a variety of misdiagnosis. This is what I visualized while I wrote the 12 Part Series. I shed tears a number of times just thinking of all the celiac faces. All of this unnecessary suffering could be prevented with early recognition, diagnosis, and the maintenance of a gluten-free diet.

The lack of awareness can be frustrating, but I believe in unimaginable possibilities and that everyone, with Celiac disease and gluten intolerance, can in their own way create change. We can and will get the 97% down to 0!

Shelly

Note: I recommend waiting until CD/gluten sensitivity testing is complete before initiating a gluten-free diet because it may create a false negative. Discuss this with your MD or specialist. Always review your symptoms with a Medical Doctor and your specialists before you make any changes.
If all your celiac tests are negative, then you may still have a gluten intolerance/sensitivity. Celiac disease is only one form of gluten intolerance. Discuss a trial gluten-free diet (and a referral with a registered dietition) with your doctor.

Nanoparticles are very tiny and can be made from a variety of sources. Humans have likely ingested many nanoparticles and other microparticles in their evolutionary past since they are prolific in our environment. However, the future addition of nanoparticles in our food may quantitatively increase our exposure (to high levels we have never experienced before) and, qualitatively, the newly created nanoparticles by mankind may be quite different from the particles we have been exposed to in the past. This qualitative and quantitative change may pose a problem immunologically for everyone, regardless of a gluten intolerance. In one study, with rats (in situ intestinal loop model), the gastrointestinal absorption of micromolecules (size 100 nanometers) was enhanced in comparison to the the larger molecules used in the study. Hypothetically, the same outcome would be found in humans, the extremely small size of the nanoparticles may enhance their absorption and this could lead to an interaction with the immune system (1-5,7-18,20).

For those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, increased bowel permeability may further increase the absorption of nanoparticles. Due to the effects of gluten and zonulin, this first line of defence is altered and the tight junctions in the small intestine become relaxed and open allowing easy entry. An exposure to more and different nanoparticles, combined with a leaky gut, could potentially increase one’s risk for an immune system reaction since the nanoparticles could cross paths with immune factors. Hypothetically, this could trigger the immune system to react unfavourably and lead to more autoimmune diseases, allergies or an intolerance to nanoparticles. As well, the nanoparticles in the bloodstream might travel to organs such as the brain, liver, etc., and cause damage. This seems plausible since we know that the immune system’s exposure to, for example gluten, in many individuals can lead to the same types of damage. It is reasonable to suspect that the immune system’s exposure to nanoparticles could cause similar reactions (10,16-19,20,28).

I also wonder about how nanoparticles may affect gene expression in our cells. Could a possible effect on gene expression increase the prevalence of other diseases? How would this affect our offspring? Overall, there are many mysteries around how our immune systems and genes will respond to these tiny particles and I believe that individuals with celiac disease and gluten intolerance (or others with increased bowel permeability) may be at a higher risk than the general public. This is one topic of interest that I’m going to follow very closely. For now, I’m excited about the future of nanotechnology for other uses, however, I am worried about it’s future presence in our food, toothpaste or even topical lotions (1-5,7-18,20).

Potential side effects should be well researched with large long-term studies. Additional studies evaluating the health risks associated with  the ingestion of nanoparticles in those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance would also be helpful. Adding nanoparticles to food without the proper research could be very costly in the long term. The strain of potential negative side effects on a healthcare system that is already drained financially could be detrimental. The decreased quality of life for those affected could be devastating. Effective research leading to safe usage would likely be more cost effective. As with everything, I believe primary prevention is the key (1,3,4,5,11,14,20).

Extra Information: In individuals that are predisposed to Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance, gluten consumption can lead to increased expression of zonulin (a human protein that is a haptoglobin 2 precursor) in the intestinal tissues. This increases intestinal permeability allowing macromolecules (ex. food antigens, bacterial, viral particles, or potentially future nanoparticles) exposure to the immune system. The immune systems exposure to gluten and the subsequent autoimmune reaction is thought to be responsible for the intestinal and other systemic damage seen in Celiac Disease. Unfortunately, the increased bowel permeability can also increase the risk of developing allergies/intolerances/sensitivities (28).

