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| What is the difference between Gluten intolerance and Celiac Disease? |
Gluten intolerance is a broad term which includes all kinds of sensitivity to Gluten. A small proportion of Gluten intolerant people will test positive to Celiac Disease test, and so are called Celiacs (~0.5% of the population).
But most Gluten sensitive people return negative or inconclusive results upon Celiac testing. The correct term for these people is Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitive (NCGS) and may be as many as ~15% of all people or 1 in 7.
The most accurate and effective way to identify NCGS is to do an Elimination Diet or our easy version the Detection Diet in The Tuesday Club |
Celiac Disease (CD) was the first type of Gluten sensitivity for which diagnostic testing was devised - in the 1940s.
Although Celiac testing is still used in many clinics as a first test for Gluten sensitivity, it only picks up the small percentage of Gluten-sensitive people who are Celiac.
It misses the NCGS patients. Consequently this latter group is poorly diagnosed and misses out on discovering the simple and drug-free remedy of a Gluten-free diet for a dramatic recovery.
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| What is Gluten and which foods have it? |
Gluten is a highly complex protein that occurs in four main grains: Wheat, rye, barley and oats.
Gluten is present in all types of Wheat grain like whole grain wheat, wheat bran, spelt, triticale and others.
This means Gluten is also present in all baked foods that are made from these grains: bread, pies, cake, breakfast cereals, porridge, cookies, pizza and pasta. There are thousands of processed foods which contain Gluten.
To eat Gluten-free safely you'll need a comprehensive guidebook like the Compleat Guide to Gluten-free in The Tuesday Club
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Gluten is one of the most complex proteins consumed by man. It is a very large molecule relative to other food molecules and for that reason is difficult for the human digestive system to break down.
Problems begin when it reaches the small intestine. In sensitive individuals Gluten actually tears holes in the lining of the gut, creating Leaky Gut Syndrome.
This allows foreign particles (whatever is in the gut, including bacteria) into the bloodstream. Of course that sets the body's immune system on 'high alert' - resulting in your symptoms.
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| How common are Gluten intolerance and Celiac Disease? |
Around ½% of the world's population is Celiac. This means ~1 in 200 people.
However new evidence shows Non-Celiac Gluten intolerance is around 30 times more prevalent. Up to 15% of people or 1 in 7 are Gluten Sensitive and suffer the same symptoms. These are people who test negative or inconclusive for Celiac Disease. They are known as Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitive (NCGS).
The most accurate and clinically effective way to identify NCGS is the Elimination Diet.
All Gluten sensitive people improve dramatically on a Gluten-free diet, found in The Tuesday Club |
Diagnosis of Gluten intolerance in elderly patients is disproportionately high. This is because it is misdiagnosed and under-diagnosed by doctors.
The symptoms of both Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) and Celiac Disease (CD) become worse with age if left undiagnosed.
However sufferers improve dramatically within weeks on a Gluten-free diet.
Could this be you? Check your symptoms in the Symptoms Matrix (you must register first) |
| What are the symptoms of Gluten intolerance and Celiac Disease? |
Many people suffer from headaches, mouth ulcers, weight gain or weight loss, poor immunity to disease, and skin problems like dermatitis and eczema.
But the common and well-known Gluten intolerance symptoms are gastro-intestinal (diarrhoea, flatulence, bloating etc.).
Also associated are miscarriage and infertility and malabsorption problems like anaemia. See the Symptoms Matrix (you must register first)
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Because the symptoms overlap with many other ailments, Gluten intolerance can be missed or misdiagnosed.
Even the medical fraternity concedes Gluten intolerance is poorly diagnosed.
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| How are Gluten intolerance and Celiac Disease identified? |
All Gluten intolerance is easily identified by an Elimination Diet. However many people turn to blood tests as a first investigation. Because the most common test for Gluten intolerance is still the old-fashioned Celiac test (blood tests and intestinal biopsy), most Gluten intolerant people return a 'negative' or inconclusive test.
That's not surprising because Celiac Disease is a very small part of Gluten intolerance.
But the easy version of the Elimination diet, the Detection Diet in The Tuesday Club will always find Gluten intolerance. We guarantee it or your money back.
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Celiac Disease (CD) was the first type of Gluten sensitivity for which a diagnostic testing procedure was devised - in the 1940s.
Although Celiac testing is still used in many clinics as a first test for Gluten sensitivity, it only picks up the small percentage of Gluten-sensitive people who are Celiac.
It misses the Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitive patients. Consequently this latter group is poorly diagnosed and misses out on discovering the simple and drug-free remedy of a Gluten-free diet for a dramatic recovery.
