Tag Archives: skin

“Full of Doubt” about Gluten?

I love this quote by Bertram Russell; it so applies to gluten-related issues:

“The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.”

Most of my friends fall into the intelligent group, but they are so doubtful about the mega research on gluten related-symptoms and conditions because their doctors, associated with some of the best hospitals and clinics in the country, know so little on this topic. Of course they might be doubtful.

But the research on gluten-related conditions is massive. And the stories in the book of renewed health substantiated by stunning studies pointing to the numerous hazards of consuming gluten are quite incredible. There are over 19,000 studies on over 300 symptoms and ailments. I didn’t fabricate this info.

Wheat has been the staff of life for thousands of years, but in the forties the gluten in wheat was discovered to be the root cause of celiac disease that leads to mal-absorption of vitamins and minerals by destroying the villi. This in turn can affect any part of the body on multiple levels at any age. Celiac disease appears to be on a continuum of gluten intolerance, so gluten may be whittling away at your health for decades before you become so sick and compromised that you do test positive on the one test the doctor may offer for celiac.

We all know people who are miserable and suffering with cancer, autoimmune disease, neurological, skin, and gastroenterological issues and so much more; or perhaps they are just below the surface of “healthy” with fatigue, colds, allergies, rashes, etc. I would urge you or them to look over the Table of Contents at: http://toxicstaple.com/wp-content/uploads/TS-TableOfContents.pdf; many more gluten-related issues are covered in the book.

You too can find better health. My whole family did. Read my family saga in Toxic Staple.

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

 

Is Colon Cancer Linked To Gluten?

Colon Cancer

Daniel has been cancer-free for 4 years after a colon resection and 6 months of chemotherapy. His doctor thought his inflamed colon might have been due to gluten, but testing for both Crohns and celiac disease were negative. This can be a common experience as too often not enough testing is offered to detect a problem with gluten. The patient may be told, “Gluten is not your problem,” when in reality it is. I spell the blood and stool testing out in chapters 16 & 17 that will very likely detect an issue with gluten if there is one.

About a month prior to surgery his naturopathic doctor tested him for antibodies to gluten and wheat protein. He was high on both and began giving up gluten, which most likely affected the negative outcome of the celiac testing he was offered.

He claims, “I didn’t know I had a problem. My only symptom was leaky gut, a symptom that I had had my whole life. I was diagnosed with leaky gut in college because of chronic abdominal cramps and constipation. Taking psyllium fiber helped, but never completely relieved the symptoms.” That’s because it was a band-aide and didn’t address the main issue: What was causing his symptoms?

Leaky gut is not a symptom; it is a disorder caused by something and can lead to huge illness. Too many patients (and their doctors) underplay abdominal pain and constipation. They come to believe it is a normal part of life. Had Daniel been given adequate testing for celiac disease and gluten intolerance and adhered to a GF lifestyle he might (probably would) have avoided the colon cancer.

Daniel “tries” to stick to the GF lifestyle, but finds it difficult when traveling, especially abroad. If he gets hit with gluten he immediately, within 30 seconds, becomes congested and begins clearing his throat. Digestive issues ensue: constipation and gas. These symptoms appear to be a clear sign of gluten causation. They are a reaction to a foreign body that his immune system recognizes as a threat.

I’m hoping when Daniel gets to the end of my book, Toxic Staple, he will realize the necessity to be absolutely gluten-free wherever in the world he may be if he cares about his future health. Restaurants can always come up with something GF. Yes, it’s a bother to ask too many questions, but it is most important to keep yourself safe from mini-hits of gluten that can continue to do internal damage. Restaurants are coming more on board, but travel with fruit, nuts, and GF crackers and bars, just in case.

There is no way I would ever consume gluten and I am not overly sensitive. That’s because I do have a handle on the devastating and degenerative diseases linked to gluten (a decade of research – 2000+ studies, writing, collecting success stories, and going to conferences). Do you? Please educate yourself on the myriad symptoms, diseases, and associated conditions linked to gluten by thousands of international studies, many of which you will find in my book, Toxic Staple. I wrote this book to empower you and your loved ones. Only an over-the-edge driven grandmother could spell it out as I have. And please read the endorsements at http://toxicstaple.com/endorsements/ suggesting doctors read my book.