Links To Nanotechnology Articles (@ AOL News)

1. Andrew Scheider. Part 1: Amid Nanotech’s Dazzling Promise, Health Risks Grow. http://www.aolnews.com/nanotech/article/amid-nanotechs-dazzling-promise-health-risks-grow/19401235 

2. Andrew Scheider. Part 2: Regulated Or Not, Nano-Foods Coming To A Store Near You. http://www.aolnews.com/nanotech/article/regulated-or-not-nano-foods-coming-to-a-store-near-you/19401246

3. Andrew Scheider. Part 3: Obsession With Nanotech Growth Stymies Regulators.  http://www.aolnews.com/nanotech/article/obsession-with-nanotech-growth-stymies-regulators/19401712 

References

1. Andrew Schneider. The Nanotech Gamble: AOL News Key Findings. http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/the-nanotech-gamble-aol-news-key-findings-on-nanotechnology/19410735

2. Primer: How Nanotechnology Works http://www.aolnews.com/nanotech/article/hold-primer-how-nanotechnology-works/19404258

3. Andrew Scheider. Part 1: Amid Nanotech’s Dazzling Promise, Health Risks Grow. www.aolnews.com

4. Andrew Scheider. Part 2: Regulated Or Not, Nano-Foods Coming To A Store Near You. www.aolnews.com

5. Andrew Scheider. Part 3: Obsession With Nanotech Growth Stymies Regulators. www.aolnews.com

6. Nanorobotics. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanorobotics

7. Nanotechnology. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotechnology

8. Cristina Buzea, Ivan Pacheco, and Kevin Robbie (2007). "Nanomaterials and Nanoparticles: Sources and Toxicity". Biointerphases 2: MR17.

9. Shetty RC (2005). "Potential pitfalls of nanotechnology in its applications to medicine: immune incompatibility of nanodevices". Med Hypotheses 65 (5): 998–9.

10. Elder, A. (2006). Tiny Inhaled Particles Take Easy Route From Nose To Brain.   http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/index.cfm?id=1191

11. Jianhong Wu, Wei Liu, Chenbing Xue, Shunchang Zhou, Fengli Lan, Lei Bi, Huibi Xu, Xiangliang Yang and Fan-Dian Zeng. Toxicity and penetration of TiO₂ nanoparticles in hairless mice and porcine skin after subchronic dermal exposure. http://tinyurl.com/yfuyh5m  

12. Effects of Nanotubes May Lead to Cancer, Study Says. http://tinyurl.com/n4po7e

13. Nanoparticles used in paint could kill, research suggests. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6016639/Nanoparticles-used-in-paint-could-kill-research-suggests.html

14. Faunce TA et al. Sunscreen Safety: The Precautionary Principle, The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration and Nanoparticles in Sunscreens Nanoethics (2008) 2:231–240 DOI

15. Nanotechnology http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/TechnologyDevelopment/Nanotechnology/index.cfm

16. Manisha P. Desetwar, Gordon L. Amidon, and Robert J. Levy. Gastrointestinal Uptake Of Biodegradable Microparticles: Effect Of Particle Size. Pharmaceutical Research vol13, No 12, 1196. http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41451/1/11095_2004_Article_306778.pdf 

17. Jonathan J. Powell, Nuno Faria, Emma Thomas-McKay and Laetitia C. Pele. Origin and fate of dietary nanoparticles and microparticles in the gastrointestinal tract. Journal of Autoimmunity Volume 34, Issue 3, May 2010, Pages J226-J233. http://tinyurl.com/ygx89k5

18. Florence AT, Hussain N: Transcytosis of nanoparticle and dendrimer delivery systems: evolving vistas. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2001, 50:S69-S89. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

