While many people today are skeptical about the “fad” for non-celiac related gluten sensitivity, there is a new theory which is gaining more popularity claiming that gluten intolerance could actually be much more serious than celiac disease.
In the last few years, the existence of non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) has been strongly refuted, and there have been a number of theories about what the condition actually was, but others claim that NCGS is a real health condition and that it could be linked to serious illnesses such as certain allergies, diabetes, autism and schizophrenia. 
But unlike those who consider the non-celiac related gluten sensitivity as the latest fad, other have been arguing back that NCGS is a real health condition and that it is more serious than actual celiac disease because of the following reasons:
Their first theory is that even though more than half of the cases of celiac disease go undiagnosed, those who have NCGS are even more likely to remain without a proper diagnosis because of the lack of a universally approved test for screening for this condition.
There is a screening test for celiac disease involving testing for antibodies and a biopsy to the tissue to estimate any damage.
There is proof though, that some people have adverse reactions to certain components of wheat other than the alpha gliadin or transglutaminase-2 which are known to be the main cause of celiac disease. The problem is that the existing standard tests for celiac disease use these two components as antibodies. In actuality people may experience the effects of intolerance to some other component of gluten, which though will not become evident with such a test. This non-celiac gluten intolerance may lead to the “unlocking” of certain autoimmune diseases and other health issues if the person affected continues to consume gluten.
There are a number of other components in wheat which can cause reactions by a person who is gluten intolerant, and if the condition remains undiagnosed and unmanaged it could lead to some serious neurological, brain and skin conditions, as well as to other problems, some of which are long-term and serious such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and others.
Unfortunately, because of the lack of standard testing, it is not clear how widespread the NCGS actually is, and how serious the effects of this condition really are. There have been speculations by some that this condition could be affecting 1 in every 10 people in the US.
Another problem with the NCGS is that the public and cultural backlash against people who eat gluten-free products, and claim to be gluten intolerant without having celiac disease is stopping a number of people from visiting a doctor to get diagnosed of this condition. Many people in their blogs and throughout the social media claim that this gluten intolerance condition is more of a fad and is not an imaginary condition. The backlash is so serious that there are actually groups of “gluten intolerance haters” who base their skepticism regarding NCGS mainly on a study from 2013 which found that irritable bowel syndrome was actually not caused from components of gluten, but rather by certain poorly absorbed carbs (FODMAPS). This study by Gibson et al. doesn’t disagree with the existence of NCGS, and it has been criticized and confronted with other findings that IBS patients do in fact have gluten intolerance.
One study which took place in Iran concluded that patients with IBS who continued eating a gluten containing diet expressed more symptoms after six weeks as compared to the group of people with IBS who had a controlled diet.
But then again, it is important to get the proper diagnosis, because the causes and the diet for people with gluten intolerance and with FODMAP intolerance are very different, and if misdiagnosed could lead to much more serious consequences resulting from continuing the consumption of gluten.
Another general problem with NCGS is that both doctors and patients tend to overlook this condition and don’t take the necessity of actually treating it seriously. This is caused by the lack of scientific information on this condition, the public backlash and denial of NCGS, as well as the lack of standard testing methods and diagnostics for it.
But even without common tests for NCGS, there is a relatively easy way to determine whether a person suffers from gluten intolerance, by placing them on a two month gluten free diet and then examining the results by testing the overall health.
Even if there is no gluten intolerance detected, going on a gluten free diet will improve the intake of nutrients, which will replace the breads and whole foods, which is just one benefit of trying a gluten free regimen.
Unfortunately, nearly 30% of the people who have celiac disease, also have an intolerance to a certain protein in milk – casein, so many of them could continue having symptoms of the disease even after going on a gluten-free diet.
I recently saw a Rheumatologist a couple weeks ago and he asked me about gluten and if I’ve cut it out of my diet.
