Info

Gluten Free RN

Gluten Free RN, Nadine Grzeskowiak RN BSN CEN, talks about every aspect of celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, gluten free lifestyle & diet, Paleo lifestyle, microbiome and all related issues.
RSS Feed
Gluten Free RN
2018
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
December


Categories

All Episodes
Archives
Categories
Now displaying: June, 2017
Jun 30, 2017

Nobody wants bad bacteria, parasites, yeast or food particles hanging around their small intestine! There are a number of causes of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and undiagnosed celiac disease just happens to be one of them.

The Gluten Free RN is prepared to discuss the complexity of health issues celiac patients must resolve after going on a gluten free diet, one of which may be SIBO. She shares the symptoms of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, how we test for SIBO, and potential treatments for the condition. Listen in to learn how foods and medication affect the microbiome and alter the environment of your intestines.

What’s Discussed:

The complexity of healing once a celiac patient goes gluten free

  • Very rarely does diet change heal all associated disorders
  • Other issues like SIBO must be treated once intestines heal

The causes of irritable bowel syndrome

  • Thought to be caused by stress
  • Studies now show food poisoning may be trigger

How food, drink and medication affect your intestines

  • Certain food/drink can move in bad bacteria, push out good
  • Antibiotics change pH of stomach acid
  • Bacteria, parasites, yeast and food particles get into small intestine

The consequences of damaged villi due to undiagnosed celiac disease

  • Compromised immune system
  • Inflammation
  • Body can’t absorb nutrients

The process of healing your intestines

  • Takes six months to a year
  • Must eliminate all foods that cause inflammation (gluten, dairy, soy, etc.)
  • After villi heal, deal with additional health issues (i.e.: SIBO)
  • Villi MUST grow back before good bacteria can return

The symptoms of SIBO

  • Gas, bloating
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation

How to test for SIBO

  • Consume sugary drink, then breathe into tube
  • Hydrogen sulfate associated with diarrhea
  • Methane connected to constipation
  • Gives snapshot of what is happening in intestines

How SIBO is treated

  • Antibiotics (rifaximin)
  • Herbs (i.e.: oregano oil, berberine, neem)
  • Fecal microbial transplant

Risk factors for SIBO

  • Any course of antibiotics
  • Diabetes
  • Bowel surgery
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Undiagnosed celiac disease

Resources:

Primal Docs

SIBO Info Website

“Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: A Comprehensive Review” in Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Connect with Nadine: 

Instagram

Facebook

Contact via Email

‘Your Skin on Gluten’ on YouTube

Melodies of the Danube Gluten-Free Cruise with Nadine

Books by Nadine:

Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism

 

Jun 23, 2017

Did you know that the spleen plays a leading role in a properly functioning immune system? As the largest organ in your lymphatic system, the spleen spends its time fighting infection and keeping you healthy. Unfortunately, research points to a connection between disorders of the spleen and celiac disease. And if your immune system is already compromised because of gluten damage to your intestines, a spleen issue leaves you at heightened risk for a variety of infections and autoimmune diseases.

Today the Gluten Free RN shares her personal connection to genetic spherocytosis and how spleen damage affected her family. She also covers several studies that document the correlation between spleen issues and celiac disease. Listen in to understand how your spleen functions, the symptoms of spleen disorder, and the autoimmune diseases you may develop if your spleen is damaged or removed.

What’s Discussed:

How your spleen works to keep you healthy

  • Filters used/damaged red blood cells
  • Harvests iron to recycle
  • Produces antibodies, white blood cells
  • Fights infection
  • Vital to immune system

Conditions you may acquire if spleen is damaged (increased risk)

  • Pneumonia
  • UTI
  • Overwhelming sepsis

Instances in which spleen may be enlarged

  • Mononucleosis
  • Some bacterial infections, metabolic disorders
  • Liver diseases
  • Some blood cancers, lymphoma
  • Blood clots in veins of liver, spleen

Symptoms of spleen issues

  • Pain in upper left quadrant
  • Fatigue
  • Anemia
  • Bruise easily
  • Bloated

The correlation between genetic spherocytosis and celiac disease

  • As high as 88% in some studies

How the ratio of spleen diameter to RDW can indicate celiac disease

  • Two-thirds of celiac patients in study had elevated red blood cell distribution width
  • Small spleen in 80% of celiac patients
  • Spleen diameter to RDW ratio under 6 had 88.5% specificity in predicting celiac disease

Why patients with hyposplenism should get tested for celiac disease

  • 25-75% of celiac patients have hyposplenism
  • Look for red blood cell abnormality
  • HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 genes indicate predisposition for celiac disease
  • Antibody test available from EnteroLab or Cyrex Laboratories
  • Ask for total IgA, IgG

