by Lawrence Wilson, MD

CELIAC DISEASE, CELIAC SPRUE OR GLUTEN INTOLERANCE

by Dr. Lawrence Wilson

All information in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

Gluten intolerance, also called celiac disease or celiac sprue, is a common and debilitating condition affecting about 1 in every 133 people in America, and probably somewhat fewer around the world.

Essentially, the person does not tolerate foods that contain a protein called gluten. Gluten is found in some grains such as wheat, rye, barley and oats, primarily. Very small amounts are also found in some other foods such as rice. However, most people with gluten intolerance can eat rice without a problem.

SYMPTOMS OF GLUTEN INTOLERANCE

Common symptoms include digestive upsets such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, abdominal pain in some cases, weight loss, burping or others. However, other symptoms are possible, such as general fatigue and malaise, malnutrition symptoms, sleep difficulties, and others. In some cases, symptoms are few.

IDENTIFYING GLUTEN INTOLERANCE

If you suspect this condition, the simplest way to identify it is to stop eating all foods that contain even a trace of gluten. This will leave you with a very natural diet with little prepared foods in it. If you feel better, and your symptoms diminish, most likely you have some degree of gluten intolerance.

A more precise diagnosis can be made by a doctor who can test you for gluten sensitivity by various blood and other tests.

THE CAUSE OF GLUTEN INTOLERANCE

Medical doctors say the cause is genetic and there is little one can do about it except to avoid all gluten in the diet. This is difficult and restricts the diet quite a lot, in some cases.

My experience is that the medical perception is not true. A more accurate understanding is that the intestine is damaged in a particular way that can be helped a lot with a strict diet of mainly cooked vegetables and some animal protein daily, with very simple meals of only one or two foods per meal. One cannot drink a lot of liquids with meals and must observe a few other cautions described below. When this is done, in combination with a complete nutritional balancing program to balance and strengthen the body chemistry and renourish the body properly, the intolerance to all gluten will lessen and may go away entirely.

Even if this occurs, I still do not recommend wheat in any form because it is a very hybridized food that is quite irritating today. However, I find that within a few years of starting a nutritional balancing program, most people can regain the ability to tolerate foods such as rye, barley, oats, rice and most other foods. In other words, most food sensitivities, allergies or intolerances diminish.

The real cause of celiac disease might be called a leaky and damaged intestinal system. Most people are also not secreting nearly enough digestive enzymes to properly digest their food. Also, most do not drink enough of the correct type of water. Also, most are eating foods that subtly irritate their intestinal tract, and/or give rise to intestinal infections that perpetuate the problem.

These foods include all sugars and sweets, including all fruit, fruit juices, dried fruits, nuts, seeds, too much carrot juice, smoothies and blended drinks, nightshade vegetables, raw salads and other raw food, and food chemicals such as additives and preservatives. Lightly cooked eggs and meats are generally fine, but overcooked or fried foods of any kind are not as good. Any or all of these factors can damage the intestines further and keep the gluten sensitivity going.

THE ROLE OF LIFESTYLE AND EATING HABITS

For correction of gluten intolerance, one’s lifestyle and eating habits must be improved in many cases. For example, eating only one or two foods at a meal is excellent for a tired, depleted intestinal tract as it places less demands on the intestine. Eating slowly, chewing thoroughly, eating quiet, sit-down meals, and resting for 10 minutes or more before and after each meal are very helpful eating habits to learn to everyone, but particularly those with celiac disease.

Avoid eating on the run, avoid complex meals and many food combinations, and always relax at mealtime. Do not eat when upset or anxious.

Other helpful lifestyle patterns are to get plenty of rest and sleep. Also, I suggest deep breathing for at least 15 minutes daily, or more, ideally. This is like a massage of your digestive and other internal organs, which can assist their healing. If possible, think only positive thoughts and do not dwell on the negative.

THE PEYER’S PATCHES AND GLUTEN INTOLERANCE

In most cases of gluten intolerance, the Peyer’s patches are very congested. These are lymph glands along the middle part of the small intestine, mainly, that control and help eliminate toxins through the small intestines.

In most people over the age of about 30, these small but important lymph glands become congested and cease to function properly. To help restore them, a nutritional balancing program is best, as there is not one supplement or recipe for everyone. However, using a near infrared lamp sauna daily, and dong one to three coffee enemas daily, are procedures that are most helpful for the Peyer’s patches. The use of castor oil packs may also be helpful to improve the functioning of the Peyer’s patches, which in turn may assist one’s return to being able to tolerate gluten in the diet, at least in small quantity.

HOW TO BEGIN A NUTRITIONAL BALANCING PROGRAM IF YOU HAVE CELIAC DISEASE

Some people have difficulty on a nutritional balancing program if they have gluten intolerance because they do not want to take the products that contain a tiny bit of rice protein. Here is a possible solution:

1. Begin with just the diet and 3 quarts of quality spring water with nothing added. Do this for at least a week, and perhaps up to one month. Do not drink with meals. Drink water one hour after eating up to about 10 minutes before a meal.

By beginning the program this way, the intestinal tract will begin to heal and in many cases, a person can then tolerate the supplement better. The diet must be done strictly, and it works best if one does mono meals, or just one food per meal. You may eat 5 or 6 meals daily in this case. This is not forever, but just until the intestines heal sufficiently that one can take the full nutritional balancing program.

Important foods to include in the diet are sardines, 3 cans per week, and a few blue corn chips if one can tolerate blue corn. These may be very helpful. Important foods to avoid are all fruit, all sugars, all sweet drinks, all nightshade vegetables, all raw food, all chemicalized and refined foods, and food additives.

2. also begin with as many of the “procedures” as possible. These are the coffee enemas (one to 4 daily), near infrared sauna or lamp therapy (at least one hour daily on the abdomen), the spinal twist, foot reflexology daily, deep breathing daily, and the Roy Masters meditation exercise at least one hour daily. These will accelerate healing a lot.

3. After one to four weeks or so on this regimen, try adding GB-3, and perhaps EPA-DHA 300 (omega-3 fatty acids) and 5000 iu of vitamin D daily. Also, add TMG 500 mg daily.

Ideally, take GB-3 from the start. However, if you cannot, then wait a few weeks and then add this excellent digestive aid and liver detoxifier. Begin with no more than 1 tablet daily. Work up to 1 tablet per meal, if possible, and then up to 2 or even 3 tablets per meal.

Most omega-3 fatty acid supplements, vitamin D and TMG supplements should not contain gluten.

4. After a few more weeks, add the rest of the recommended supplements on the nutritional balancing program. Please try this and let me know how it works. By following this sequence, many clients can take the Endomet supplements made with a little hydrolyzed rice protein.

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