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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.
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Now displaying: Page 3
May 19, 2017

‘With our technology, every time a woman dies, it’s a medical error.’

 Recent reports have uncovered some alarming statistics regarding maternal mortality rates in the United States. While these numbers are on the decline in every other developed nation, pregnant women in the US are at greater risk of dying than they were in recent years. We know that undiagnosed celiac disease has a significant impact on maternal health and fetal development, and we must identify expectant mothers (and fathers) who have the potential to reap remarkable benefits from a simple diet change.

This issue is especially important to the Gluten Free RN as a mother herself – as well as an emergency ER nurse certified in PALS, NLS and pediatric emergency nursing. She shares the stories of women who had difficulty getting pregnant or maintaining pregnancies as a result of undiagnosed celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, and explains how a mass screening could work to prevent such intense suffering.

Listen to learn how adopting a gluten-free or Paleo diet can help women carry their babies to full-term and deliver healthy, thriving children!

What’s Discussed: 

Nadine’s mission to get women tested for celiac disease prior to pregnancy

  • Allows to absorb nutrients during pregnancy (including prenatal vitamins)
  • Can deliver healthy, thriving child

 The story of Alice Bast

  • Suffered miscarriage and still births
  • Multiple doctors couldn’t provide answers
  • Vet gave idea to test for celiac disease
  • Founded the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness

 The necessity for a mass screening of men and women

  • Identify HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 gene carriers
  • Genes of both parents affect fetal health
  • Ratio of women to men with celiac disease is 1:1
  • Ratio of women to men diagnosed with celiac disease is 3:1

 The increased risks for pregnant women with undiagnosed celiac disease

  • Miscarriage
  • Still birth
  • Low birth weight
  • Failure to thrive in children
  • Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (dangerously high blood pressure)

 The role men play in infertility

  • ED, low sperm count and low libido may be attributed to undiagnosed celiac disease
  • Symptoms include deficiencies in zinc, magnesium and B vitamins as well as anemia and osteoporosis

 The argument that a mass screening for celiac disease is too expensive

  • The cost associated with undiagnosed celiac disease is much higher
  • Consists of medical costs from complications
  • Also includes decreased productivity and morbidity/mortality
  • Study published in Science Digest found that 42,000 children may die annually due to undiagnosed celiac disease

 Conditions that indicate high risk for celiac disease

  • Chronic GI issues
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Weight loss/gain
  • Iron deficiency anemia
  • Vitamin/mineral deficiencies
  • Secondary hyperparathyroidism
  • Unexplained elevations in liver function
  • Down, Turner or Williams syndrome
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Lupus
  • Autoimmune thyroid disease

 Sam’s story

  • Delayed puberty (didn’t get period until 17-years-old)
  • Diagnosed with celiac disease at 19
  • Doctors warned she would probably never have children
  • Raising two healthy boys

 Why Nadine is concerned about the current generation of children

  • Higher rates of autoimmune diseases, cancer and learning disabilities

 The appropriate diet to promote maternal health and proper fetal development

  • Gluten- and dairy-free
  • Paleo is best
  • Humans have enzymes to break down meat proteins
  • Humans do not have enzymes to break down grain proteins
  • Avoid wheat, barley, rye and oats
  • Embrace meat, fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds

 Deficiencies that can be corrected to promote healthy pregnancy

  • B6 and B12
  • A, D, E and K (the fat-soluble vitamins)
  • Magnesium RBC
  • Zinc

 The US maternal mortality rate compared to other developed nations

  • Rising in the US, declining in other developed nations
  • 28 deaths for every 100,000 births in 2013, up from 23 in 2005

Resources:

“Maternal Mortality Rate in US Rises, Defying Global Trend, Study Finds” in The New York Times

“Focus on Infants During Childbirth Leaves US Moms in Danger” on NPR

Beyond Celiac: Alice Bast

“Reproductive Changes Associated with Celiac Disease” from the World Journal of Gastroenterology

“Celiac Disease and Reproductive Health” from Celiac Disease: A Comprehensive Review and Update

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

May 12, 2017

Given the choice between a heart transplant and a gluten-free diet, the vast majority – if not all – of us would quickly opt for the diet! Yet the medical community continues to ignore celiac disease as a potential cause of cardiac complications, despite documented connections between the two conditions.

