Category Archives: Commentary

Gluten and Guns: Out of Control Mental Health Patients

There’s no doubt that gun regulations sorely need to be addressed, however, the mental health of too many of our children and adults is in dire need of help. Messed up, lonely, bullied, abused, and neglected children who may be suffering with ADD, ADHD, bipolar, depression, anxiety or mood/aggression disorders, autism, schizophrenia, migraines, or other neurological issues become messed up, angry, out-of-control teens and adults who may only stifle their inner rage so long until they explode against some unsuspecting group of humans or perhaps themselves. Many of them may get involved with drugs to pacify their pain and mental anguish.

There is a huge insidious problem in America that is not being properly addressed by mainstream medicine: the hazards of gluten! For the sake of those afflicted with mental health issues and the sake of society serious attention must be given to the devastating and degenerative affects of gluten. Whether it’s celiac disease or gluten intolerance this troublesome protein that we are not meant to consume (we don’t have the enzymes to break it down) is strongly contributing to the human chaos being perpetrated by many of these poor troubled souls.

The “blind eye” in mainstream medicine must be opened. We need to care more about our children and fellowman in getting to the root cause of many health issues than “treating, controlling, or managing” with big pharma drugs. Thousands of studies from around the world link the above mentioned mental health issues to gluten and, in all, to over 300 symptoms and gluten-related conditions or disease. It is indeed a very serious matter and very few of our mainstream doctors, especially neurologists/psychologists, social workers, school nurses, school psychologists, teachers, or parents have any idea of the numerous and devastating affects gluten can have on the brain and neurons, not to mention our muscles, tissues, bones, blood, organs, glands, and the fetus.

A few true stories come to mind:

  •  At age 3 a violent, non-verbal, and non-interactive child was diagnosed with autism. The parents could not take this child into the public. The mom didn’t want to put him on drugs. She began reading and decided to remove dairy and a couple weeks later she ditched gluten. The child began to calm down and learn his ABCs. He was able to go to school without a one-on-one aide that so many kids need, and the mom said, “If you didn’t know he had had a problem you wouldn’t know he had one.
  •  Dick had allergies and a couple very irritating skin conditions as a teen. He had discomforting reflux and two episodes of heart arrythymia. He became so fatigued he needed to grab a nap in his car at lunchtime. At age 55 he was most disturbed when he began to experience serious memory loss and a deep depression feeling disconnected and alone that was interfering with his work. All 7 health issues totally resolved in 7 months by doing an absolute gluten-free diet.
  • A woman spoke of her friend’s 4 children who were all having serious health problems. Two of them had been on psychotropic drugs for schizophrenia. All were doing just great off gluten and the drugs for schizophrenia were no longer needed. (Never stop taking prescribed medicine without consulting your doctor.)
  • Three moms shared that their child would be on the floor in a tantrum 20 minutes after ingesting gluten.
  •  A very smart, capable, well-respected businessman at the top of his field found himself headed for a nursing home until he detected gluten intolerance. His life totally turned around on a gluten-free diet.

You can only imagine how the mental and physical health of these folks could have spiraled downward even more if they had continued eating gluten. These were the lucky ones who discovered gluten was the toxic staple making them so sick and tired by not absorbing the nutrients needed to keep their body and brain functioning optimally.

Tremendous healing on many different bodily levels can occur when the instigator is removed. So many mental health issues could vanish or become miles better if mainstream medicine recognized the detrimental role of gluten. Until then, chaos will reign among much of our troubled population, many who may have the added burden of gluten intolerance.

Are Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Lewey Body Linked to Gluten?

I had written this a while back in response to an article in the New Hampshire Leader, Sept 18, 2016; Silver Linings: Issues of Aging in NH: Could This Be A Cure by Gretchen M. Grosky

If nearly 8 million people are suffering from Lewey Body, Alzheimer’s, or Parkinson’s it would seem incumbent on mainstream medicine to look at the root cause of these degenerative, debilitating, and costly diseases that are tearing into the heart of families.

Since gluten can affect any part of the body it would be essential for health professionals, in all facets of medicine, to have a handle on the widespread hazards of gluten consumption. But it appears little is being done to educate our practitioners  (motivation for writing Toxic Staple).

Over 300 symptoms, diseases, and associated conditions are linked to gluten by thousands of world studies. Gluten can affect neurons, the brain, blood, bones, muscles, tissue, organs, glands, and the fetus. It is linked to numerous neurological, gastrointestinal, autoimmune, and cancer issues with strong research to back it up, yet many diseases and symptoms are begging for more.

