By remaining mindful of the hormones and cycles that impact our bodies, we can establish lasting healthy habits more effectively. In regards to maintaining a healthy weight, this means focusing less on hitting the treadmill and more on striking the right balance. Some ways to ensure your hormone system is firing on all cylinders include avoiding regular high-fat meals, getting proper sleep (consistently 8+ hours per night), managing your stress and exercising for 30 minutes or more four to five times a week. 

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a general name for the proteins found in wheat, rye, barley, and triticale. Gluten helps food to maintain its shape, acting as a glue that holds food together. Gluten can also turn up in unexpected places like certain brands of chocolate, imitation crab (surimi), deli meats, soy sauce, vitamins and even some kinds of toothpaste. Gluten is different from proteins in other grains, like rice, and meat in that it is difficult for humans to digest completely. It can make some people very sick, but not everyone.

Symptoms vary widely and can include gastrointestinal problems, joint pain, congestion, headaches, fatigue, and depression. The same symptoms are associated with Celiac Disease, so it’s vital to get the correct diagnosis.

What is Celiac Disease?

Celiac Disease is also known as Coeliac Disease, Celiac Sprue, Non-Tropical Sprue, and Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy. It is estimated that approximately one percent of Americans have celiac disease. When people with celiac disease eat gluten, their body’s immune system responds by attacking the small intestines. These attacks lead to inflammation and damage of the villi, small finger-like projections that line the small intestine. These villi promote nutrient absorption. When the villi become damaged, nutrients are not absorbed properly into the body. Celiac disease is hereditary, meaning that it runs in families.

Celiac disease symptoms include diarrhea, anemia, bone pain, and a severe skin rash called “dermatitis herpeti forme.” Symptoms that may not appear associate include weight loss, fatigue, infertility, lack of menstruation, depression, and dental problems. Celiac disease often has few or no symptoms and is part of the reason only about five to 10 percent of cases are diagnosed in the U.S.

Long Term Health Effects

Left untreated, celiac disease can lead to additional severe health problems. These include the development of other autoimmune disorders like Type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), dermatitis herpetiformis (an itchy blistering skin rash), anemia, osteoporosis, infertility and miscarriage, neurological conditions like epilepsy and migraines, short stature, and intestinal cancers.

Treatmentallegzyme

Currently, the only treatment for celiac disease is lifelong adherence to a strict gluten-free diet. People living gluten-free must avoid wheat, rye, and barley, like bread and beer. Ingesting small amounts of gluten, like crumbs from a cutting board or toaster, can trigger small intestine damage. Also, AllerGzyme™ is a full spectrum proteolytic enzyme complex that assists with the digestion of difficult-to break-down proteins such as gluten, gliadin, and casein from whey and dairy, as well as many other protein sources in the diet, including soy and rice. Nutritional enzyme therapy is the answer.

Experts agree, the best way to maintain great digestive health is to eat healthy, whole foods, while also taking care to avoid foods that may disrupt our bodies. As outlined with Celiac Disease, this can vary from person to person, but ultimately can be diagnosed and minimized with medical intervention. At Omega Health & Wellness, we help patients who may be experiencing symptoms of Celiac Disease or other digestive issues every step of the way, and can help them get their digestion back on track with a wide selection of wellness treatments and products. Interested in learning more? Request an appointment today.