Other autoimmune diseases patients with hyposplenism may develop (increased risk)

  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Lupus
  • Sjögren’s syndrome
  • Vitiligo
  • Raynaud’s
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • ALS, MS, any demyelination of nervous system
  • Idiopathic thrombocytopenia
  • Autoimmune hepatitis

Nadine’s recommendations around nutrition

  • Local, organic
  • Nutrient dense
  • Gluten-free, Paleo

The link between hyposplenism and autoimmune manifestations of celiac disease

  • Autoimmune disorders may cause splenic hypofunction or vice versa
  • Study hypothesizes that higher risk for splenic function in celiac patients may be related to celiac disease rather than autoimmunity
  • Prevalence of celiac disease-associated hyposplenism increased from 19% in uncomplicated patients to 59% in those with autoimmune disorders

Why celiac patients may not benefit from iron supplements, infusions

  • Damaged intestines cannot absorb iron
  • Damaged spleen destroys healthy red blood cells 

Resources:

“Ratio of Spleen Diameter to Red Blood Cell Distributions Width” in Medicine (Baltimore)

EnteroLab

Cyrex Laboratories

“Is it Worth Investigating Splenic Function in Patients with Celiac Disease?” in the World Journal of Gastroenterology

“Hyposplenism in Gastrointestinal Disease” in Gut BMJ

“Hyposplenism, Adult Coeliac Disease, and Autoimmunity” in Gut BMJ

“Splenic Volume Differentiates Complicated and Non-Complicated Celiac Disease” in UEG Journal

Connect with Nadine: 

Instagram

Facebook

Contact via Email

‘Your Skin on Gluten’ on YouTube

Melodies of the Danube Gluten-Free Cruise with Nadine

Books by Nadine:

Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism

Jun 16, 2017

The average human takes between 14 and 20 breaths per minute. But if you are conscious of those breaths, that’s a problem. Perhaps you’re experiencing chest tightness, clogged sinuses or a nagging cough that make you very aware of every breath you take. If so, the ingestion of gluten may be a contributing factor to these respiratory issues.

Today Nadine explores the relationship between the lungs and celiac disease, offering anecdotal evidence as well as explaining the way that inflammation can lead to a number of respiratory problems. Because 70-90% of your immune system is housed in your intestines, it is no surprise that a leaky gut could make you more vulnerable to respiratory tract infections.

Despite the fact that current literature considers respiratory challenges to be an atypical presentation of celiac disease, the Gluten Free RN argues that there is enough anecdotal evidence to merit further study. Listen in to understand the vitamin deficiencies that likely contribute to respiratory issues, how those health concerns might be corrected by going gluten-free, and why your body heals more quickly on a high fat, whole food diet. It’s time to go gluten-free and breathe easy again!

What’s Discussed: 

How gluten ingestion likely affects the respiratory system

  • Body keeps fluids separate unless tissues leaky
  • Gluten alters epithelial tissue, including that of lungs

Nadine’s anecdotal evidence of a connection between gluten and respiratory issues

  • Fellow nurse had lung removed as child
  • Always needed inhalers
  • Went gluten-free with Nadine
  • Inflammation in lungs cleared, asthma gone
  • No longer needed inhalers

Respiratory issues that may be corrected on a gluten-free diet

  • Anemia (lack of red blood cells to carry oxygen causes shortness of breath with minimal exertion)
  • Recurrent respiratory infections
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • COPD
  • IPH (bleeding lung)
  • Pulmonary edema

Vitamin deficiencies caused by gluten ingestion that lead to respiratory problems

  • Vitamin K deficiencies initiate easy bruising, nose bleeds and bleeding lung

Why going gluten-free eliminates many respiratory issues

  • Gluten causes inflammation (-itis = inflammation)
  • Removing the cause heals intestines, repairs immune system
  • Patients operate on a higher level

Common symptoms of respiratory issues

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Chest tightness
  • Nagging cough
  • Clogged sinuses
  • Post-nasal drip

Nadine’s recommendations around diet and nutrition

  • Gluten- and dairy-free at a minimum
  • Ideally variation of Paleo diet
  • Whole foods (meat, fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds)
  • High fat (body needs to absorb fat-soluble nutrients – A, D, E & K)
  • Maintain Gluten Zero (takes six months to a year for intestinal villi to heal)

Why your body heals more quickly on a high fat, whole food diet

  • Body knows how to break down, utilize nutrients
  • Fat-soluble vitamins repair connective tissue, leaky gut