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| How did I get Gluten intolerance? |
Gluten intolerance - both NCGS and Celiac Disease is 'in the family', or genetically inherited. Indicators are European or Anglo-Celtic ancestry.
If you are Gluten intolerant, then up to 10% of the immediate family will also be affected, even if they don't have any symptoms.
Could this be you? Find out with the Symptoms Matrix (you must register first) |
Some Gluten intolerance is identified in children.
But for others, it is not until much later in life that Gluten intolerance is actually suspected.
Frequently it is triggered by some life event like divorce, job loss or serious illness.
One initial indicator can be persistent anaemia. See Symptoms Matrix.
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| How are Gluten intolerance and Celiac Disease treated? |
No drugs or therapies are needed to treat Gluten sensitivity. The best treatment is to exclude Gluten for life.
This means a Gluten-free diet and the exclusion of all foods and pharmaceuticals that contain Gluten.
Fortunately thousands of new Gluten-free products become available every year.
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Gluten-free foods and pharmaceuticals are now commonly available.
But to eat Gluten-free with confidence, you need to read all labels and understand the traps. A comprehensive guidebook like The Compleat Guide to Gluten-free in The Tuesday Club is an invaluable reference. |
| When will I be cured from Gluten intolerance or Celiac Disease? |
You don't need a cure, just a different diet. Gluten sensitivity is just the way some people are. Like having blue eyes or freckles.
For your freckles you stay out of the sun. For your Gluten intolerance, you avoid Gluten.
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After just a few weeks on a gluten-free diet symptoms diminish or disappear completely.
Also many Gluten sensitive people report feeling better than they have for years.
How to go Gluten-free? We have The Compleat Guide to Gluten-free in The Tuesday Club. |
Gluten is one of the most complex proteins consumed by man - and is therefore extremely difficult to digest. This is why babies first introduced to solid foods are not given wheat. They are started on a thin porridge of rice because their tiny digestive tract can process it easily.
People with Gluten intolerance are unable to digest gluten – a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. In fact in Celiacs this protein actually attacks the lining of the small intestine causing damage that flattens out the tiny villi (finger-like protrusions which provide most of the surface area for nutrient absorption.)
Gluten intolerance can be difficult to identify and diagnose with blood tests and medical investigations.
But it is easily identified with the tried and proven Elimination Diet. Doctors know Elimination Diets work, because they use them to confirm or disprove others investigations like blood tests and biopsies.
For the small percentage of Gluten sensitive people who are Celiac to be clinically diagnosed there must be a positive Celiac blood test AND damage caused to the villi in the small intestine as a result of exposure to Gluten, (the biopsy examination).
The only treatment for any Gluten Sensitivity is to alter eating habits to exclude Gluten: a Gluten-free diet.
How to go Gluten-free? Have a look for The Compleat Guide to Gluten-free in The Tuesday Club.
 One result of damaged intestines is the possibility of additional Food Intolerances. It can affect the ability to digest milk and milk products – dairy intolerance. Lactase, the enzyme necessary for the breakdown of lactose in dairy foods is produced in the tips of the villi, in the small intestine.
When the villi are damaged, as in Gluten intolerance then intolerance to milk products is likely.
Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH) is another form of Gluten intolerance and affects the skin by forming lesions that are watery and itchy blisters. DH only presents when the patient has inherited the gene. In this case they may or may not have the intestinal symptoms as described above.
Other diseases associated with Gluten intolerance are auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune thyroid disease, and cancers of the intestine.
It is also a cause of infertility, miscarriage and other serious conditions. See Health Risks.
Eating Gluten-free means finding substitutes for wheat, oats, barley and rye.
However, after a few weeks on a gluten-free diet newly diagnosed Gluten sensitive people find they are free of a raft of other symptoms as well which for years had compromised their lifestyle: flatulence, abdominal cramps, tiredness and their tendency to catch ‘bugs’ and viruses easily.
It is surprising how quickly the small intestine actually heals. Soon you will begin to absorb nutrients from food more effectively. The digestive tract gets back to doing its job normally and you will start feeling well again.
How to go Gluten-free? We have The Compleat Guide to Gluten-free in The Tuesday Club.
Symptoms Matrix (you must register first)
The Compleat Guide to Gluten-free
Remember - for great tips and info on Food Intolerance sign up for our newsletter - it's free!
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Author: Deborah Manners B.Sc. (Hons) Grad. Dip.Ed is not a medical or healthcare professional. Ms Manners has multiple food intolerances and presents information from the point of view of the consumer.
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Date modified: 25 Mar 2008
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