(06-12-11) Celiac disease and gluten intolerance - Does time heal all wounds?

by Julie McGinnis

(NaturalNews) As the saying goes, "time heals all wounds." But what if you
have been suffering with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity (GS) for decades
and just want to feel better today? Besides a gluten-free diet, is there
anything else you can do to enhance the healing process?

After receiving a celiac or GS diagnosis, most patients leave their doctor's
office with instructions to adhere to a strict gluten-free diet -- and that's
it. While it's wonderful to have a definitive diagnosis and not to have to take
medication for the rest of your life, it's also important to know that there
are powerful over-the-counter tools at your disposal.
I frequently encourage newly diagnosed clients to start a course of
nutritional supplements for six months to a year depending on the severity of
their condition. Not only do the nutritional supplements listed below promote
intestinal health and healing, they can actually accelerate your recovery.

Without a small intestine biopsy, it is difficult to estimate how ravaged your
intestines are. Since biopsies are no longer required to diagnose celiac
disease, most newly diagnosed patients are in the dark about the condition of
their digestive track. According to the National Institutes of Health, diet
alone will heal existing intestinal damage and prevent further damage. Yet, the
amount of time it takes to heal completely varies depending on a number of
factors, particularly age. For example, in children, the small intestine can
take three to six months to heal; however, in adults, it may take several years
before healing is complete.

While waiting for the gut to heal, many of the nutrients you consume are lost.
A healthy intestine has an abundance of villi (tiny, finger-like projections
that increase the intestinal surface area), which allows for the absorption of
nutrients into the bloodstream. With celiac disease these villi are flattened
and proper absorption of nutrients is compromised. The continued malabsorption
of nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, B vitamins, and omega-3
fatty acids can contribute to mood disorders, lower energy levels, poor bone
health, insomnia, attention problems, and a host of other issues.

Until recently, conventional medical wisdom presumed that only those with
celiac disease suffered from severe intestinal degradation, the kind that
destroys your villi. In the spring of 2011, however, Dr. Alessio Fasano
completed a research study that found differences in levels of intestinal
permeability and the expression of genes regulating the immune responses in the
gut mucosa possibly associated with gluten sensitivity. What this study
revealed is that gluten sensitivity and celiac disease are part of the same
spectrum of gluten-related disorders. Meaning that those with gluten
sensitivity suffer from intestinal permeability issues similar to those with
celiac disease, but to a lesser degree. In other words, people with gluten
sensitivity -- not just those with celiac disease -- have absorption issues
caused by an immune response to gluten.

For the people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity who more than likely
have intestinal inflammation and permeability issues, the question remains:
"How to return the digestive track back to normal as quickly as possible?"

Nutrition Supplements to Support Healing

The following nutrition supplements are effective and work independently of
each other. These supplements also complement each other, so taking them
together can help heal many aspects of the gut at once. In my experience as a
Registered Dietitian working with patients who are afflicted with gluten
issues, I have found that glutamine, probiotics, and fish oil (in that order)
are my "Top Three" choices. Before you begin taking these, or any supplements,
I encourage you to have a consultation with a dietitian who has experience with
gluten disorders.

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body. It is a protein
building block and is involved in more metabolic processes than any other amino
acid. Glutamine also serves as a source of fuel for the cells lining the
intestine and can promote healing in these cells when they are damaged by
gluten. How much Glutamine you should take depends upon several factors. I
suggest you consult a dietitian for the dosage that is right for you.