19. Hussain N, Jaitley V, Florence AT: Recent advances in the understanding of uptake of microparticulates across the gastrointestinal lymphatics. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2001, 50:107-142. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

20. Peter HM Hoet, Irene Brüske-Hohlfeld and Oleg V Salata. Nanoparticles – known and unknown health risks. Journal of Nanobiotechnology 2004, 2:12. http://www.jnanobiotechnology.com/content/2/1/12

21. Micheal Roukes. Plenty Of Room Indeed. Scientific American Reports. Volume 17, Number 3, 2007.

22. George M. Whitesides and J. Christopher Love. The Art Of Biulding Small. Scientific American Reports. Volume 17, Number 3, 2007.

23. Ehud Shapiro and Yaakov Benenson. Bringing DNA Computers To Life. Scientific American Reports. Volume 17, Number 3, 2007.

24. George gruner. Carbon Nanonets Spark New Electronics. Scientific American Reports. Volume 17, Number 3, 2007.

25. Harry A. Atwater. The Promise Of Plasmonics. Scientific American Reports. Volume 17, Number 3, 2007.

26. A. Paul Alivisatos. Less Is More In Medicine. Scientific American Reports. Volume 17, Number 3, 2007.

27. Charles M. Lieber. The Incredible shrinking Circuit. Scientific American Reports. Volume 17, Number 3, 2007.

28. School of Medicine News: University of Maryland School of Medicine Scientists Pinpoint Critical Molecule to Celiac, Possibly Other Autoimmune Disorders. Tuesday, September 29, 2009. http://somvweb.som.umaryland.edu/absolutenm/templates/?a=915

In humans, we know that gluten containing grains can be difficult to digest and can cause increased bowel permeability possibly leading to an immune reaction. I suspect that dog food with gluten containing grains could be difficult for dogs to digest as well. Overall, I believe dog food with added grains is a change from the diet that dog’s ancestors ate and could cause an immune reaction. Zoo keepers have long recognized that each of their animals should eat a diet that is similar to their ancestor’s diet. As well, the animals are healthier if they eat the same food that they ingested in their original habitat. A change in diet could make the zoo animals sick. Theoretically, the same ideology could be applicable to dogs.

Gluten and/or dairy can cause a variety of multisystem (ex. nervous system, skin, joints, bowels, etc) related symptoms in humans. For a more thorough description of possible symptoms, visit my 12 part series about celiac and gluten intolerance symptoms. Hypothetically, an immune reaction could cause similar symptoms in dogs. If your dog has health problems that you think may be related to gluten, talk to your veterinarian about trying a gluten-free (or grain-free) and dairy-free diet for a few months to see if an improvement occurs. The potential increased quality of life and savings in veterinarian bills might be well worth the change. I found that the grain-free diet was actually cheaper than the previous formula I was using.

Our dog, an Australian Sheppard (Aussie), consumes a grain-free diet. This change was inspired by our gluten-free lifestyle. Since we eat gluten-free, it seemed like a good idea to make our dog’s diet grain-free to decrease our potential exposure to gluten. This change had a few pleasant side effects. Prior to eating grain-free, our Aussie had a little arthritis in her one hip, excess gas at times, occasional looser stools, and would vomit small amounts of whitish emesis or her dog food at least once a week. Once grain-free, her coat became shinier, and the gas, vomiting, loose stools and arthritis resolved. I was quite happy to see this improvement and to me it made sense. Dogs have canine teeth for a reason. After all, have you ever seen a dog chewing on a bushel of wheat (or any other grain)?

Note: Please review all your dog’s health problems with a veterinarian and get approval before changing your dog’s diet. If a gluten-free or grain-free diet does not remove your dog’s symptoms, then ask your veterinarian about whether other food allergies may be the cause. I wish you the best!

While we were there we ventured out 3 times to an organic vegan restaurant called “Real Food Daily”. We are not vegan, but found out that this restaurant has a few gluten-free items on their menu and since the menu is vegan, apparently, there are no dairy ingredients. The chance of having a pleasant, safe, gluten-free, dairy-free dining experience appeared promising.

