Monthly Archives: June 2016

Liver Cancer: Autoimmune Hepatic Liver, Sclerosing Cholangitis and Gluten

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Happy Father’s Day

Father’s Day is around the corner. My father died of liver cancer back in 1989 at age 72. I can’t help but think he might still be alive today approaching 100 (great longevity in his family) if I knew 40 years ago what I know today. Stunning research exists on a number of liver diseases that can resolve or get better if gluten is removed from the diet.

I got in touch with his doctor years later who thought dad had two of these diseases: autoimmune hepatic liver and sclerosing cholangitis.* But his illness began in the 1970s when celiac disease was barely heard of. Of course, his condition turned cancerous and he died at what I consider to be a young age.

Nearly 40 percent of children and adults with “fatty liver ‘transaminitis’ or hepatitis” who have barely any symptoms have liver issues that improve or resolve themselves on a GFD.** (Quote from Toxic Staple.)

If you know anyone with serious liver ailments or liver cancer (or most any serious condition, no kidding, at most any age, including children) please put them on to my website and book title. It is empowering, life-enhancing info that can be used in conjunction with their doctor. And I spell out testing info to share with doctors, so they’ll get enough tests to detect a problem with gluten. The last thing anyone needs is to test negative for celiac disease and be told they don’t have an issue with gluten when they really do. So bone up on the tests to ask for and even make a copy to bring to your doctor. And don’t be happy with a negative result on the blood tests until you do the stool testing.

If your dad, or anyone else, is unwell, please familiarize yourself with this life-transforming info and offer this very plausible alternative to ill health. Naturally, success with the GF lifestyle depends on being absolute with the diet, how severe the problem is, and other possible existing conditions, but incredible wellness may be found in following a GF lifestyle if intolerant to gluten or the progression of the disease may be halted in its tracks or improved. Early detection is very important to prevent more complications from celiac disease.

Check into Toxic Staple to read more about liver disease and gluten. You may be able to change the path of your ill health.

Please read the disclaimer above on this website.

*Barbero Villares, A., J. A. Moreno Monteagudo, R. Moreno Borque, and R. Moreno Otero. [Hepatic Involvement in Celiac Disease.] [In Spanish.] Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 31, no. 1 (2008): 25–28.

** Duggan, J. M. “Coeliac Disease: The Great Imitator.” Medical Journal of Australia 180, no. 10 (2004): 524–26.

Scenario 3: Weight Gain, ADHD, Brain Fog, Mucus, Lungs, Atrial Fib, Cardiomyopathy, and Skin Issues

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It amazes me how prevalent gluten issues seem to be. On my way to Denver, once again, I jotted some notes. Mind you, I did not request to be seated next to people who had health issues that very well could be or are linked to gluten. In only one example below did the person know she was intolerant to gluten or had celiac disease; the others had no idea the ailments mentioned could be from gluten and perhaps dairy. Certainly there is enough research in my book discussing such connections to gluten, not to mention stories of lives turning around by going GF, that anyone with these symptoms or ailments might want to take testing seriously. It seems life only gets worse if gluten related issues are ignored.

As usual I always suggest requesting the 4 blood tests you will find spelled out in Chapter 16 and if negative on those or if they are not covered by insurance don’t stop until you read Chapter 17 and do the very sensitive stool tests (not your ordinary lab/hospital tests, but a patented specific test that will likely detect intolerance if it exists). Try to find a doctor who is familiar with gluten issues, and bring your list of tests or you probably won’t get enough to discover celiac or intolerance to gluten.

  • On the first leg to Denver I chatted with a woman who had weight issues. I relayed to her that many folks I’ve spoken with dropped 10-40 lbs. without trying by following a gluten-free lifestyle. The weight just sort of peeled off in nearly every case. I lost 10-15 myself without trying. There is scant research backing this up (because little has been done), but there is one study basically saying those people who are so thin due to celiac weight-loss begin to put weight on when the gut heals and those who are overweight begin to lose it.* Also, her grandson who was very smart was also very hyper. I mentioned a couple stories on ADD/ADHD and heavily suggested the parents get the child tested. But it’s the same old story: you need to know what to ask for or you probably won’t get enough testing and may be told you don’t have a problem with gluten when in fact you may be quite gluten intolerant.
  • On the second leg to Denver I sat next to a woman who ate no grains. If she gets hit with a grain her head becomes foggy, ears plug up, she fills up with mucus and her lungs feel heavy. It takes 1-2 weeks for symptoms to lift.
  • On the first leg back to NE I sat with a woman whose son died of cardio issues while running a race. Research exists in Toxic Staple on one form of atrial fib and cardiomyopathy that will resolve with a GF diet.** You will also find a few studies on heart disease. Of course, so much more research needs to done. It wouldn’t be difficult to take a hundred newly diagnosed patients with atrial fib or cardiomyopathy and ask them if they were offered testing for gluten-related issues. My educated guess would be less than 5%…and that’s being generous. Testing for gluten-related illness should be at the top of the list in my estimation; there is just too much bad health linked to gluten and so little is being done to educate our doctors.
  • On the leg back to New England I sat next to a young woman who was dealing with facial skin problems. So many skin problems can be linked to gluten and/or dairy as discussed in Chapter 11: The Skin You’re In. I mention nearly 20 skin disorders that you never heard of before, and it’s very likely barely 5% (that’s being generous again) of skin specialists have heard of their link to gluten. Skin issues can be a sign of unwellness, and many of them will clear up or get miles better once your gut heals with a GF lifestyle.

The purpose of these scenarios is to make the reader aware of some of the numerous and varied symptoms and maladies linked to gluten so they can become empowered to be their own advocate in conjunction with their doctors in seeking better health. Your best health lies in your very own hands.

* A new study concluded that a GFD “had a beneficial impact on BMI [body mass index]; underweight patients gained weight (66%) and overweight/obese patients (54%/47%) lost weight. The improvement in BMI adds to the impetus to diagnose celiac disease.” [from Toxic Staple page 71.)

  • Cheng, J., P. S. Brar, A. R. Lee, and P. H. Green. “Body Mass Index in Celiac Disease: Beneficial Effect of a Gluten-free Diet.” Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology 44, no. 4 (2010): 267–71.

** “In addition to patients with chronic anemia of unclear origin, those with rhythm disturbances and myocardiopathies of unknown etiology should be tested for antiendomysial and antigiladin antibodies because, if positive, could indicate the presence of celiac disease.”

  • Callejas Rubio, J. L., N. Ortego, A. Diez-Ruiz, J. Guilarte, and J. De la Higuera-Iorres. “Celiac Disease Presenting as Chronic Anemia Associated with Heart Block.” American Journal of Gastroenterology 93 (1998): 1391–92.