Significant research links many devastating, neurodegenerative diseases to gluten. Among them are MS, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, ALS, Alzheimer’s/dementia issues, supranuclear palsy, schizophrenia, seizures, autism, ataxia, ADHD, tremors, neuromuscular disease, migraines, depression, ataxia/balance issues and more.

It’s easy to understand how such crippling neurological diseases as Lewy Body, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s can evolve. When the intestinal villi that absorb vitamins and minerals are destroyed due to celiac disease the body becomes deficient in nutrients vital for optimal brain and neural health. Taking a handful of vitamins will do little to help if malabsorption from celiac disease is the problem.

One storyteller (in Toxic Staple) speaks of allergies, skin issues, fatigue to the point of needing a nap in his car at lunchtime, arrhythmias, depression, and memory retrieval problems. He was diagnosed with celiac disease, followed the gluten-free lifestyle 100%, and seven months later everything was gone. Another woman was headed for an Alzheimer’s unit. She was diagnosed with celiac, put on the GF diet and is doing great at age 85 in her own place.

It would be most important for any patient with most any chronic health issue to look into testing for gluten intolerance/sensitivity or celiac disease, but testing is another whole can of worms. Too often not enough testing is given and there can be many false negatives. Patients need to become their own advocate and get educated. Don’t delay!

Order your copy of Toxic Staple here: http://toxicstaple.com/buy-the-book/https://www.amazon.com/Toxic-Staple-Gluten-Wrecking-Health/dp/0989239217

Read endorsements here suggesting doctors read Toxic Staple: http://toxicstaple.com/endorsements/

Disclaimer

Pregnancy Problems and Gluten

Not a day goes by that I don’t have an opportunity to write about gluten in response to some newspaper article, radio program, or fact talking about health. Below are two such instances within 24 hours. Neither mentioned the hazards of gluten:

  1. The New York Times, 11/8/16 under Global Health by Donald G. McNeil, Jr., D6 talks about new guidelines for pregnancy released by the W.H.O. Nowhere in this article does it mention testing for celiac disease or thyroid issues with the mother, yet numerous pregnancy and fetal issues can evolve, along with miscarriages and infertility, and many more if the mother is malabsorbing due to celiac or dealing with undiagnosed thyroid problems (can be linked to gluten too). It does mention iron and folic acid supplements “to prevent anemia, sepsis, and premature birth.” Yet if the mother is malabsorbing those supplements may not be absorbed. Unaddressed celiac disease can lead to a very poor outcome in pregnancy.
  2. The New Hampshire Union Leader, 11/9/16, Sec. B under USA Snapshots announces that the “preterm birthrate is up for the first time in 8 years in the USA.” The rate increased from 9.50% to 9.63% (in 2015) premature births. Granted this is just factual, but provides an opportunity to bring awareness to the public on the hazards of gluten if one should be experiencing preterm birth or most any other symptom or condition.

“Our Children Are Our Future” is the title of Chapter 12 in my award-winning, life-enhancing book, Toxic Staple. In it I cover many women’s, men’s, and pregnancy issues linked to celiac disease, supported by major world research.

Read my Table of Contents for more gluten-related pregnancy/female/male issues and many other diseases and associated conditions linked to gluten at: http://toxicstaple.com/wp-content/uploads/TS-TableOfContents.pdf. Check out my Endorsements at http://toxicstaple.com/endorsements/ suggesting doctors read Toxic Staple along with the public.

So much ill health throughout pregnancy and so many early childhood developmental problems could be avoided by addressing gluten before the health of the mother and/or fetus became so compromised. It is pitiful that little is being done to educate our OB/GYN doctors on the numerous issues associated with the malabsorption of celiac disease. You need to become your own advocate by reading up on the hazards of gluten.

Toxic Staple can lead you toward a path of self-discovery in finding wellness. Don’t ignore any chronic issue of any sort.

Please get back to me at http://toxicstaple.com/contact/ if you have a story to share or have a question I might help with. As always, try to find a doctor up on gluten to work with in solving your health issues.

Disclaimer: http://toxicstaple.com/disclaimer/

Become Your Own Health Advocate and Change Your Life

WOW! The American people have strongly spoken for change in the United States with the election of Donald Trump.

You, too, can speak up for change in your own health and wellness!