When we arrived, we informed the waitress that we were gluten-free. She knew exactly what gluten-free was and checked every ingredient carefully for us. Due to her knowledge level, I could relax and really enjoy my meal. I ordered the real food meal which consisted of brown rice, beans, greens, land and sea vegetables, pressed salad, and the house dressing. I substituted extra vegetables for the brown rice since I seem to be sensitive to rice. It was absolutely delicious and I felt great and energetic afterwards.

My daughter, with celiac disease, ordered the gluten-free pizza. This pizza consisted of a herb corn meal crust, sun dried tomato pesto, sliced tomatoes, spinach, basil, melted cashew and mozzarella cheeses (from soy), sautéed daily greens, and cannelini beans. A very healthy pizza for a growing girl. She loved it! I didn’t try it because I have a corn sensitivity, but I did try the dairy-free cheese and it tasted delicious.

My other two children ordered the mashed potatoes with beans and vegetables which they enjoyed.

Now, for the creamy, melt in your mouth, chocolate GLUTEN-FREE, RICE-FREE, CORN-FREE, DAIRY-FREE CAKE! I felt speechless and almost fell off my chair when the waitress told me that it was indeed free of all those things. I felt good afterwards and didn’t experience any ill effects. My family equally enjoyed this tasty, delicious, chocolaty piece of paradise.

A very large gluten-free chocolate chip cookie was also available and my other daughter (a very experienced food critic) said it was very good.

Currently, Real Food Daily is located at two locations in Santa Monica and West Hollywood. We enjoyed both restaurants equally and will eagerly return for another pleasurable dining experience when we are in the Los Angeles area again. The owner, currently Ann Gentry, has a blog and she has a book (The Real Food Daily Cookbook) available as well. In my opinion, this owner should be congratulated for her efforts to increase the health of her customers during their dining experiences at her restaurants. We need more lovely restaurants like this who are willing to step up and contribute to the overall health of all (and that is not just the chocolate cake talking-lol)!.

Note: Please check the ingredients carefully with the chef and waitress at this restaurant each time you visit since ingredients and the menu could change. I hope your experience is as wonderful as mine!

Erin Elberson, a fitness blogger from sunny Florida, USA, contacted me in January and inquired about my interest in this series. I was very excited about this venture with Erin since I had not covered the basic pathophysiology, an analysis of diagnosis, or my experiences with the gluten-free diet yet. Thanks to Erin, this series of podcasts gave me the perfect opportunity to accomplish that goal and to hopefully present it in a more interesting way through podcasting. Erin also has celiac disease and manages a wonderful blog called “Gluten Free Fitness”. She has her Master’s degree in Physical Therapy, a Bachelor’s in Health Science, and is an amateur Figure competitor. Through her blog, Erin advocates good nutrition and fitness habits to improve quality of life and health.

If you would like to listen to this podcast, click http://www.glutenfreefitness.com/gff-and-wellness-podcast-4-part-3-of-3-interview-with-shelly-stuart-gluten-free-rn/

Blogs That Discuss A Low Carbohydrate Or Grain-Free Diet

As discussed in the podcast, I eat a grain-free diet. These resources discuss low carbohydrate and grain-free diets, however, please re-assess each article yourself to ensure all information and recipes are gluten-free. I encourage everyone to have their symptoms thoroughly investigated by their MD and specialists and receive approval before implementing a therapeutic diet or making any changes. A Registered Dietitian can provide guidance to ensure all nutritional needs are met.

