Awareness on Health Conditions Associated with Gluten!

Each person is responsible for maintaining good health. We inherit some diseases and others we acquire them through ignorance and our lifestyle. Governments try to control quality through health standards and to some extend engage in public health programs pertaining to awareness of health issues such as those associated with gluten.

The challenge is that there are those who produce food and would suffer financial set-back when people shift to conscious eating. Such change would lead to job cuts which affect other people negatively. In other words, it is truly a delicate balance, which requires individuals to seek information for their own benefit. How much do you know about gluten and its health issues?

What is Gluten and its Health Issues?

Gluten is a protein found in the grains like wheat and barley, which gives bread its spongy texture, and is common in thickening sauces and soups.

People suffering from a chronic digestive disorder called celiac disease should not eat gluten. It lowers the immune system and result in damaging the small intestine which causes gastrointestinal distress and nutritional deficiencies. Untreated conditions lead to intestinal cancers, infertility and osteoporosis.

Celiac Diseases Background and Prevalence

Celiac disease is prevalent globally and is linked to increasing numbers of diabetes. While you and I are not professionals on health issues, nonetheless we individually and collectively are responsible to maintain good health by learning about environmental health issues. The more I learn about gluten, the more I realize the connection to my relatives and friends who suffer from arthritis, sinus, weight gain and skin problems. According to the study by Naiyana Gujral, Hugh J Freeman and Alan BR Thomson, mankind is originally a meat-eater but eventually discovered grains and started adopting them as staple food.

“Man originally fed on meat, fruit and vegetables, with no exposer to gluten-containing cereals. It was only about 10 000 years ago in a small region called the “Fertile Crescent” of the Middle-East (including Anatolia (Southern Turkey), Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Iraq) where wild wheat and barley grains successfully cultivated due to favorable environmental conditions”.

Research indicates that there is a correlation between untreated celiac disease and reproductive problems, including menstrual disorders, unexplained infertility, recurrent spontaneous abortion, intrauterine growth retardation, and low birth-weight babies. There are women out there who struggle to carry babies full term and until recently did not have a clue why. The health issues linked to this condition suggest the need for governments’ public health awareness campaigns. It is said that celiac disease is easily diagnozed in children than in adults. Symptoms in infants and children includes abdominal bloating and pain, chronic diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, pale, foul-smelling, or fatty stool and weight loss.

Studies also indicates the following health challenges which eventually are linked to the celiac conditions in adults: unexplained iron-deficiency anemia, fatigue, bone or joint pain, arthritis, bone loss or osteoporosis, depression or anxiety, tingling numbness in the hands and feet, seizures, missed menstrual periods, infertility or recurrent miscarriage, canker sores inside the mouth, an itchy skin rash called dermatitis.

Increasing Global Health Consciousness

The increase in diabetes and arthritis clearly tells us that there is a shift in lifestyle. As people move towards organic foods and their benefits, they realize the wisdom of listening to their bodies. It is not that doctors omit diet issues intentionally, it could be that it is not part of their course content; therefore it is prudent that we research about foods when we encounter unexplained health challenges. It is sad to notice young people with bulging big toes due to arthritis. It is devastating to see aging people struggle with movement of legs and hands due to the same problem which was unattended and has disabled them.

I do not have celiac disease but I am health conscious person who would opt for prevention of environmental diseases as much as possible. I discovered the benefit of abstaining from wheat when I noticed that my nose get blocked after repeatedly eating wheat and milk products. I also noticed that I sneezed continuously and gained weight despite my exercising efforts and eating right. I then read a book about eating according to blood type. According to Dr Peter J. D”Adamo, people who are blood type 0s cannot tolerate gluten and milk products. I have since regained my ideal weight, my skin is finer and I stopped experiencing sinus issues.

Join the health conscious people who go for prevention of lifestyle health issues. I strongly encourage gluten free diet because certainly gluten promotes obesity, causes insulin intolerance which aggravate diabetes and most importantly, affect reproductive health in women who are already knowingly or unknowingly have celiac condition. Medical studies encourage us to maintain ideal weight to avoid a host of lifestyle diseases. Diabetes people live restricted life when it comes to food, and the condition progress to libidinal issues. If you choose to empower yourself about gluten intolerance, go deeper to learn that celiac in children could be reduced if the mother completely wean from gluten prior to getting pregnant. Meantime check symptoms in your children; you could save your daughter from a serious future health issues.

I tend to agree with those who see the prevalence as requiring global awareness campaign especially with regard to the impact on reproductive health. I believe if we all aspire for a healthier generation, we will take responsibility to pay attention to environmental health issues. Miscarriage is traumatic and should be avoided in all costs. Empowering people to make informed decision is key; and if individually you research this subject and get convinced, tell your family and friend; that alone would make a positive impact.