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Celiac Sufferers Beware

Celiac disease is common and complicated. People with this condition cannot tolerate gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. When exposed, their immune systems attack the lining of the small intestine and cause serious damage to the tissues. As a result people often cannot absorb crucial nutrients from food and suffer a range of symptoms. Some have digestive difficulties, but migraine headaches, anemia and fatigue are other possible signals.
The only treatment for celiac disease is to follow a gluten free diet. That’s why it is alarming that many products claiming to be gluten free actually are contaminated with this protein. The scientists tested 22 naturally gluten-free grains and seeds. Several were contaminated with gluten. One soy flour contained 3,000 parts per million, a dangerously high dose for anyone with celiac disease. Better government oversight is desperately needed.

[Journal of the American Dietetic Association, June 2010]

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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