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Stop Chasing Skinny Episode #1
The Real Deal on Gluten and Life After a Diagnosis of Celiacs Disease with Megan Bryan
Join me for this eye-opening interview with Megan Bryan as she shares how and when she was diagnosed with celiac’s disease. Unfortunately I hear many people with these exact same symptoms on a regular basis and most people think feeling bloated, tired, unable to focus, and achy is just part of life. It doesn’t have to be that way!
Show Notes
How did you find out you had celiac’s disease?
2004 I was sick and going septic. I had skin problems, hormonal imbalances, I suffered a miscarriage, and had unexplained anxiety and fatigue, and was in almost constant pain in my gut. I went to a respected Gastroenterologist who performed the whole battery of tests on me and I was told I there was nothing wrong with me, I just had “IBS”, and that they should remove my gallbladder and see if it helped. Well, sadly, they did remove it and it did not help. Several months later I went to and MD who had been trained in Chinese medicine, looking for help. She tested me and found I had Celiac’s Disease and told me I needed to remove gluten from my diet. I had no idea what that meant or even where to begin.
What is celiac’s Disease?
It is an autoimmune response to gluten- meaning your body treats it as a foreign invader and attacks the gluten, destroying the lining of your gut, or the villi in the intestines.These Villi are what help us absorb nutrients, so People with Celiacs can become severely nutrient deficient, especially with Iron.
Signs/symptoms others can watch for:
- Digestive problems (abdominal bloating, pain, gas, diarrhea, pale stools, and weight loss).
- A severe skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis, eczema.
- Iron deficiency anemia (low blood count).
- Musculoskeletal problems (muscle cramps, joint and bone pain).
- Growth problems and failure to thrive (in children).
- Tingling sensation in the legs (caused by nerve damage and low calcium).
- Aphthous ulcers (sores in the mouth).
- Missed menstrual periods.
- Osteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones and leads to fractures. This occurs because the person has trouble absorbing enough calcium and vitamin D.
- Miscarriage or infertility.
- Birth defects, such as neural tube defects (improper formation of the spine) caused by poor absorption of such nutrients as folic acid.
- Seizures.
- Growth problems in children because they don’t absorb enough nutrients.
- Cancer of the intestine (very rare).
What happens if you don’t take it seriously and eliminate gluten?
According to and article by Robert Preidt, “a study, which was published in the Aug. 6 issue of the journal Annals of Internal Medicine [showed that] Overall, the patients with celiac disease had an annual lymphoma risk of about 68 of 100,000 people, which is nearly three times higher than the general population’s risk rate of about 24 of 100,000.
Meanwhile, the annual risk for patients with ongoing intestinal damage was about 102 of 100,000 people, compared with 31.5 of 100,000 for those with healed intestines.
What kind of doctor should you go to see if you think it might have celiacs?
Find a doctor who is trained to think wholistically about the body and about disease. Many doctors were not taught this in Med school and it is not on their radar when intestinal or skin problems occur
Foods we may think of as having gluten and foods we wouldn’t think of:
Barley and Soy sauce are the big ones- soy does not have gluten but soy sauce is packed with wheat. But it is hidden in sauces, spices, and often cross contamination from equipment shared with gluten containing ingredients.
My mission of educating restaurant staff on why it is important to care and how to avoid
cross contamination (list a couple common mistakes). www.saltwaterchef.com
Cross contamination is the big thing- there can be a gluten free menu, and no bread, no gluten-containing ingredients, but the meal can be loaded with gluten. How?
- Sharing a grill that has had meat with soy sauce or gluten in the marinade.
- Sharing a toaster.
- Using the same gloves/hands used to touch bread or four tortillas (at a Burrito place, for example).
- Improperly cleaned plates and serving utensils.
For a person with Gluten sensitivity and /or Celiacs, these small bits of gluten will cause an autoimmune response, making you very sick and will do long term damage to your gut.
***Story 1 – we all went out for burgers
**** Story 2- watching the guy prepare my salad at the Burrito place- he changed his gloves for me then put his hands on a flour tortilla without thinking… Just being mindful
Gluten free is a HUGE industry, and restaurants need to get on board. According the NASFT (National Association for the Specialty Food Trade)
From 2011 to 2013, the market experienced growth of 44 percent. And
Mintel predicts the market will grow 48 percent from 2013 to 2016, to reach sales of $15.6 billion in 2016.
Important thing for restaurant staff to understand is that it is not about a DIET, or weight loss, or being picky- We are usually very embarrassed to have to ask for help from the staff. It is about a serious health condition that will make the person very, very sick (like a peanut allergy).
Its also important to understand that most groups have at least 1 person with gluten sensitivity, in the mix and will choose a restaurant based on one that can accommodate the gluten allergy.
I found Isagenix and it has been an important piece of my healthy lifestyle. I need to have a meal replacement backup in your purse just in case and Isagenix offers gluten free meal replacement options (shakes and bars). www.saltwaterchef.isagenix.com
Because of gut damage, people with celiacs need large doses of easily absorbed nutrients. I found Isagenix, and thought I have been gluten free for years, I immediately felt the difference in my skin, my hormones, my sleep, I released weight, my hair and nails improved.
I also use the shakes when I am out, which happens often, and I cannot find a place that can prepare me a gluten free meal. HEALING YOUR GUT through reducing inflammation, increasing alkalinity, and giving your body large doses of good nutrition.
Life doesn’t have to end just because you have been diagnosed with a gluten intolerance. Check out my www.saltwaterchef.com website to see what kind of yummy gluten free cooking and baking options are still available to you.
- Learn about how different flours work Xanthan gum, chia seed as binders.
- Replace flour in a Roux with rice flour.
- Learn to bake breads and Pizza doughs with gluten fre flours so you do not feel deprived.
- Treats- Sunday Doughnuts, waffles…