1. Mark’s Daily Apple http://www.marksdailyapple.com/

2. Dr. Loren Cordain, Ph.D. http://www.thepaleodiet.com/aboutus/profile.shtml

The Paleo Diet (about page) http://www.thepaleodiet.com/aboutus/

3. Dr. Micheal Eades  http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/

4. Dr. Jay Wortman http://www.drjaywortman.com/

Erin Elberson, a fitness blogger from sunny Florida, USA, contacted me in January and inquired about my interest in this series. I was very excited about this venture with Erin since I have not covered the basic pathophysiology, an analysis of diagnosis, or my experiences with the gluten-free diet yet. Thanks to Erin, this series of podcasts gave me the perfect opportunity to accomplish that goal and to hopefully present it in a more interesting way through podcasting. Erin also has celiac disease and manages a wonderful blog called “Gluten Free Fitness”. She has her Master’s degree in Physical Therapy, a Bachelor’s in Health Science, and is an amateur Figure competitor. Through her blog, Erin advocates good nutrition and fitness habits to improve quality of life and health.

If you would like to listen to this podcast, please click http://www.glutenfreefitness.com/podcast-episode-3-shelly-stuart-celiac-nurse-interview-part-2/

For most of our lives, my mother and I only had one major symptom which was anemia (the rest of our symptoms were vague). My daughter only had stomach aches. Once I became more ill, then I had a variety of symptoms. I believe that everyone who requests a celiac screen should receive it and this belief has led to this post. The celiac home test provides a nice option for those people who believe they may have celiac disease due to their own symptoms or due to the presence of celiac disease in a relative.

Transglutaminase is an enzyme that has an affinity for undigested gluten and deamidates (alters) it into a form that is toxic for those with the genetic predisposition for celiac disease. The immune system reacts, antibodies are created, and these antibodies tag transglutaminase for destruction. This test measures the presence of IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies in your blood. For this test, you will need to obtain a fingertip blood sample with the small sterile lancet that is supplied in the package. The results are apparent within 10 minutes with a clear yes or no. Click here to view the video instructions supplied by 2G Pharma.

10% Celiac Home Test Discount

2G Pharma is offering a 10% discount for Canadian orders as long as you use my promo code (REF-SS) when you place your order. As well, 2G Pharma is generously paying me 10% with each order which will help sponsor this blog. Click here if you are interested in ordering this test.  For US inquiries, please call 1-866-838-1911.

What If The Test Result is Positive?

If your result is positive, continue eating your regular gluten containing diet, print out 2G Pharma’s Dear Doctor Letter for your doctor to help explain the test results, and see your doctor (I suggest taking the test with you as well). The doctor can do further testing and make appropriate referrals for bloodwork, other diagnostic tests, and to other professionals. As well, talk to your relatives about screening (since their risk has increased with your diagnosis) and request that your physician take steps to screen your children.

What If The Results Are Negative?

There are a number of reasons why this test may give a negative result. If an individual has an IgA deficiency, then a false negative test result could occur. In this situation, an IgG anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody test could be used (as long as you don’t have an IgG deficiency). Secondly, this home test (IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase) result tends to parallel the amount of intestinal damage present. If you have a gluten intolerance with very little or no bowel involvement, then the result could be negative. Some people with gluten intolerance have very atypical symptoms with no bowel involvement. Thirdly, some individuals have latent celiac disease and the test may show a negative result a few times before there is enough bowel damage (and antibodies) to show a positive result.  Fourthly, with very young children, this test might be negative since they may not have high enough antibody levels to show up on the test yet. Fifthly, for an accurate result, the person using the home test should be eating gluten regularly. The antibodies necessary for testing may not be present if gluten is not being consumed. Overall, I believe this home test can help rule you in (as having celiac disease), but it can’t entirely rule you out.

A complete panel of bloodwork is needed to help rule out Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance. The celiac panel includes:

1. IgA and IgG anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody test

2. Endomysial antibody test

3. Total serum IgA test

4. Total serum IgG test

5. Antibodies against deamidated gluten

6. IgA and IgG antigliadin antibodies

7. Skin biopsy for skin rashes

8. Small intestinal biopsies

9. Genetic testing

If the above tests are negative, then ask your doctor about a referral to receive testing for food allergies and intolerances or you can go to a naturopathic doctor for this. Other tests will likely be ordered to investigate your symptoms. As well, for a variety of reasons, false negatives can occur with the panel of celiac tests. Discuss (with your doctor) the possibility of trying a gluten free diet to see if it provides some relief.  If you choose to try a gluten-free diet, then ask your doctor for a referral to a registered dietician for advise and guidance. I hope this information helps and I wish you the best!

