Gluten and US
Over the years, I\’ve listened to many of my patients complain of one disorder after another, from acne to thyroid disease and from bloating and diarrhea to sinus disorders. These patients have shopped for doctors, trying to find one that could help them, but no one seems to find out what\’s wrong.
Every once and a while, someone smart: a neighbor, friend or perhaps if they are lucky a doctor who understands, figures out that gluten might be the culprit.
You average physician was never trained in anything more than diagnosing diseases. We had lectures on a type of gluten-induced intestinal disorder called celiac disease and we learned that to diagnose it, you did a blood test and looked for antibodies. If the test was negative, you didn\’t have it. At least that\’s what we were taught.
Today, we know that there are over 20 so-called gluten-related antibodies that can cause problems for the patients who have them. This group of disorders comprise the gluten intolerance category that affects millions of people around the world. It\’s not a simple matter of dropping bread off the menu any more.
Many of our stores have carried products labeled \”Gluten Free\” and millions of unsuspecting consumers believed what they read. But the truth is that most things labeled \”Gluten Free\” are really \”Wheat Free\” only, but may contain relatives to wheat that can be problematic.
Recently, our FDA issued a new guideline that required products with the label \”Gluten Free\” to have 20 parts or less per million to carry that label. This will go a long way to eliminating products from the shelves that don\’t belong in the \”Gluten Free\” isle, however companies still have 1 year to comply with the new ruling.
If you are suffering from seemingly mystery symptoms that your doctor tends to disregard, we may be able to help identify the cause so you can do something about it and live a symptom free life again.
Our comprehensive testing allows us to pinpoint which of the gluten related antigens you may be sensitive to.
Don’t hesitate to give us a call and let us evaluate you for this common but usually overlooked condition.