Gluten Free Seminar

Last night was a great night at the Chiro.College! The MN Chiropractic Association put on a  Gluten Education Evening.  It is crazy how one can think they have a handle on the topic of GF and then go to something like this and find that there is always so much more we can learn. Here is a quick summary of the highlights:
*Eating gluten free is not always healthy if you eat highly processed gluten free foods, it can actually be more harmful that a conventional diet.
*Gut healing is very important once you have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease or Gluten Sensitivity
*LOTS of fermented foods are critical for good gut health along with probiotics
*Celiac and Gluten Sensitivity are actually autoimmune diseases that cause inflammation and improper absorption of nutritionist BUT, it is the ONLY CURABLE autoimmune disease there is! You can be completely healed through diet!
*1/3 of the population has a gluten sensitivity
*Gluten sensitivity has a variety of diverse symptoms that can make it very difficult to diagnose
*Gluten sensitivity does cause inflammation through out the entire body thus the cause of diverse symptoms, but a GS does not damage the intestines like Celiacs does.
*Diagnosis of Celiacs or Gluten Sensitivity options:
       1- Symptoms Check List
       2- Serum Antibody Test (blood work) for IgA, TTG, EMA- however this test tends to be about only
      30% accurate 
       3-  Intestinal Biopsy
       4-  Stool Test, Enterolabs- very accurate
       5- Elimination Diet for 2-4 weeks


*All the above tests have the same treatment- Change diet and restore intentional track
*Hidden gluten on label:  dextrin, modified food starch, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, natural flavors
*Processed Gluten Free Foods:  can be more harmful than conventional counter parts as there are no federal regulations on GF food product.  Many are made from refine white starchy flours, filled with sugar and are overall not healthy for you.  Focus on a healthy GF diet consisting mainly of veggies, fruit, meat, and good fats.  A study showed that 50% of people on a GF diet for 8 years continued to have inflammation and were nutrient deficient.  EAT LOTS and LOTS of veggies!  
*Eating a whole foods diet will:  reduce symptoms, heal intestines, reduce or eliminate inflammation, and increase energy!


So overall make a conscience effort to make sure that your GF diet is filled with whole foods and grains that have nutritional value such as teff, quinoa, and buckwheat!  Many recipes on this blog are grain free or use nutritious grains, try some of them as you journey into a whole foods gluten free diet!