The Gluten Free RN is sharing her experience with heart attack and stroke victims in the ER, and discussing the necessity of screening cardiac patients for celiac disease. She gets into the nitty gritty of how intestinal damage leads to nutrient deficiencies that affect the cardiac system, and reveals the cardiac symptoms that may resolve on a gluten-free diet.

Listen in and learn about the actual cause of heart attack and stroke (spoiler alert – it’s not high cholesterol) and how Nadine has achieved a lipid panel akin to that of a ‘23-year-old marathon runner’!

What’s Discussed: 

The connection between cardiac issues and celiac disease

  • Study linked celiac disease to almost doubled risk of CAD
  • Documented connection between gluten and cardiomyopathy

The real cause of heart attack and stroke

  • Thought to be high cholesterol
  • Actual cause is inflammation/malabsorption

How a gluten-free diet can resolve cardiomyopathy

  • Medical community claims cardiomyopathy can be treated with meds, but not cured
  • Patient eventually needs heart transplant
  • Anecdotal evidence proves that removing gluten may cure profound heart failure

Nadine’s experience in treating cardiac patients as a critical care nurse in the ER

  • ER staff does not take a magnesium panel
  • Deficiencies in magnesium or calcium can cause arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat)
  • Even when patient tested for ‘everything,’ celiac disease and nutritional panels often omitted

How to correct a magnesium deficiency

  • Food (pumpkin seeds, molasses, etc.)
  • Magnesium supplements (including calcium, zinc and vitamin D)

How intestinal damage leads to nutrient deficiencies that affect the cardiac system

  • Thiamine deficiency may lead to wet beriberi or acute pernicious beriberi
  • Low electrolytes may lead to arrhythmia
  • Low iron, B vitamin may lead to anemia (less oxygen in blood)
  • Low vitamin K levels affects protein S and protein C levels (involved in clotting)

Cardiac symptoms that may resolve on a gluten-free or Paleo diet

  • Arrhythmias
  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty breathing

The myth that fat is bad for us

  • Nadine consumes a super-good high fat diet
  • Her lipid panel ‘looks like a 23-year-old marathon runners’
  • Cardiac risk factor very low

Nadine’s call for a worldwide mass screening for celiac disease

  • Find undiagnosed
  • Prevent cardiac disease, stroke

Resources:

“Celiac Disease Linked to Almost Doubled Risk of CAD” by Marlene Busko

PubMed

Gluten Toxicity: The Mysterious Symptoms of Celiac Disease, Dermatitis Herpetiformis, and Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance by Shelly L. Stuart

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

May 5, 2017

We all know how it feels to struggle through the day when you didn’t get enough sleep the night before. Your brain feels fuzzy, it’s tough to focus, and you simply aren’t the best version of yourself! The good news is, there may be a simple explanation for your sleep disorder – and there are steps you can take to eliminate the potential celiac symptoms that are keeping you up at night.

Today the Gluten Free RN shares her struggle with sleep deprivation as an undiagnosed celiac patient who also worked the night shift in the ER. Find out how she leveraged a Paleo diet and went from having a contentious relationship with sleep to becoming a champion ‘Olympic Sleeper’ who enjoys at least eight hours of rest every night!

She also covers the components of an ideal sleep space, suggestions for implementing an evening routine, and the benefits of a good night’s rest. Listen and learn about the connection between sleep disorders and undiagnosed celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

What’s Discussed: 

Nadine’s struggle with sleep working the night shift

  • 10 years as ER nurse working 12-hour night shifts
  • Difficult to shift into normal sleep pattern on days off
  • Circadian rhythm thrown off, felt fuzzy-brained
  • Needed extra sleep
  • Struggle to block out distractions

The correlation between undiagnosed celiac disease and sleep disorders

  • Celiac symptoms can keep you awake at night
  • May experience joint pain, muscle pain, DH, eczema, headaches, muscle twitches, restless leg syndrome

How a Paleo lifestyle can alleviate symptoms preventing sleep

How many hours of sleep you should be getting each night

  • Nadine recommends 8-10 hours of good quality sleep
  • Provides the energy for your body to carry out the tasks of daily living

The components of an ideal sleep space

  • Comfortable mattress
  • Quality sheets
  • Plenty of supportive pillows
  • Appropriate temperature
  • Fresh air, if possible
  • No electronic equipment in the room (i.e.: phones, televisions, computers)
  • Source of white noise (e.g.: fan, music)