Celiac disease is associated with a difficult to diagnose and difficult to treat form of lymphoma called enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL). Anyone with celiac disease needs to be diagnosed early and live a 100% gluten-free lifestyle to avoid this and other serious complications of celiac disease. It is suggested “that EATL should be regarded as part of differential diagnosis in any patient presenting with abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and malabsorption because delay in treatment can result in an irreversible clinical outcome.”*

EATL: Patients with this form of cancer may not have a good prognosis; they may have abdominal pain due to “a hole in the wall of the intestine,” or ulcers or a blockage. EATL can travel to the colon, gallbladder, liver, lymph nodes, skin, spleen, and stomach.** Thus, the need to detect gluten issues early and pay strict attention to the GF lifestyle.

If you or your child have been suffering from stomach pain and intestinal issues or any one of the over 300 issues linked to gluten you will get the full picture from Toxic Staple, especially the testing you need to detect intolerance or celiac disease. Make a copy of the testing info for your doctor, and do not keep putting it off. You need to keep eating gluten until you have the blood tests. Low or no gluten can skew blood test results. Some doctors don’t even ask about this.

Celiac disease is only a fraction of the gluten problem. What really matters is whether you are gluten-intolerant. If intolerant you should never consume this nasty destructive protein. It can do you in over time. Even the littlest bit can keep the internal damage happening if you are sensitive to gluten.

There is a strong message here for the reader. If you are suffering from any one or more gastrointestinal issues please address it by getting thoroughly tested for gluten issues (4 blood tests). You will need to advocate for yourself as there is still huge unawareness of adequate testing to detect a problem with gluten. Keep eating gluten until you have the blood tests. And if negative on blood testing don’t stop until you follow it up with Dr. Fine’s stool testing. I have no financial interest in his lab; I just strongly believe in his very sensitive testing. My whole family, except the really sick grandkid, was negative on blood testing yet positive on stool tests. Everyone’s health turned around once we got on a GF diet/lifestyle.

A fair bit of research exists on colon cancer and gluten.

Do you have a colon cancer/gluten or cancer/gluten story to share for the benefit of others. If so please send via my contact button above.

The next post will address gluten issues in Daniel’s family.

*Onco Targets Ther. 2016 Feb 22;9:863-8. doi: 10.2147/OTT.S96745. eCollection 2016. Type I enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma in the colon of a 29-year-old patient and a brief literature review. Zhang JC1, Wang Y1, Wang XF1, Zhang FX1.

**Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Enteropathy-associated T-cell Lymphoma http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/types-of-nhl/enteropathy-associated-t-cell-lymphoma/?region=on

 

 

Poem – Don’t Be Blasé: Get Your Child Tested Today

My jingles about gluten are light, but intended to get a much needed message across.

Don’t Be Blasé: Get Your Child Tested Today

If your darling child has a milestone delay
Be leary of what the doctor might say

If crawling and walking poorly display
Gluten could be the link so don’t be blasé

If your infant doesn’t put weight on her feet
Don’t be shocked, it could be related to wheat   (osteomalacia, osteopenia)

If for her age she appears petite   (stature or failure to thrive)
This too could be linked to wheat

If his language skills seem incomplete
Another warning, it could be the wheat

If fussy… can’t sleep through the night
It’s wheat again you might indict

If her skin is pebbly, rough, and dry
The gluten-free lifestyle might apply

If diagnosed with autoimmune disease
Could be from the glutinous sleaze

If respiratory issues appear everyday
Are you getting the message I’m trying to convey?

Gluten is the root of much sickness and delay
“Get your child tested!” is all I can say

© 2014 Anne Sarkisian

But you can’t just ask for gluten/celiac testing or it’s likely you won’t get enough to really track down celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Parents must advocate for themselves by getting educated. Testing information, to discuss with your doctor, in Toxic Staple (Chapter 16 and 17) will very likely help you and your doctor detect sensitivity to gluten if it exists.

The one blood test generally offered is too often not enough testing unless you have full-blown celiac disease or are close to the end of the road. It seems few doctors are aware of adequate blood testing or the cutting-edge sensitive stool test that saved my family. It’s not their fault as very little is being offered to educate our doctors. And sickness prevails!

My book spells out the ins and outs of testing to share with your doctor and it addresses many of the 300+ symptoms and diseases/disorders linked to gluten by major world research.

Please do not ignore chronic symptoms in your child or yourself! If negative on blood testing please pursue the very sensitive stool testing.

 

Thanks at Thanksgiving…and All Year

As we approach this Thanksgiving Day and holiday season many of us think a little more about giving thanks for all that we cherish: our family and friends, our freedom, and our good health, among many others. I especially am thankful everyday for the excellent health my family and I enjoy. Had we not discovered we were all quite intolerant to gluten we would not have been such happy campers these last 12 years.

