“I read the book that same night and
enjoyed it immensely - I am always
hungry for more knowledge, especially about something that
concerns my
family.” Thanks, Sarah Hjertquist, Dunedin, New Zealand
“Clear explanations and very easy to
read, filling in gaps in our
knowledge in a reassuring way. Great to have practical ideas
for making
everyday life easier.” Thanks, Carol Kendall, Christchurch,
New Zealand
Being gluten-sensitive means that you react to gluten
in your diet. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye
and barley. There are a very large number of symptoms
that can be caused by gluten. The best way to test for
gluten-sensitivity is to do a blood test.
To learn about the Blood test
2
How do I know if I am gluten
sensitive (intolerant) ?
The best way to see if you are gluten-sensitive is
to do a blood test. I recommend doing the IgG-gliadin
antibody test. This is not available in every Laboratory.
It is also important to make sure that you do not have
Celiac disease. The test to determine this is called
the tissue transglutaminase antibody (tTG). If you have
any symptoms that suggest that you are gluten-sensitive,
then go and get a blood test. Remember get the
blood test before you change your diet.
3.
What are the symptoms people
have ?
The symptoms that people have are very wide ranging.
Gut symptoms are often predominant but it can present
with brain symptoms, joint aches and pains, low iron,
irritability, fatigue. Many of the symptoms do not relate
to the gut. The full list of symptoms can be found in
our symptom check list.
Here are some symptoms
Feeling tired and exhausted.
Uncomfortable tummy .
Bloating and gas trouble.
Having gastric reflux or "heartburn."
Headaches or migraine.
Feeling depressed or moody.
Having diarrhoea or constipation.
Lack energy.
Bad skin.
Unhappy with your weight.
Finding it hard to think clearly.
Eating problems.
To down load symptoms
as a PDF
If you experience any of these symptoms, then you could
be gluten-sensitive. "Are
you Gluten-Sensitive"
book answers the questions that Dr Ford is most
so frequently asked. It gives the "who", "how",
"what" and "why" about gluten.
4.
What is Celiac (Coeliac)
disease?
Celiac disease is when gluten damages your
gut. The gluten toxicity causes poor function of your
upper bowel (the small bowel) and you get poor absorption
of your food. This damage is ongoing and can only be cured
by going on a gluten-free diet. The best blood test to
check for coeliac disease is the tTG test (tissue transglutaminase).
The Endomesial antibody (EMA) test is also a used to detect
coeliac disease. But, the most definite test for coeliac
disease is a small bowel biopsy. If you have coeliac disease
it is important for you to be strictly gluten-free life-long.
5.
What is gluten and why is
it bad for you?
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley.
For most people gluten doesn't cause any problems at
all. However, in about one-in-ten of the population
gluten does cause a large range of symptoms. Any chronic
ill health problem should be checked to see if you have
a gluten-sensitivity. Gluten is bad for you if it causes
you symptoms that are debilitating. Get a blood test
to check this out.
6.
How common is gluten-sensitivity
and Celiac (Coeliac) disease?
Gluten-sensitivity is very common. It occurs
in about one-in-ten people. However, Celiac disease is
less common, occurring in about one-in-one-hundred. Gluten-sensitivity
has probably always been around but not been diagnosed.
The diagnosis has not been possible until the advent of
the blood tests over the last 10 years.
7.
Will my doctor know what
to test for ?
Your doctor might not know what to test for. The IgG-gliadin
antibody test has previously not been considered as
a useful test by most people. This is because doctors
have usually been looking for Celiac disease. The concept
of gluten-sensitivity is a new one. You can print out
the list of blood tests to get done and then we will
interpret them.
8.
What happens If I do not
follow the gluten-free diet?
If you have Celiac disease and do not follow the gluten-free
diet, then your bowel will progressively get more damaged
and you will become very unwell. However, if you are
gluten-sensitive, your bowel is unlikely to get damaged.
But, your symptoms may progressively get worse. It is
best to stay gluten-free. Read our book on how to "Going
Gluten-Free" and stay gluten free.
9.
Does the rest of my family
need to be tested if I am gluten sensitive ?
Yes, the rest of your family should be tested if you
are gluten-sensitive. There is a very high chance of
other members of your family being affected by gluten.
All your family should have a blood test
10.
How do I get started
Before you go gluten free it is very important to get
a blood test. We say "You can't tell if you don't
test". Once you have been diagnosed as gluten-sensitive,
or have coeliac disease, then it is important to get
onto a gluten-free diet. We advise you do this slowly,
over a few weeks. There is no need to rush. Get your
pantry organized and bring together the shopping lists
and foods that are safe for you to eat. We give comprehensive
advice about all these things, in our book; "Going
Gluten Free. How to get Started"