The model evening routine

  • Limit screen time in the hours before bed
  • Try relaxing activities like reading or knitting instead
  • Take a warm bath with Epsom salt (muscle relaxer, source of magnesium)
  • Consider magnesium supplements

Celiac symptoms that can cause sleep apnea

How your body heals neurological damage in the absence of gluten

The repercussions of vitamin C deficiency

Signs of sleep disorders in children that may be caused by undiagnosed celiac disease

  • Can’t or don’t want to go to sleep, crying
  • Cranky and fatigued during the day
  • Decreased productivity
  • Learning disabilities
  • Difficulty with focus

Signs of celiac disease in children

  • Short stature
  • Anemia
  • Falling off growth chart
  • Learning disabilities
  • Seizure disorders

Why anyone with sleep disorders should get tested for celiac disease

How Nadine’s sleep issues went away on a gluten-free diet

  • Eliminated back pain, joint pain, skin discomfort, muscle pain, muscle spasms and leg cramps
  • Now she qualifies as an ‘Olympic Sleeper’

The unhealthy approach to compensating for lack of sleep

  • Take in stimulants to make it through the day (e.g.: coffee, sugar)
  • Take depressants at night to help fall asleep (e.g.: alcohol, prescription meds)
  • Everything you consume impacts your health and ability to sleep

A healthy option that functions as a sleep aid

The benefits of a good night’s rest

When to take multivitamins

  • In the morning with food
  • At night before bed (absorbed differently)

The risks associated with prescription medications

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

 

Apr 28, 2017

A diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is devastating, and the associated symptoms – difficulty walking, tremors, memory issues – are debilitating. But what if those symptoms aren’t necessarily indicative of Parkinson’s after all? What if a simple diet change could improve or even eliminate those symptoms?

Today Nadine explores anecdotal evidence suggesting that the symptoms of Parkinson’s and other demyelination syndromes might be actually be caused by celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. She argues that as Parkinson’s diagnoses become more and more common, it is imperative that we explore the potential connection between Parkinson’s and celiac disease.

Listen in to understand how gluten can affect the neurological system, why Parkinson’s patients should be tested for celiac disease, and how a gluten-free diet can heal neurological damage.

 What’s Discussed: 

Nadine’s Parkinson’s patient

  • Diagnosed with celiac disease as a child in the 1940’s
  • Recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s
  • Symptoms included difficulty walking, falling, stooped gait, masked appearance, tremors, memory issues and confusion
  • Discovered unintentional gluten exposure in the home
  • Moved to adult foster home to ensure gluten-free diet
  • Many symptoms went away
  • Working with neurologist to wean off Parkinson’s meds

Why patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s, ALS and MS should get test for celiac disease and gluten sensitivity

  • Every nerve in the body is insulated with myelin
  • Myelin is made of fat
  • Gluten prevents the absorption of fats
  • Parkinson’s, ALS and MS are all demyelination syndromes

The need for research regarding the potential connection between Parkinson’s and celiac disease

  • The University of Chicago asserts there is ‘no published evidence of a connection between Parkinson’s and celiac disease’
  • Nadine argues that enough anecdotal evidence exists to suggest that a connection should be investigated

Nadine’s recommendation for a comprehensive celiac lab test

  • Cyrex Labs tests for 25 of the gluten intolerant antibodies, including tTG-2, tTG-3 and tTG-6
  • Ask for a total IgA and IgG in addition to the Cyrex Array 3
  • Insurance should cover the tests
  • Can be ordered by any practitioner

Celiac diagnoses in patients over 60

  • 30% of newly diagnosed celiac patients are over 60
  • Many have neurological issues
  • Neuropathy
  • Headaches
  • Migraines
  • Seizure disorders
  • Difficulty walking
  • Falling
  • Balance issues
  • MS
  • Nadine’s patients improve on a Paleo diet

The Stanford idiopathic familial narcolepsy study

  • Entire family diagnosed with narcolepsy
  • Found that family members had celiac disease
  • Adopting a gluten-free diet eliminated the narcolepsy
  • Family now runs organic farm

The increasing number of Parkinson’s diagnoses

  • More and more common
  • UK neurological expert routinely tests for celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity

How your body heals neurological damage in the absence of gluten

  • Heal intestines
  • Eliminate inflammation
  • Repair immune system
  • Replete nutrient deficiencies

Vitamin D

  • Cancer preventative
  • Level should be between 60-80
  • Indicator of all fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K)
  • ‘Sunshine’ vitamin synthesized through skin
  • Must also be taken in dietarily
  • Little chance of overdosing on D3

What your nails can tell you about your health

  • Look for white spots, cracked nails, hangnails
  • May indicate lack of zinc, D3, or B vitamins

Dr. Terry Wahls’ MS misdiagnosis

  • Diagnosed with MS and required wheelchair
  • Healed with a gluten-free diet
  • Can ride her bike and walk without a cane

Nadine’s story

  • At 40, her symptoms suggested MS
  • Issues with clumsiness (falling, dragging feet, dropping things, difficulty with balance)
  • Problems went away on a gluten-free diet
  • Nutrient deficiencies were causing neurological issues

Celiac cerebellar ataxia

  • Caused by lesions on or inflammation of the brain
  • Results in inability to walk straight
  • Tissue can be healed on a gluten free diet

 Resources:

Cyrex Laboratories

Midway Farms

La Mancha Ranch and Orchard

Dr. Wahls’ TED Talk

Dr. Wahls’ YouTube Channel

The Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles - by Terry Wahls, MD and Eve Adamson

 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

Apr 21, 2017

Forget everything you thought you knew about obesity.

68% of the population of the US is overweight, and we know that there are a number of health risks associated with the issue. But did you know that people are overweight because their bodies are actually starving?

 Today the Gluten Free RN is challenging your assumptions about weight gain and celiac disease, revealing the surprising way your body compensates for malnourishment, the necessity of fat in nutrient absorption, and the healing power of a whole food gluten-free diet.

Listen and learn why more people are overweight when diagnosed with celiac disease than underweight, more have constipation than diarrhea, and more have neurological disorders than gastrointestinal issues. Nadine is prepared to shake up your idea of what it means to have celiac disease and offer guidance regarding the food we should be eating in order to heal, and lose – or gain – weight in the process!

What’s Discussed: 

The classic symptoms of celiac disease

  • Used to be identified by weight loss and chronic diarrhea
  • We now know there are well over 300 signs and symptoms

The obesity epidemic in the US

  • 68% of the population is overweight
  • Obesity increases morbidity and mortality
  • The majority of celiac patients are overweight

Why celiac patients are overweight

  • Damage to intestines prevents absorption of nutrients
  • Body is starving, so it compensates by storing fat as cheap energy

The health risks associated with obesity

The failings of fast food

  • Little to no nutritional value
  • ‘Bad’ fat
  • Little use as energy

The whole food diet Nadine recommends for celiac and gluten sensitive patients

 The rapid weight loss of overweight celiac patients once they adopt a gluten-free diet

Why wounds may not heal appropriately in celiac patients

  • Body is malnourished and cannot absorb nutrients
  • Nutrients are necessary to heal tissue

How to heal your body with food

  • Choose fermented foods
  • Regenerate villi in intestines
  • Build diverse microbiome

Nadine’s patient with tunneling wound in sacral area

  • Wound would not heal, required daily dressing changes
  • Patient was HLA-DQ2 gene carrier
  • Wound healed after 10 days on a gluten-free diet

How a gluten-free diet affects underweight celiac patients

  • Muscle and tissue build appropriately
  • Weight increases as nutrients are absorbed

The necessity of a high-fat diet for celiac patients

  • Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble
  • The brain is made of fat

‘Good’ fats that Nadine recommends incorporating into your diet

  • Listen in for the full list!!

Connect with Nadine: 

Instagram

Facebook

Contact via Email

Books by Nadine:

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

Apr 14, 2017

In Italy, it takes only two to three weeks to get diagnosed with celiac disease. In the United States, however, it typically takes nine to 15 years. Why is there such a huge discrepancy? And what are the legal ramifications for practitioners who overlook celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, causing patients unnecessary pain and suffering?

 On this episode, Nadine explores the legal issues surrounding celiac disease as well as the potential reasons for delayed diagnosis in the US. She also explains the differences between universal healthcare and the for-profit system and how each appears to influence celiac diagnosis.