I mentioned I have been on the Paleo Diet for Athletes for almost 4 years. Whenever I have gluten products or a slice of toast for 2-3 days or more in a row my stomach cramps and digestive system goes nuts, increased joint pain, and overall don’t feel well.
He said for me to go 100% gluten free before my next appointment with him in 3-4 months because it could be triggering and worsening my joint pain. He did ultrasounds on my knee and fingers, labs, and had x-rays taken of my feet, hands, and SI joints. The ultrasound and x-rays showed osteoarthritis. The first part of my labs came back the very next day. My IGA came back a little low below normal. It has something to do with the immune system and frequent infections.
I do get frequent “chronic” sinus infections that takes 4-6 weeks on antibiotics to kick it out of my system. I also have hypothryrodism – T3 problems. I have plenty of T4, but it doesn’t convert to T3. I also have hair loss, fatigue, chronic hives and rashes for unknown reason and worsen migraines.
One evening I was drinking a few beers and the next morning I woke up with a migraine. That same evening I had another beer and woke up with a migraine the next morning.
After that I stopped drinking beer until my mom introduced me to a gluten free beer, and I tried it. Never had a migraine and figured out it was the gluten in the regular beer from the wheat and barley.
I can’t eat or digest any dairy products including eggs. I’m not allergic to eggs. I just don’t digest them well. About 3 days after my appointment his nurse called and said the rest of my labs came back, and that my ANA came back positive meaning I have some kind of an autoimmune inflammatory condition, and the doctor wants me to start a medication. I just had a Rheumatoid panel done last month and everything was normal and “do not report”.
Growing up my mom took me to the doctors over and over. I remember all sorts of stomach x-rays, tests, even a tube up my butt to pump a dye for testing and all they ever told her was that my stomach was inflamed. This was over 30 years ago. Always anemic and vitamin D deficiency and constant growing pains.
11 years ago I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and I have lived with stomach issues all my life. Tramadol on a daily basis has allowed me to function and live a normal life. My stomach pains are something I learned to live with. I never mentioned my stomach issues to my doctor because I figured they were normal. I get intense pain but it goes away after a while, I figured it was my food digesting. That daily pain was normal for me so I never thought to mention it to my doctor.
A few months back I decided to diet and I read that fiber helped fill you up so I bough high fiber cereals and noticed chest tightness and excruciating pain after eating them. At that point I became suspicious that I may be allergic to fiber but shrugged it off.
A couple months after, I bought a flaxseed blend to help me since I suffer with constipation. I know TMI. I will never touch flaxseed again. I felt like I was having a heart attack. Tight chest, trouble breathing, my intestines felt like they were twisting inside my stomach and I never used the bathroom. This experience prompted me to get online and do some research.
I have been gluten-free 4 days and my body aches are almost gone. I still have stomach aches but I suspect that after a lifetime of intestinal abuse, it will take time to heal. Next step is to go to a gastroenterologist.
I have gone from 100mg Tramadol 3 times a day for the last 11 years to 50mg a day with no withdrawal, that’s a totally different story and one God made possible for me through a series of coincidental and convenient events. I am so grateful to God for paving the road to my recovery. I asked for help finding a solution and he delivered. He put everything in place for me.
THANK YOU LORD!
I tried going on a gluten free diet. Could tell no real difference after a month so gave it up. I still think it is all the additives and the GMO foods that are causing the problems.
As I child I drank raw milk with no problem. Now I’m lactose intolerant. I think it’s the unnatural over processed genetically modified stuff that’s killing us!
I am struggling with constipation, I just cannot go. I don’t even fill full in my lower abdomen like maybe not even making much fecal matter.
However, my lower abdomen is producing out at least 1 inch further than my actual waist. I’m considering trying this diet to see if I can start going because I don’t know what else to do besides living on laxatives, I even saw some blood in my fecal matter last night. Have a doctors appointment but cannot get in for 2 weeks.
Is this something that I can wait on?
