After 8 months of severe pain, a dozen tests, and lots of out of pocket medical costs I decided to try eliminating gluten from my diet to see how I felt. Within 48 hours of going gluten free my constant pain was gone. I then had an allergy test to see if I was allergic to gluten. I was told I was NOT allergic to it but might have a sensitivity to it. I've been gluten free for 4 months and have never felt better. No more pain, foggy brain, or fatigue. I have incredible energy, am sharp as a tack and have lost 15 pounds. My advice to EVERYONE is give up gluten for a week and see how you feel. There are many healthy, tasty alternatives to gluten based products. Give a gluten free diet a chance...you'll be glad you did!

Isn't It Amazing! Some find getting off gluten does the trick. Others find it may be the wheat. And then some do best off all grains! Experiment and see what works for you!

Readers beware and look into this information. @Harrry, any expert in Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance will know that you cannot be tested for gluten intolerance once you have gone on the gluten free diet. Your test then was not accurate. If you or anyone believes they are gluten intolerant, go to see an endocrinologist or gastroenterologist BEFORE you eat gluten free and have a test. Your advice to everyone to eat gluten free is not correct, any family with kids who have Celiac disease will tell you the same thing, and I'm one of them. Kathleen, please give better information with regards to this subject, there is plenty of accurate information available through the University of Chicago Celiac Center website.

Steve,

The intent of this blog is to create the connect between our dietary choices and the state of our health. This blog was also intended to get the readers to become aware of the quality of our food in today's world and the impact it may have on our health. This is a blog and not an article of health. There is a growing wealth of information out there on gluten, grains and celiac disease. It is to get people to think about what they eat. That is all. Harry's response, I believe was to underscore that connect and shine the impact of what going off gluten free did for him. Sometimes it takes years for an individual to connect what they have been eating to a disconnect of their body systems or even full blown illness.

Beyond Gluten tolerance/sensitivity issues, it is just simply more healthy to avoid Gluten. The primary Gluten sources a typical person ingests are wheat based products and processed food (and beer). Both of these categories tend to have very low nutritional value for the calories consumed. Think bread, pasta, baked goods, etc. Not a good trade off. Some nutritionists think as much as 50% of the overall population have some level of gluten sensitivity. Over a lifetime, that alone can compromise one's digestive system and contribute mightily to the incidence of chronic disease.

I work with gluten/allergen free foods for a living, and I can tell you that gluten intolerance isn't just one simple thing. It often coincides with other issues, and symptoms are diverse from person to person. For example, there are strong links between conditions like diabetes, asthma, even autism. some examples of good alternatives would have been helpful. Good fats, sure, But what is a good fat? And how much is good? Seeds, sure. What kind? Quinoa is a good one. there should be more examples, and there should also be examples of other conditions which can mimic G.I., such as IBS, colon issues, even liver problems. Celiac has been often misdiagnosed, but now there seems to be an overcompensation, meaning other conditions are misdiagnosed. Drastic changes in diet can cause more harm than good sometimes, so this sort of sweeping advice does not seem wise, especially for someone who is a health coach. My point is, this is a very complex issue and really needs more than a few sentences even to describe it much less give advice on it

As someone living with Celiac Disease and the parent of a child that is gluten intolerant, I know first-hand the myriad of symptoms that occur with the disease and the improvements you see when going gluten free. That being said, I wholeheartedly agree with Steve's comment above that you need to be tested for celiac and/or gluten intolerance BEFORE embarking on a gluten free diet or risk inaccurate results. The gold standard of diagnosis is still biopsy of the small intestine through EGD, however you can also be tested through less invasive blood tests. It also should be noted that the gluten free diet is very restrictive, making it more of a challenge to get the necessary fiber and nutrients more readily found in gluten-containing foods such as fortified breads and cereals. The University of Chicago Celiac Research Center is an excellent and local resource for those newly diagnosed as well as information on the latest celiac research. I personally write a blog for those living gluten free or with celiac here in Chicagoland:http://www.chicagonow.com/gladlyglutenfree
It is full of meal ideas, helpful tips, and resources.

Yes Marilyn, gluten intolerance isn't a simple thing! And different for everyone, indeed! Quite a journey for some! I am one myself! And it's been a long haul! The intent of the blog is to exemplify the relationship between the dietary choices we choose and the impact they may have on our health. The blog is also intended to give individuals the knowledge that the quality of our food is changing. Both may have an impact on our health. Some reading this blog for the first time may never have thought about the association of gluten/grains on their health. This is not an article of health. If so, it would have much more detailed and be heavily referenced. The idea, again, is to make the connect to our food choices and their relationship to our health. It's kind of like saying: "Take a week off sugar and see how you feel." Simple idea to show the relationships. Thank you for sharing.

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Although I may have had allergies before we arrived in Illinois in 1970, I did not know it. At first it was only mold, dust and trees -- omnipresent elements in our environment. These were controlled with monthly injections. Then came a food allergy -- milk. Then I had a "bad experience" with shellfish. Then he tested for weeds and grass -- 2 more shots. Recently I asked about stomach discomfort after eating pasta. The blood tests took about 10 minutes and said I was "sensitive" to 12 components of gluten. Now, without gluten as much as possible [not easy!], I feel much better and -- here's the kicker!!! -- have lost almost 10 pounds.

Glad to see someone giving a clear definition of what gluten is, what it does, and how people react to it. If someone feels better eliminating gluten from their diet, that is wonderful! Kudos to them for finding out the source of their dietary discomforts. However, I think the most frustrating thing is hear the buzz about gluten being unhealthy. So many people think that they are buying a healthier product when they are buying a gluten-free product. Just because it is gluten free doesn't mean you shouldn't read the rest of the nutrition labels!

Sorry about 12 components in previous comment. It was only 2 elements. % ^ /

Just saw this article on CNN.com. How timely.

http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/blogs/why-my-gluten-free-experiment-is-sticking?hpt=hp_bn16

It is wonderful to see a variety of comments. This area certainly has a lot of issues to raise and many based on our own experience! The information and science on Gluten & Grains continues to grow. The important thing to think about is: What is the impact of our dietary choices on our health?