Knowing what I know about the devastating and degenerative hazards of gluten from having poured a decade into research and writing my award-winning book, “Toxic Staple” I can’t imagine what shape my family and I would be in if we hadn’t figured this monster out. I am fortunate to only be on one med for a hypothyroid that was very likely damaged due to gluten (autoimmune diseases are highly linked to gluten) before I even knew what gluten was, and I never get sick, and have great energy.

Many of you, however, do not bask in the sunlight of good health and great energy and may not realize that much of your poor state of health lies in your own hands. Most of you really can do something about your allergies, asthma, fatigue, autoimmune diseases, skin issues, neurological maladies, and on and on, if you want to. Naturally everything is not linked to gluten, but truly, it is incredible what gets better when you address this “toxic staple” that pervades our everyday lives and destroys your gut and other parts of the body.

Going downhill at the rate I was traveling prior to “the gluten-free lifestyle” in my early sixties, I can only assume that my longevity has been extended vastly, along with greater health, and rejuvenated energy and vitality.

I encourage you to look at your health and that of your children and other family members and friends. Many of you think it is normal to have intestinal issues, fatigue, allergies, asthma, arthritis, organ issues, migraines, depression, and on and on for more than over 300 maladies linked to gluten, but it is not. Older age does not necessarily have to mean degenerative, failing health. Your health and life can become so much more enhanced and transformed that you would not believe it. I am in better shape in my seventies than when I was in my forties. No kidding! All I did was remove the “monster” gluten (dairy also bothers many who are gluten intolerant). By the end of the first year I was only going for health checkups instead of sick calls.

But let me warn you that the vast majority of our traditionally trained doctors are not giving enough testing to track down celiac disease or gluten intolerance, nor are they aware of the numerous symptoms and illnesses linked to gluten. It’s not really their fault. Little is being done to educate every health care professional in every facet of medicine, since gluten can affect any part of the body, and many think celiac and gluten issues are rare. They are epidemic!

If you are plagued with chronic symptoms and illness please…do your body and brain a favor… you must become your own advocate in conjunction with your doctor. Get educated, get tested (you will need to request certain tests), and if positive follow a 100% gluten-free lifestyle. No cheating!

 And give mega thanks you have discovered the root of your health problems.

Please read the disclaimer above.

Please get back to me with your success story at anne(@sign)toxicstaple.com and kindly share this info with all your sick and tired friends who may be misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or overdosed! Even some of those who have rare and incurable diseases may find life can improve without gluten.

Need a speaker? anne(@)toxicstaple.com

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

 

Is The Gluten-Free Diet Just Another Fad? Absolutely Not!

The gluten-free diet has become a fad, but it is definitely not just another fad.

It’s no wonder all the gluten-free faddists feel better, lose weight, have more energy, headaches and skin problems disappear, intestinal issues subside, reflux and PMS get better, etc. My take is this: if you have chronic or troublesome health issues that get better with a gluten-free lifestyle, you are most likely gluten-sensitive to some degree. You are somewhere on the path or continuum of having a gluten problem. Of course you feel better when you remove the toxic staple, gluten.

But there is a problem just trying the gluten-free diet. I named my book Toxic Staple for a very good reason: gluten is at the root of huge illness. There are thousands of studies from around the world linking gluten to major ill health. So it’s important to get tested to see the results in black and white. It really helps one stay on the GF diet if intolerant, but to do the blood tests you need to keep eating gluten. If you just think you are a little sensitive and don’t fully comprehend the implications of being intolerant or having celiac disease, you may have the temptation to cheat. No, a little bit of gluten is not ok if you are intolerant or have celiac disease.

Gluten is a toxic protein for a huge part of the population (about 30%). It slowly whittles your health away and devastating, degenerative disease may not appear until years or decades later when your body has become quite compromised. That’s why it’s so important to get tested. Find out if this insidious monster is lurking in your closet before more serious issues manifest. If so, then face the GF lifestyle with an A+ attitude and see how your health, energy, and vitality may change. You deserve a healthier and stronger life, and your family needs you to be healthy.

Please read the disclaimer on my site above.

 

New Hampshire Writers’ Week: Author Website Tour, Nov. 30 – Dec. 6, 2014

NHWP writers week - logo 2After ten years of research, collecting success stories, and pulling it all together I finally independently published TOXIC STAPLE: How gluten may be wrecking your health – and what you can do about it!    

No matter where I am—out to dinner, in a grocery or movie line, or at a NH Writer’s Conference, etc— I am driven to share my title, website http://www.toxicstaple.com, and enthusiasm for transforming one’s health if sick and tired of being sick and tired. Everyone knows someone suffering from chronic aliments/disease whose health/life could be transformed by following a gluten-free lifestyle, if intolerant. Gluten is affecting millions of ailing folks. Thousands of scientific studies from around the world link gluten to over 300 symptoms, diseases, and associated conditions. The problem is: huge unawareness is pervasive since few, if any, conferences are being offered to educate our doctors, and many medical professionals think gluten issues are rare, which is why I poured a decade of my life into writing Toxic Staple.