Unfortunately, in too many cases, it is necessary to become an advocate for your own health. Over 300 symptoms, diseases, and associated conditions are linked to gluten by thousands (over 15,000) of research studies from around the world. Very little is being put forth to educate our doctors on the many hazards of consuming gluten. It appears the researchers are all on one side of the river and no bridge has been erected to connect to our doctors. Many alternative and more holistic practitioners are a bit more educated on gluten, but vast unawareness still exists in many facets of medicine.

Did you know:

  • Too many doctors still think celiac disease is only a childhood disease
  • Too many doctors think celiac is only a gastrointestinal issue
  • Celiac disease can affect any part of your body, at any age, and can affect multiple bodily systems
  • Too many doctors have no idea that many gastrointestinal issues can get better once the irritating protein is recognized and addressed
  • Many cancers and autoimmune diseases, neurological, skin, and organ ailments are linked to gluten
  • You need to REQUEST certain blood tests or it’s very likely you will only be offered one test for celiac (that one test has a high rate of false negatives and does not detect intolerance to gluten which affects many more folks)
  • Testing negative for celiac disease does not negate gluten intolerance
  • Few doctors know of the very sensitive stool testing that saved my family

If you or a loved one has most any chronic ailment or illness please do your body and brain a favor and get educated on gluten before your life becomes worse.

Testing information to detect celiac or gluten intolerance is spelled out in my award-winning, life-transforming Toxic Staple as only a driven grandmother could.

Mainstream medicine has shifted over the decades from concern for the patient’s wellness to more interest in “controlling” and “managing” your disease with drugs instead of trying to determine the bottom-line as to what’s making you sick.

Realize that you do have control over much of your health.

I can’t imagine what shape my family or I would be in if we hadn’t discovered gluten was eroding our health, on so many levels. We are all going to meet our Maker, but some of us are going to have an easier and I expect longer ride.

Get your copy of Toxic Staple here: https://www.amazon.com/Toxic-Staple-Gluten-Wrecking-Health/dp/0989239217 or visit: http://toxicstaple.com/buy-the-book/ or check Home page on the right for e-book .

 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: Is It Linked To Gluten?

Just as I was getting out of the car I heard on NPR that in England 1 out of fifty teens (16 years old) were affected by chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). The lives of these kids were being greatly affected by fatigue and other disabling symptoms. I wondered how many younger children were affected as I recalled that my grandson was so tired after dinner he needed help getting into his PJs and up the stairs. This was definitely not normal for a five-year-old. His doctor had no idea what was going on.

There was no mention of gluten or celiac disease as contributing to the CFS in the report. Typical of so much research on numerous illnesses that is more interested in peddling drugs than in what is the root cause of the illness.

It is high time doctors were educated on the hazards of gluten, but since there is huge unawareness of what gluten can do to the human body and brain you must become your own advocate in a quest for better health. Those of you who know anyone with most any chronic symptom please share my website http://www.toxicstaple.com on my award-winning, life-transforming book, Toxic Staple: How Gluten May Be Wrecking Your Health and What You Can Do About It! This is a must read if illness is troubling your family, most any kind of illness: autoimmune, cancer, neurological, organ and skin ailments, women’s and pregnancy issues, and more. It is huge information!

 If you or your child suffers from fatigue/exhaustion, headaches, brain-fog/memory issues, muscle and joint pain, and so much more PLEASE get educated on the hazards of gluten. Read Toxic Staple. Discover the tests you need to REQUEST (or you may not get enough) to get to the bottom of gluten intolerance.

Treasure your life enough to get it and keep it healthy!

Captivating story on chronic fatigue syndrome/gluten: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1356316/At-I-discovered-secret-Emilys-14-lost-years-Esther-Rantzen.html

Article: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/alspac/news/2016/chronic-fatigue-syndrome.html

Research: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26810786

 

Zika, Microcephaly, and Gluten

Is it possible that microcephaly is linked to celiac disease (CD) and gluten? Most definitely! Perhaps many of the cases of microcephaly being linked to the Zika virus are really linked to gluten! Microcephaly may be caused by malnutrition among other reasons such as drug use, toxic chemicals, untreated PKU, and viruses.1

Celiac disease is a malabsorption disorder created by the destruction of the intestinal villi in response to an immune reaction to gluten. Healthy villi absorb vitamins and minerals that keep the body functioning optimally. When celiac robs the body of nutrients it can affect any part of the body, especially the fetus if the mother has undetected and untreated celiac disease.

