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]