Now my dedication to this well documented, award-winning book is beginning to payback as people tell me their stories. This past month three people in New London told me their arthritis was 95% better by removing gluten. One woman looked at my number plate, xgluten, and said, “Are you the woman who wrote the book? Thank you soooooo much.” Going gluten-free has transformed her life. Another woman whose candida has cleared up with a gluten-free lifestyle has realized two more benefits with time: the numbness, tingling, and sometimes pain in her fingers and hands (neuropathy) after doing heavy work have evaporated, and the weakness of her left knee muscles/ligaments have strengthened so she can now do leg exercises for an old injury. One doctor emailed that her frozen shoulder was 95% better after doing the diet for 3 weeks. Another woman told me her fatigue has turned to energy, tummy issues have resolved, and her skin is softer.

As I sit by the woodstove in the quiet of my home in the Sunapee region, the peace and beauty of the lake and evergreens open spaces in my mind to write jingles that deliver a message: Gluten is a Toxic Staple for millions. If you are plagued with fatigue and chronic health issues that are affecting your lifestyle, energy, and focus in trying to work, play, read, or write it is incumbent upon you to become your own health advocate (in conjunction with your doctor). Get educated, get tested (you need to request a panel of tests or you may not get enough testing to detect a sensitivity until your health is very compromised), and if positive begin a journey with the gluten-free lifestyle. It can be life transforming!

It’s amazing what gets better when gluten is removed from the diet. You too can share your success story for the benefit of others at http://www.toxicstaple.com. The stories are endless!

Why Not Feel Great?

There is no debate
A crate of ailments
And unhealthy state
No thanks to gluten
Can totally desecrate
One’s health
Why let gluten dictate
If one can feel great?

Gluten-free equates
To a healthier state
It seems to negate
Chronic ill health
And dire straits
Gluten-free translates
To a healthier fate
Why not feel great?

Many thanks to all who have volunteered their time, energy, and creative spirit to the NH Writers’ Workshop. It has been a great source of support through courses at the annual conference, Writers’ Night Out, Great Leads, Social Media For Authors, and more. Also, IPNE, Independent Publishers of NE, exists to help folks like me to get their message into print.

Best of health to you all!

Anne Sarkisian
Award-winning author: TOXIC STAPLE: How gluten may be wrecking your health – and what you can do about it!
http://www.toxicstaple.com

 

Serious Health Conditions Linked to Gluten – Over 300

Your doctor might think to test you for celiac disease (CD) if you have gastrointestinal issues, but some still think it’s a rare condition. Far from it! It’s very common. Sadly, many of the more serious conditions (cardio, thyroid, liver, neurological, autoimmune, blood, muscular, cancer, infertility, and skin, to name a few) linked to gluten and the associated malabsorption and immune reactions are not on many doctors’ radar screens across our country. That’s why I wrote TOXIC STAPLE. Too many folks are too “sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

Let’s take 100 folks with atrial fib, liver disease, or memory issues and ask how many of them were offered testing for celiac disease or gluten intolerance (GI). And if they were tested (doubtful), were they offered more than the one typical blood test (doubtful – I hear from too many people they were only given one test – a panel of four tests has a better chance to detect the gluten issue and even then the patient may be negative on all four tests and still be gluten intolerant).

In TOXIC STAPLE you will find such stories on atrial fib, liver disease, and memory issues getting better or disappearing on a gluten-free diet, all supported with significant research. And chapters 16 and 17 will help to clarify testing that hopefully will get an answer if you are gluten sensitive, so you can begin a campaign to transform your health and practice preventative medicine.

If you are burdened with chronic or degenerative illness, no matter what kind, it would behoove you to get tested for gluten sensitivity (CD and GI). Naturally, the sicker you are and the longer you put off trying to determine the cause of your ailments the longer it may take to rejuvenate your health, but most people can find some to a great measure of success with a gluten-free lifestyle if sensitive to gluten. So many success stories are spelled out in TOXIC STAPLE. You may be able to relate to many of them.

If you are gluten sensitive and you ignore this degenerative condition you may be paving the road to an earlier demise. I know that by living a gluten-free lifestyle I have totally enhanced my health and extended my life. You have the power to transform your health! But don’t wait too long. The sicker and more compromised your body becomes the more difficult it may be to totally turn your health around.