Probiotics are live bacteria that improve the intestinal microbial balance and
enhance overall health. They are the "good" bacteria found in the
gastrointestinal track. Inflammation or toxins in the gut can disrupt the
balance between "good" and "bad" bacteria. Probiotics may be taken to restore a
healthy balance and assist in the removal of toxins created by gluten
insensitivity or celiac disease. In addition, a preventative dose of probiotics
is a good idea as these microbes promote immune health, and they are frequently
absent in modern diets. Probiotics come as capsules, tablets, liquids, powders
and contain many different strains of bacteria. Be sure to purchase your
probiotics from a reputable company that ensures the potency and efficacy of
their products. Contact these companies for documentation stating probiotic
viability and research studies using the strains in their formulas -- or visit
their websites. I normally recommend that my patients receive a daily dose of
at least 10 billion (or more) live, viable, organisms per gram containing:
Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bifidobacteria, Streptococcus
thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus.

Omega 3 fatty acids are comprised of the fatty acids EPA and DHA and are found
in fish and fish oil supplements. These essential fats are not made by the body
and must be eaten or taken in supplement form to ensure the body's adequate
functioning. In addition to reducing inflammation, these fats help to support
healthy heart, brain, skin, and bone function. Significant health problems may
result when these nutrients are not adequately absorbed. I recommend a dosage
of 1,000 mg EPA and 1,000 mg DHA be taken daily from a high quality product
with low mercury and toxin levels.

Digestive enzymes aid the body in digesting and breaking down proteins, fats,
and carbohydrates. Digestive enzymes from either animal or plant sources should
be taken an empty stomach, 20 minutes before meals or snacks. Enzymes help
break down food into forms that the body can use. When the gut is damaged a
condition called "leaky gut syndrome" occurs, and undigested food particles can
pass through the intestinal wall into the blood stream in a form the body
cannot use. These unusable food particles then activate an immune response
because the body has detected an "invader." This immune response adds
inflammation to the ongoing food sensitivity issues. Digestive enzymes assist
in breaking food down into the right form for the body to use. In general,
plant- or microbial-derived enzymes are more effective and work in more areas
of your digestive system than their animal-derived counterparts.

Anti-inflammatory herbal formulas can help reduce inflammation and promote
healing. Look for herbs like turmeric, aloe vera, ginger, and boswellia in
formulas or by themselves as a part of your healing regime. Again, working with
a dietitian to decide dosages and which combination of these herbs would be
most beneficial to you is recommended.

What to Consider if You Are Not Getting Better

There are some people with celiac disease that show no improvement on a gluten-
free diet. One of the most common reasons for a poor response to the diet is
that small amounts of gluten are still being consumed. Hidden sources of gluten
include medications, additives such as modified food starch, preservatives, and
stabilizers made with wheat. Additionally, those with severe sensitivities may
not be healing because of cross contamination caused by production facilities.
Most corn and rice products are produced in factories that also manufacture
wheat products. For some people, even these minute amounts of cross
contamination can add up. Some people should only consume packaged foods from
GF certified facilities, or in extreme cases, consume no packaged foods at all.

Some people with celiac disease continue to have intestinal flare ups despite
being on a strict gluten-free diet. People with this condition, known as
refractory celiac disease, have severely damaged intestines that heal very
slowly -- if at all. Because their intestines are not absorbing enough
nutrients, these celiac sufferers may need to receive many of their nutrients
intravenously.

Cross reactivity to some gluten-free grains can also be a problem.
Intolerances to grains that do not contain gluten, which people on gluten-free
diet tend to eat more of, can also develop. Many times these secondary
intolerances develop because of gut permeability and the body's response to
foreign material outside the gut lining, where it is not suppose to be. Cyrex
Labs offers a Gluten Cross Reactive Foods Test that looks at the 24 most common
foods that cross-react with gluten. This test will help you identify and avoid
other foods that are preventing you from healing and feeling better.

In my experience, time does heal these wounds, but the amount of time varies
widely from person to person. I have seen many people's symptoms -- in
particular, severe cases that have gone unresolved for decades -- abate faster
and more thoroughly thanks to additional supplementation. Any time the gut has
undergone stress, the supplements mentioned above can be of benefit -- and
always be mindful when purchasing supplements to be sure they are gluten-free.

Source: NaturalNews

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