Gluten-free doesn’t have to be guesswork
If you've been contemplating a gluten-free diet, diagnostic testing can help determine precisely if you’re sensitive to wheat or gluten proteins, have an allergy to wheat or gluten proteins, or have actual celiac disease. It’s estimated that around 1% of the population has celiac disease but only about 30% of those are properly diagnosed. People with a first degree relative with celiac disease have a 1 in 10 risk of developing celiac disease (me AND one of my sisters have it for context). Also, around 6-7% of the population are estimated to have non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Symptoms can be similar across gluten-related conditions with celiac disease being defined as villi atrophy leading to nutrient malabsorption.
I believe it’s important to determine through testing where you may be on this spectrum of gluten related disorders before you embark on a gluten-free diet. Why? Because, in my clinical experience I’ve noticed MANY clients that claim a gluten-free diet are actually not gluten-free when I suggest we do testing because they are still experiencing symptoms. You can use testing as a little report card of your gluten-freeness! Our bodies are all bio-individual and I’ve noticed that some bodies register every little gluten particle and some do not, some freak the heck out with a tiny exposure, and some have no symptoms upon immediate exposure but the testing shows blatant gluten exposure. And I’m referring to both celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. The testing shows the patient’s compliance to gluten exposure. So what I’m saying is— it’s important to test, not guess!
Gluten is ubiquitous in our food supply, environment, social situations, etc. Unless you KNOW FOR A FACT (ie: testing) that you need to stay 100% gluten-free, people usually don’t or seem to interpret 95-99% gluten-free as a gluten-free diet. Unfortunately your body doesn’t always see it that way. Kinda like you can’t be a little bit pregnant. Gluten-free means 100% gluten-free.
May is Celiac Awareness Month, which means it's the perfect time to see what your gluten status is! And when we know better, we do better! After a few weeks, sometimes months, we can often really start to feel the effects of a true gluten-free diet with the abatement of annoying gluten-related symptoms— ahhh, sweet relief!
I use the Wheat Zoomer test, which can be done at home with a finger prick—no visit to a blood draw center required! You can order the Wheat Zoomer test right from my STORE page on my website (or through the link in my instagram bio). My testing packages come with a 1 hour lab review and nutrition/lifestyle consultation all in one price- for both of our convenience!
Also, if you are newly diagnosed celiac by your provider, I am here to help you too! And I love taking celiac referrals from other providers as I often have more time with the client to really dial in the diet compliance piece- send me all your celiac referrals! I have 10 years of experience in this realm and have walked many through it. It’s daunting at first, but when embraced in the context of a whole foods diet, can become second nature and very healing. And seasoned celiacs— you do need occasional check up testing to see compliance, especially if experiencing any symptoms. I have many resources for new celiacs so don’t hesitate to reach out for a consultation if you need help finding direction (or re-direction!) in the gluten-free arena.
Don't suffer in silence—let’s figure out exactly what’s up with you and gluten!