The genes that indicate a predisposition for celiac disease

  • HLA-DQ2
  • HLA-DQ8

Resources:

 

“Hemoptysis in Patients of Celiac Disease with Disproportionately Severe Anemia” in Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine

“A Case of Cough, Lymphocytic Bronchoalveolitis and Coeliac Disease with Improvement Following a Gluten Free Diet” in Thorax

“Respiratory Symptoms as Atypical Manifestation of Celiac Disease” in the Pediatric Oncall Journal

“Recurrent Rhinitis and Pulmonary Infections Revealing Celiac Disease” in Revue de Pneumologie Clinique

“Pneumococcal Septic Shock in the Setting of Hyposplenic Celiac Disease” in Hospital Physician

Coeliac Australia: Associated Conditions

Connect with Nadine: 

Instagram

Facebook

Contact via Email

‘Your Skin on Gluten’ on YouTube

Melodies of the Danube Gluten-Free Cruise with Nadine

Books by Nadine:

Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism

Jun 9, 2017

Struggling to maintain control of your blood sugar? A gluten-free diet may be the answer! If you have one autoimmune disorder, you have a 30-50% greater risk of developing another, and both type 1 diabetes and celiac disease fall into that category.

As more and more research points to an enormous overlap between type 1 diabetes and celiac disease, it is in our best interests to mitigate additional risk by getting screened and/or adopting a gluten-free or Paleo diet to mitigate further risk. Today Nadine discusses the prevalence of diabetes, several research studies that explore the connection between type 1 diabetes and celiac disease, and the potential risks for type 1 diabetics who are undiagnosed celiac patients.

Listen and learn how your diet may be affecting your blood sugar and why going gluten-free could improve your health and quality of life!

What’s Discussed: 

The prevalence of diabetes

  • By 2050, half the population will have diabetes
  • According to CDC, 29.1 million have diabetes
  • One out of four don’t know they are diabetic
  • 18,000 young people diagnosed from 2008-2009

The difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes

  • Minimize risk for type 2 through diet and exercise
  • Type 1 is autoimmune disorder, don’t produce enough insulin to break down sugar

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes

  • Extreme thirst
  • Urgency to urinate frequently
  • Fatigue
  • Weakness

The enormous genetic overlap between type 1 diabetes and celiac disease

  • Scottish study found 94% of type 1 diabetics were HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8 gene carriers
  • 100% overlap if include HLA-DQ2.2
  • Prevalence of celiac disease among type 1 diabetics is 20% higher than general population

The importance of testing all type 1 diabetics for celiac disease annually

  • Can develop celiac disease at any age

The consequences of undiagnosed celiac disease in children with type 1 diabetes

  • Short stature
  • Failure to thrive
  • Early onset osteopenia, osteoporosis
  • Easily broken or rubbery bones
  • Difficulty maintaining glycemic control (low blood sugar, spikes)
  • Anemia

The decreased quality of life for type 1 diabetics who are undiagnosed celiac

  • Development of infections
  • Difficulty with blood sugar maintenance

Research studies re: the percentages of type 1 diabetics who also have celiac disease

  • Iraq – 11.2%
  • Mexican participants – 5.9%
  • Denmark – 12.3%

Nadine’s anecdotal evidence of the overlap

  • Volunteers at community outreach clinic
  • Young man struggling to control blood sugar
  • Nadine recommended gluten-free diet
  • Improved health and quality of life

Health risks associated with an inability to control blood sugar

  • Blindness
  • Kidney failure
  • Amputation of extremities
  • Difficulty healing wounds
  • Heart attacks
  • Strokes

Why carb counting doesn’t control blood sugar

  • Carbs with little/no nutrient value cause spikes in blood sugar

The diet Nadine recommends for type 1 diabetics

  • Variation of Paleo diet
  • Nutrient dense foods
  • Meat and fish
  • Eggs
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Nuts and seeds

The benefits of a gluten-free diet for type 1 diabetics

  • Weight easier to control
  • Immune system works better
  • Tighter control on blood sugar

The lack of uniformity in screening guidelines

Additional autoimmune diseases that may be avoided with a gluten-free diet

  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Lupus
  • Sjögren’s
  • Scleroderma
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Graves’ disease
  • Hashimoto’s
  • Vitiligo
  • Raynaud’s

Potential triggers for autoimmune disorders

  • Gluten
  • Change in microbiome
  • Stress to body (i.e.: cold, food poisoning, travel)

 Treatments for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth

  • Low FODMAPs or specific carb diet
  • Rifaximin (antibiotic)

The dangers of maintaining high blood sugar

  • Damage to kidneys, eyes, capillaries, fingers and toes
  • Neuropathy
  • Gastroparesis

