Dear Reader,

Doctors have always labeled celiac disease as a rare food allergy
that, while a serious condition for those afflicted, is generally not
something the rest of us need to worry about.

Well, it seems that the underlying problem that causes celiac
disease -- an autoimmune condition caused by gluten intolerance --
isn't so much rare as it is undiagnosed. Some researchers postulate
that individuals often have symptoms for as many as 11 years
before they are diagnosed correctly. Worse, they believe that only
2.5 percent of those who have some form of gluten intolerance
ever get diagnosed at all.

This is sad, considering how serious the health consequences can
be -- and that the condition can often be completely rectified
through diet.

Untreated, gluten sensitivity can result in a long list of disorders,
including many cancers, autoimmune disorders, neurological
diseases, chronic pain syndromes, and even psychiatric and other
brain disorders. The classic symptoms of celiac disease include
diarrhea, weight loss, and malnutrition. However, digestive
symptoms are not the only symptoms celiac can cause.
Neurological disorders associated with the disease include sporadic
and progressive cerebellar ataxia, cerebral atrophy and dementia,
cerebral vasculitis, myopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and epilepsy.

If you suspect that you or anyone in your family might have celiac
disease, or a gluten-sensitivity, you can ask your doctor to perform
a tTG or tissue transgluminase test.
Keep in mind that if you have already eliminated wheat or gluten
products from your diet, this test will come up negative, even if
you have the sensitivity. But if you have consumed any wheat
products and have the sensitivity, this test will do a better job of
picking it up than previous tests.

If you do have celiac disease or gluten-intolerance, eliminating
grains and grain products (like rice, pasta, bread, etc.) from your
diet can go a long way in helping you feel better --sometimes even
better than you can imagine.

Many people who have this disease report that they were so
accustomed to their low level of health, they almost didn't know
they had a problem -- until they went gluten-free. Suddenly, they
transform into healthy people, full of energy.

Co-author of the book Dangerous Grains, Ron Hoggan, reports that
he didn't realize until he eliminated gluten grains from his diet
how uncomfortable and chronically ill he had been for much of his
life.

To learn more about gluten sensitivity, check out Dr. Wright's
article on this topic from the March 2002 issue of Nutrition &
Healing. (Subscribers can download it for free at
www.wrightnewsletter.com.) Or check your local library or
bookstore for a copy of Dangerous Grains by James Braly and Ron
Hoggan.

Being aware of this condition and knowing what signs to look for
may just keep you or someone you know from becoming one of
those "undiagnosed" statistics.


What is.hypochlorhydria?

Hypochlorhydria is the official term for having too little stomach
acid -- and it is a common condition found in people with celiac
disease. Stomach acid is a necessary ingredient for proper
digestion and a key factor in determining how much of the
vitamins and minerals in the food you ingest actually make their
way into your system.

This condition is much more common than people realize. As we
age, our stomach acid levels naturally decline. Unfortunately,
many people believe that heartburn and indigestion is a result of
having too much stomach acid. So they pop purple pills and
antacids to decrease their production of stomach acid, which only
adds to the problem.

Ultimately, hypochlorhydria can result in serious health problems
including depression, macular degeneration, early aging,
osteoporosis, sexual dysfunction, skin disorders, rheumatoid
arthritis, even an increased risk of certain types of cancer.
Fortunately, it can be resolved easily and naturally once it is
detected and properly diagnosed.

Dr. Wright has written an entire book on this subject called "Why
Stomach Acid Is Good For You" that gives the entire scoop on this
common -- and commonly missed -- health problem. This book is
available in most bookstores as well as through amazon.com.


Yours in good health,
Amanda Ross
Managing Editor
Nutrition & Healing

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