“Microcephaly is relatively rare, affecting about 25,000 children in the U.S. a year.”2 This number seems astronomical for such a serious condition much of which might be prevented by the detection and treatment of celiac.

A quote from Toxic Staple points to the seriousness of celiac disease and how important it is to have a healthy pregnancy by detecting celiac disease and addressing a gluten-free lifestyle:

“Thyroid hormones also play a role during pregnancy. In fact, these hormones ‘have been shown to be absolutely necessary for early brain development.’ ” Pregnant women with thyroid disease [often associated with celiac disease] who do not receive hormone therapy can expect a troublesome outcome.3

“Folic acid, iron, and vitamin K are other nutrients crucial to the development of the fetus, and CD may lead to their deficiency. Some researchers surmise that ‘endocrine imbalances and immune disturbances’ play a part as well.4 Babies born to women with CD had ‘a three-fold higher risk of intrauterine growth retardation…’ if the mother’s CD was recognized after the birth. The bottom line is that ‘treatment of celiac women is important in the prevention of fetal growth retardation.’ ”5

In one study “a 15-month-old girl with celiac disease presented with microcephaly and developmental delay.” A gluten-free diet allowed for head growth, but when gluten was reintroduced there was no head growth, and antibodies for celiac disease increased.6

In a perfect world where there was no malnutrition due to celiac disease or a very poor diet many of these cases of microcephaly and many other fetal maladies would not exist. When the body cannot absorb vitamins and minerals necessary for normal development huge deficits in mental and physical health and development may occur.

Read this most interesting slant on the Zika virus by Jon Rappoport:

https://jonrappoport.wordpress.com/2016/01/31/busted-25000-cases-of-microcephaly-in-the-us-per-year/

  1. http://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/microcephaly/symptoms-and-causes
  1. Ashwal S1, Michelson D, Plawner L, Dobyns WB, Practice parameter: Evaluation of the child with microcephaly (an evidence-based review), Neurology. 2009 Sep 15;73(11):887-97. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181b783f7.
  1. Radetti, G., A. Zavallone, L. Gentili, P. Beck-Peccoz, and G. Bona. “Foetal and Neonatal Thyroid Disorders.” Minerva Pediatrica 54, no. 5 (2002): 383–400.
  1. Stazi, A. V., and A. Mantovani. [Celiac Disease. Risk Factors for Women in Reproductive Age.] Minerva Ginecologica 52, no. 5 (2000): 189–96.
  1. Nørgård, B., K. Fonager, H. T. Sørensen, and J. Olsen. Birth outcomes of women with celiac disease: a nationwide historical cohort study. Am J Gastroenterol. 1999 Sep;94(9):2435-40.
  1. Bostwick HE1, Berezin SH, Halata MS, Jacobson R, Medow MS. Celiac disease presenting with microcephaly. J Pediatr. 2001 Apr;138(4):589-92.

Unexplained Infertility and Miscarriage! What’s The Best Approach?

I was motivated to comment on this article on infertility because not a mention was made of how gluten can affect infertility, sterility, miscarriage, and a poor outcome in pregnancy: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/866729?src=wnl_edit_tpal&uac=156633BG “Evidence-based approach to unexplained infertility: a systematic review.” Gunn DDBates GW.

Below is the first paragraph from Chapter 12 in Toxic Staple, “Our Children Are Our Future.”

“Are our children being done-in by the all-American, gluten-filled diet? Some researchers think so. In fact, one study reports that ‘up to 50% of the women with untreated celiac disease experience miscarriage or an unfavorable outcome of pregnancy.’* Infertility and sterility, spontaneous abortions, menstrual and hypogonadal issues, early births, low birth weight, birth defects, and learning disabilities are some of the many issues that can be related to gluten. I’ve talked with a number of women who were unable to conceive before being diagnosed with celiac disease (CD). Once they began following a gluten-free diet (GFD) and the body replenished itself—usually within six months or so—they became pregnant. ‘Coeliac disease is considerably more common than most of the diseases for which pregnant women are routinely screened,’** yet far too few doctors are aware of the correlation between gluten sensitivity and so many fertility and pregnancy-related issues. And women are not alone in having fertility problems related to CD. For more on the role of gluten sensitivity in male reproductive function, see the section in this chapter on Male Infertility, Loss of Libido, and Impotence.”