I initially gave up gluten because it get bad gas and I wanted to see if it was gluten. The gas went away when I stopped eating gluten!
I got complacent recently and started to sneak gluten back in to my diet, I noticed that I was an emotional wreck who farted too much (my poor husband lol).
So for the last week I have eliminated all known traces of gluten from my diet and I have been farting less and I feel so stable
Here is a fact: I have Lupus, arthritis, chronic fatigue, chronic inflammation and God only knows what else. Oh yes, bloating of my intestines is painful, the gas is horrible and constipation is murder.
All I know is when I do not consume wheat, barley, rye and dairy I feel 100% better.
I agree with some of it but the problem with the gluten free diet is that most the food is just as bad as the other crap and your paying triple the price. The cookies and most other “gluten free” foods are still filled with unwritten chemicals, sulphites, preservatives, and modified crap etc.
Gluten may be the problem but it could also be many other things people are not aware of. The companies making gluten free products are making a fortune and forcing other companies to loose millions while still feeding us crap.
It is just good to learn about what is in your food more so that you can understand labels and make your own food instead of just avoiding one. I seem to have problems with that but also with glucose, sugar, artificial crap, corn starch, sulphites and all the other stuff that causes just as many diseases as gluten.
The gluten is processed and modified that is why its affecting people. Our milk, bread, meat, everything packaged is now unhealthy. It’s the government allowing poison in our foods.
If it was normal gluten hardly anyone would be gluten intolerant. This gluten free diet is just another way for companies to make millions. Glucose and modified corn starch is responsible for tons of illness but hardly anyone pay attention to it because its in almost everything you eat and the government does not want you to know.
How do you find non-GMO food to eat? I am developing food intolerances as an adult that I think are due to the change in food production.
What if you can’t spend fortune to eat gluten free food?
We all know how it is out there. You are constantly encouraged to eat food containing gluten because it is the most affordable and filling food. Being realistic is part of reality that we need to keep in mind.
I have read so much bad things about gluten yet it is still the most popular and affordable food.
It seems almost impossible to go 100% gluten free. How do you do it?
I get that you stop eating bread, cereals, rice, grains etc. But what about those trace amounts? This is hard to do, almost like quitting smoking. But perhaps worse, I have been eating gluten my whole life.
I wouldn’t say I am a carb addict, but I do enjoy pasta and rice as a side dish on occasion. I am willing to try it, but it’s going to be a process for me, I don’t know that I can go cold turkey.
I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease at the age of 27.
After visiting a reputable nutritionist, who had me do a food elimination diet, it was determined that I was severely gluten intolerant. This was confirmed by my amazing endocrinologist who prescribed an IgG antibody test.
Avoiding gluten has, quite literally, changed my life. So to the doubters and their snarky, uninformed comments, I say this: gluten and wheat issues ARE REAL. Perhaps some people avoid consuming it because it’s trendy, but for those like me, it is absolutely essential. Perhaps mainstream science will confirm for us what we’re certain is true: tampering with our food has brought us here.
I had tried going two weeks without gluten and noticed no change.
A few years later, when the IBS was literally ruling my life, I tried it again, after being referred to Wheat Belly by a med pro I know. At five weeks, the IBS stopped. 21 years of IBS STOPPED!
I no longer stumble like a drunkard, forget words, or have amnesiac episodes. I got for a sensitivities and allergies test next week, but whatever it says, I will not go back to wheat. I am not a fan of soy or peanuts, so they aren’t even in the equation. I miss French toast, but I feel SO much better.
“This means 1 out of 4 people who were sensitive to gluten, went gluten-free, eliminated all of their symptoms, and then began eating gluten again developed auto-immune diseases within 3 years.”
Gastroenterology 1999;117:297-303
http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/gast.1999.0029900297
Here is a great share by one of the leading functional medicine physicians. He breaks down the negative possibilities of eliminating without a better clinical picture. http://www.thedr.com/images/reintroducegluten.pdf