Gluten Free Diets: Fad or the Answer to your Prayers?

What do the following seemingly unrelated symptoms have in common: joint pain, skin rashes, poor balance, depression, ADD, diarrhea, thyroid problems? Give up? The answer is something that you likely encounter every day, if you’re anything like the average American.

Gluten is a protein found the seeds of the grass family of plants, including wheat, rye, barley, spelt, triticale, kamut and oats. Do you enjoy eating bread, pasta crackers or muffins? They all contain gluten, a protein that’s getting lots of press these days.

The effects of gluten are widespread, and include intestinal upset—gas, bloating, diarrhea, irritable bowel etc and a wide range of mental and emotional problems, including depression, ADD, autism, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, balance problems, epilepsy, numbness and tingling, Oh yeah, I forgot to mention dermatitis.Gluten free diets have been found to help people with autoimmune diseases and thyroid problems as well. Perhaps Oprah should consider 6 months of strict gluten avoidance and see how her thyroid acts then.

This is the first of a 5 part series exploring the myths, fears and truths around a gluten free diet. Oh, yeah. Recipes will follow too. I’ve been on a gluten free diet now for many years, and it’s not as hard as you’d think, once you get a few good tools and tricks under your belt.

A groundbreaking new book, called “The Gluten Connection: How Gluten Sensitivity May Be Sabotaging Your Health--And What You Can Do to Take Control” by Shari Lieberman is a must read if you’re dealing with fatigue, digestive disturbances, depression, focus problems, and any vague neurologic symptoms.

To be continued....

Love, Health and Joy,

Dr. Ritamarie

http://www.FreshnFunLiving.com

Follow me on twitter: http://drritamarie.com/twitter
Be my friend on facebook: http://drritamarie.com/facebook

"Creating Vibrant Health, One Bite at a Time"
www.FreshnFunLiving.com

Achieve maximum energy, ideal weight and mental clarity . FR*EE e-book at http://www.GreenFoodMagic.com

© 2008 Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo. MS, DC, CCN, DACBN All Rights Reserved.