The chapter goes on to discuss many other pregnancy, women’s, and men’s issues that for the most part are being neglected by mainstream medicine. The research is there, but in many cases begs for much more. It is criminal that more attention isn’t paid to the numerous and devastating effects of gluten. Gluten is taking a huge and costly toll on our population, especially our young folks.

Are you having trouble conceiving or maintaining a healthy pregnancy?  If so, please do not ignore gluten. When all is said and done, I wonder how many OB/GYNs or infertility specialists might think to test their infertile or problematic pregnancy patients for celiac disease or gluten intolerance? Has your doctor suggested testing (4 blood tests) for gluten issues? If not you may need to become your own advocate.

Nobody really wants to know if they are gluten intolerant or have celiac disease, but gluten is affecting a huge part of our population, maybe as high as about 1/3. Many folks are in sheer denial and keep their heads buried in sand at a cost to their own health or the health of their children. Discovering gluten issues and following an absolute GF lifestyle may just lead to a healthy pregnancy, not to mention a healthy life. Toxic Staple, in Chapters 16 and 17, explains blood and specialized, very sensitive, cutting-edge stool testing your doctor may not be up on (not a lab or hospital stool test). Do not expect to get enough testing to detect a problem by just asking your doctor to test you. Too many folks are not given enough testing or they test false negative on the one test offered and are told they do not have a gluten issue.

Very important: you need to keep eating gluten until you have the blood tests. Do not jump for joy if negative on the blood tests (as were most of my own family). It is crucial you follow through with stool testing (Chapter 17).

Please send your gluten-free success story via contact info above to share as an anonymous testimonial to the benefits of living GF.

* Martinelli, P., R. Troncone, F. Paparo, P. Torre, E. Trapanese, C. Fasano, A. Lamberti, G. Budillon, G. Nardone, and L. Greco. “Coeliac Disease and Unfavourable Outcome of Pregnancy.” Gut 46, no. 3 (2000): 332–35.

** Ibid.

 

 

MUST READ!

Imagine you have a sickly elder or maybe even a child with chronic ill health, or perhaps you may reach for this product yourself as a quick booster.

Please read this url and share with family and friends: http://www.fakefoodwatch.com/2012/08/ensure-drink-sugary-fake-food-pseudo.html

Very scary stuff!

It is time to put your thinking caps on. You can make such nutritious drinks in your blender with spinach, kale, bananas, apple slices, avocado, coconut milk, nuts, seeds, ground flax seed, or whatever you want to experiment with.

It’s so easy. If not sweet enough just add a little more banana. I like to freeze ripe bananas in chunks so my shakes will be thick and frosty. Or add a bit of real maple syrup or honey.

As long as you use fresh, whole, gluten-free ingredients your drink will be fine for those dealing with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. And if you have not discovered the root cause of your ailments/symptoms you might consider getting tested for gluten issues. Gluten, after all, is linked to over 300 symptoms, diseases, and associated conditions by thousands of studies from a round the world.

 

Commentary On: Your Grain-Free Diet Isn’t Good For You Or the Planet!

“Unless you have a serious health problem such as celiac disease (about 1 percent of the population) whole grains and good starches can and should be part of your diet.”

I take issue with the above quote from the Washington Post: Your Grain-Free Diet Isn’t Good For You Or the Planet by Marie Speck, Oct 30, 2015.

I would like to bring to light that in addition to the apx 1% of the population that has celiac disease about 30% may be intolerant to gluten, which means they should not consume this toxic, difficult to digest protein. That’s nearly 1/3 of our population!

Tens of millions of Americans are suffering from hundreds of symptoms, diseases, and associated conditions linked to gluten substantiated by thousands of studies from around the world. Many of them are “trying” the gluten-free diet and find they lose weight, gain energy, headaches and tummy aches disappear, skin, joint, and intestinal issues resolve, and a raft of other ailments get better when off gluten. Many think this is just another fad diet, but it isn’t.  If health issues resolve with a gluten-free lifestyle that tells me they shouldn’t be eating this toxic staple.

It’s important to get tested for celiac and gluten intolerance, but that’s another whole can of worms since too often not enough testing is given to detect the problem and patients are told they don’t have an issue with gluten and can keep eating it as they continue to suffer.

I spell it out in my book.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/rweb/top/your-grain-free-diet-isnt-natural-good-for-you-or-good-for-the-planet/2015/10/31/50ae19fc-7db8-11e5-b575-d8dcfedb4ea1_story.html