![Photograph of 4 gluten sources. Top: High-glut... Photograph of 4 gluten sources. Top: High-glut...](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Gluten_Sources.png)
4 Gluten sources. Top: High-Gluten wheat flour. Right: European spelt. Bottom: Barley. Left: Rolled rye flakes. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Gluten Intolerance Vs. Celiac
Both are to be treated with respect!
For many people, celiac is a disease to be treated with care and concern, but when it comes to Gluten Intolerance or Gluten sensitivity, it is something that you are expected to just tolerate and “get over it”. While doctors may advise a Gluten free diet for you, it is more difficult to try to explain to friends and family. If you don’t have celiac or a major allergic reaction to glutinous foods, why can’t you eat what everyone else is eating? There will be many questions that pop up, such as: Do potatoes have Gluten? Is rice Gluten free? Can I eat ice cream?
The rugged truth is that if you are Gluten intolerant, Gluten sensitive, or a celiac, you should never have food that contains Gluten:
No matter which way you say it, you are asking for unnecessary pain and misery when you ingest Gluten. Granted, there is a difference between having celiac and being Gluten sensitive, but both require the same lifestyle choices.
Those who are Gluten sensitive most often experience inflammation of the digestive tract resulting in diarrhea or constipation, bloating, and abdominal pain. This is caused by your body reacting to the Gluten as an invading bacteria causing a lot of almost instantaneous inward trauma. This condition can gradually be healed if great care is taken to avoid ingesting all forms of gluten.
Celiac, though not something that shows instant results from ingesting Gluten, can cause much more lasting damage to the body. When Gluten is ingested, the body reacts by triggering the immune system to attack its own host by targeting the lining of the small intestines. Most of the time damage caused to the intestines by those with celiac is irreparable, and the more gluten is ingested, the more damage is done.
Both of these conditions can cause problems for the entire body, because the health of the gut affects the health of the body. Inflammation or damage to the gut can inhibit vital nutrient digestion, resulting in a whole new set of health issues.
There are a multitude of medicines and supplements on the market to assist with these health issues, but the safest and most effective way to treat Gluten problems is to totally abstain from using Gluten. It will not only give relief, but will promote a longer and more healthful future.
I hope you found this post on Gluten By Rebecca Tero helpful!
![Colleen](https://www.mydairyfreeglutenfreelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/signature-2.png)
md kennedy, yes I have info somewhere…I have to find it! There is a type of wheat that was used for ages until within the last 50 years…then changes have been made and it is no longer the “old” wheat. There are increasing digestibility problems now…
I have to find the info and get the link or quote.
With all the discussion of gluten intolerance (as opposed to celiac disease) I have also heard that part of the problem may that we are not tolerant of the current wheat – that “old”, pre-GMo’d, pre-overbred wheat was much better digested by the population and intolerance wasn’t even heard of. Do you have any information on that?