The long history of a connection between type 1 diabetes and celiac disease

The need for information re: the connection in diabetic education services

Resources:

“Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease: The Effects of Gluten Free Diet on Metabolic Control” in the World Journal of Diabetes

“Co-occurrence of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Celiac Disease” in the World Journal of Diabetes

“Screening for Coeliac Disease in Adult Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Myths, Facts and Controversy in Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome

“The Prevalence of Coeliac Disease in Libyan Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus” in Diabetes Metabolism Research and Reviews

“Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes in Celiac Disease: Prevalence and Effect on Clinical and Histological Presentation” in BMC Gastroenterology

“Coexistence of Coeliac Disease and Type 1 Diabetes” in Przeglad Gastroenterologiczny

“Screening for Celiac Disease in Type 1 Diabetes: A Systematic Review” in AAP News and Journals

Connect with Nadine: 

Instagram

Facebook

Contact via Email

‘Your Skin on Gluten’ on YouTube

Books by Nadine:

Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism

Jun 2, 2017

The gluten-free movement is often dismissed in the media as a fad. Even so-called experts actively discredit the gluten-free diet and apply a negative connotation to terms like PWAG. Have you ever wondered why there is so much misinformation about celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity in the media? And who sponsors the coverage that dissuades people from going gluten-free?

 Today, Nadine explains how the big business of wheat affects which voices we hear in media treatment of the gluten-free movement. In addition, she covers how the for-profit healthcare system in the US affects the timely diagnosis of celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

 Celiac disease is a medical, social and economic issue with political implications. Listen and learn how to choose high quality, nutrient dense foods, and leverage your power as a gluten-free consumer!

What’s Discussed: 

Misinformation in the media

  • Some coverage dissuades from adopting a gluten-free diet
  • Program/print sponsors may be corporations that depend on people eating wheat
  • Wheat/grain industry threatened by rise of gluten-free diet (33% of people in US and Canada on variation of gluten free diet)

The illusion of options in the area of food production

  • 8-10 corporations own nearly every food company
  • Nadine patronizes farmer’s markets, co-ops and local companies

Nadine’s rules for buying food products

  • Label must be clear, easy to read
  • Five or fewer ingredients
  • Must be able to picture each ingredient

The importance of reading labels

  • May be gluten in products that are typically gluten-free (i.e.: pesto, kombucha)
  • Companies are given six months to update labels after making changes
  • Barley and rye are not on list of allergens

Nadine’s story

  • Multi-system organ failure
  • Negative test for celiac disease despite being homozygous gene carrier
  • Healed quickly on a Paleo diet

Why countries with universal healthcare take celiac disease seriously

  • Early diagnosis saves money
  • Finland: 70% of people w/ celiac disease have been diagnosed
  • Italy, UK and Canada: 30-40% have been diagnosed
  • US: Less than 1% of those with celiac disease have been diagnosed

How long it takes to be diagnosed with celiac disease (for-profit vs. universal systems)

  • US: 9-15 years
  • Italy: 2-3 weeks

How doctors/experts discredit gluten-free as a fad

  • Use PWAG as derogatory term
  • Placebo effect
  • Nocebo effect (expect to feel poorly)

The inaccuracy of blood tests for celiac disease

  • 70% false negative

How companies profit from undiagnosed celiac patients

  • Products geared toward people with health issues (i.e.: compression socks, hypoallergenic sheets)

The prominence of wheat as a publicly traded commodity

  • Top export of US/Canada

The health risk associated with genetically modified wheat

The benefits of a gluten-free diet

  • Symptoms resolve
  • No longer need medicine, surgery

Nadine’s advice re: selecting gluten-free products

  • Avoid nutrient deficient gluten-free options (cheap fillers, empty carbs)
  • Focus on high quality, nutrient dense foods

How to leverage your power as a gluten-free consumer

  • Hold food producers accountable (standards, production methods)
  • ‘Vote carefully with your dollar’
  • Speak up when you see inaccurate media coverage

Why you cannot assume that gluten-free menu items are truly free of gluten

  • Uneducated restaurant staff
  • Possibility of contamination, cross-contamination

What a ‘gluten free’ designation means in labeling

  • GIG certification indicates less than ten parts per million
  • Standard in US/Europe is less than 20 parts per million

The Gluten Free RN mission

  • Educate people globally about celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity
  • Empower people to improve their health and quality of life with food

Resources:

Food Company Infographic

Gluten Intolerance Group

Connect with Nadine: 

Instagram

Facebook

Contact via Email

‘Your Skin on Gluten’ on YouTube

Books by Nadine:

Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism

1