The Huffington Post published an eye-opening article yesterday that discussed the dangers of gluten to anyone enjoying a traditional “American diet.” This quote, in particular, caught my eye:

“A recent large study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that people with diagnosed, undiagnosed, and “latent” celiac disease or gluten sensitivity had a higher risk of death, mostly from heart disease and cancer.”

To me, that seems like the type of statement that should strike fear into anyone who feels that they may have celiac or any sort of gluten intolerance. And yet, I know several people who have the symptoms of a gluten intolerance who resist the urge to try out a gluten free diet or even visit the doctor to find out if it is something they may have. Is it fear that prevents people from trying to find out the truth? Will it cost them too much money? Is it sheer laziness? They say that this condition is hereditary, yet members of my own family, who have very similar symptoms to me, still refuse to accept celiac as a possibility for their ailments. When I dropped gluten from my diet, many of my chronic aches and pains went away, my immune system kept me healthier, I lost almost 20 pounds and I even stopped snoring. I’m guessing the snoring was an offshoot of the weight loss, but I digress.

I know several people who have been told that they needed to have their gall bladders removed. After receiving a second opinion and removing gluten from their diet, they never needed any kind of surgery and they feel great. This should be a huge red flag about the possible dangers of gluten.

This article is a must read. You can find it here. I want to thank Mark Hyman, MD for shedding a bright light on this topic. Please share it with anyone you feel may have Celiac disease or who just wants to eat healthier. Let’s continue to spread the word that the gluten free lifestyle is about more than feeling good, it’s about living a long, healthy life.

diet, Health