References

1. Dr. Stephen Wangen. Healthier Without Wheat. Innate Health Publishing, 2009.

2. Cleo J. Libonati, RN. Recognizing Celiac Disease. Gluten Free Works Publishing, 2007.

3. Dr. Peter Green and Rory Jones. Celiac Disease A Hidden Epidemic. Collins, 2006.

4. M Hadjivassiliou, RA Grünwald, GAB Davies-Jones. Gluten Sensitivity As A Neurological Illness. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2002:72:560-563.

5. Marios Hadjivassiliou, Richard Grünwald. The Neurology Of Gluten Sensitivity: Science vs Conviction. Pract Neurol 2004,4:124-127.

6. Canadian Celiac Association.  http://www.celiac.ca

7. Wm K. Warren Medical Research Center For Celiac Disease. http://celiaccenter.ucsd.edu/

8. Dr. Peter Green. The Celiac Disease Centre’s Channel. Videos

Part 1:  http://www.youtube.com/user/CeliacDiseaseCenter#p/c/E4747F2C9D008E6D/0/r8LwNCGcBKY

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/user/CeliacDiseaseCenter#p/c/E4747F2C9D008E6D/1/qxLF4BAU_Vo

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/user/CeliacDiseaseCenter#p/c/E4747F2C9D008E6D/1/qxLF4BAU_Vo

9. Dr, Suzanne Lewis. The Celiac Disease Centre’s Channel. Videos

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/user/CeliacDiseaseCenter#p/c/E4747F2C9D008E6D/3/_4yX7x0ddec

Part2: http://www.youtube.com/user/CeliacDiseaseCenter#p/c/E4747F2C9D008E6D/4/wkdcIrImCDM

Part3: http://www.youtube.com/user/CeliacDiseaseCenter#p/c/E4747F2C9D008E6D/5/DPNuu3d6GJo

10. Dr. Christina Tennyson. The Celiac Disease Centre’s Channel. Videos

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/user/CeliacDiseaseCenter#p/c/E4747F2C9D008E6D/9/bL9RJhZjuyg

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/user/CeliacDiseaseCenter#p/c/E4747F2C9D008E6D/10/cQmYYwMpeNc

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/user/CeliacDiseaseCenter#p/c/E4747F2C9D008E6D/11/bhkzesfqh_k

11. Carina Lagerqvist, Ingrid Dahlbom, Tony Hansson, Erik Jidell, Per Juto, Per Olcen, Hans Stenlund, Olle Hernell, Anneli Ivarsson. Antigliadin Immunoglobulin A Best In Finding Celiac Disease In Children Younger Than 18 Months. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2008 Oct;47 (5):428-435.

12. Prause, Christian; Ritter, Maria; Probst, Christian; Daehnrich, Cornelia; Schlumberger, Wolfgang; Komorowski, Lars; Lieske, Ruediger; Richter, Thomas; Hauer, Almuthe C; Stern, Martin; Uhlig, Holm H; Laass, Martin W; Zimmer, Klaus-Peter; Mothes, Thomas. Antibodies Against Deamidated Gliadin as New and Accurate Biomarkers of Childhood Coeliac Disease. Journal Of Pediatric Gastroenterology And Nutrition. July 2009-Volume 49-Issue 1-p 52-58.

13. GR Corazza And V Villanacci. Coeliac Disease. J Clin Pathol. 2005 June; 58(6): 573-574.

14. Jill Stein. Marsh Grading System Not A Good Gauge Of Coeliac Disease Severity: Presented At UEGW. www.docguide.com