 Listen and learn what medical practitioners need to know about celiac disease and gluten sensitivity in order to avoid being sued for malpractice, the value of standardization in celiac testing and follow-up care, and how you can get involved in advocating for universal coverage.

What’s Discussed: 

How the US health insurance system works

  • Usually purchased through employer
  • Loss of job often means loss of coverage
  • ACA provides coverage for many who were uninsured
  • For-profit system

 Why Nadine is an advocate for a single-payer system

  • People treated in ER with or without insurance (we pay regardless)
  • US healthcare is very expensive, yet outcomes poor

 Celiac disease diagnoses around the world

  • Italy: 2-3 weeks; standardized follow-up care
  • US: 9-15 years; patients endure numerous other tests, misdiagnoses, unnecessary medications
  • Canada: effective early diagnosis, but follow-up care lacking

 The excuses practitioners use to avoid diagnosing celiac disease

  • Don’t believe in it, despite research and documentation
  • Don’t want to learn about another illness
  • Gluten-free diet is too difficult for patients

 Symptoms Nadine encountered as an ER nurse that may have signaled celiac disease

  • Migraine headaches
  • Abdominal pain
  • Neurological disorders (headaches, difficulty with balance)
  • Fever

 Why practitioners should be concerned about malpractice suits if celiac disease goes undiagnosed

  • Ignorance is not a defense
  • Michael Marsh contends that failure to do appropriate screening signals liability
  • Avoid by learning the basics of celiac disease, how to diagnose and follow-up

 Why celiac disease needs to be part of differential diagnosis for every patient

 Indicators of celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity

  • HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8 gene denotes predisposition for celiac proper
  • AGA antibody suggests gluten sensitivity

 Maladies suffered by patients whose celiac disease went undiagnosed

  • Mental health issues
  • Neurological disorders
  • Seizures
  • Balance issues
  • Abdominal pain
  • Incorrect diagnosis of Crohn’s or colitis
  • Hemorrhoids
  • GERD
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Cancer

 Why standardization of testing and follow-up care is a necessity

  • Screenings are often misinterpreted
  • Celiac patients who follow a gluten-free diet are often told that they have been cured or that the initial test was a false positive when follow-up shows antibodies in normal range

 The story of Nadine’s 70-year-old celiac patient

  • Diagnosed with celiac disease by biopsy, but received no follow-up care
  • Suffered from significant neurological issues (e.g.: gluten ataxia, falling)
  • Nadine recommended standard lab tests
  • Primary care doctor refused
  • Patient returned to Nadine in distress
  • Doctor culpable for patient’s neurological damage

 Why celiac patients should consider advocating for universal coverage

 The differences between celiac diagnoses under universal vs. for-profit insurance systems

  • Financial benefit to early diagnosis under universal system (i.e.: UK, Canada, Italy)
  • No benefit to early diagnosis for insurers under for-profit structure

Resources Mentioned:

 Physicians for a National Health Program

 Health Care for All Oregon

 Mid-Valley Health Care Advocates

Additional Resources:

 “Economic Benefits of Increased Diagnosis of Celiac Disease in a National Managed Care Population in the United States” from the Journal of Insurance Medicine

Connect with Nadine: 

Instagram

Facebook

Contact via Email

Books by Nadine:

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

Apr 7, 2017

The medical community has an obligation to protect vulnerable populations, speaking up for any group that may not be able to advocate for themselves, and patients with Down, Turner, and Williams syndrome certainly fall into this category. Yet one facet of their health – one that could vastly improve quality of life – often goes overlooked.

There is a high prevalence of celiac disease among individuals with Down, Turner, and Williams syndrome, and it is recommended that these patients get tested annually. Unfortunately, many of the symptoms of celiac disease are attributed to the syndrome instead, and gluten sensitivity goes undiagnosed.

Today Nadine shares several case studies as well as her own experience working with patients with developmental delays. She covers the high incidence of celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity in Down, Turner, and Williams syndrome patients, the signs and symptoms of gluten damage, and the importance of annual screening in this population.

What’s Discussed: 

The prevalence of celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity in individuals with Down, Tuner and Williams syndrome

  • Annual testing is recommended
  • Signs and symptoms can be eliminated with a gluten-free diet

Tiffany’s story

  • Williams syndrome patient
  • Suffered from stage 4 liver failure and diabetes
  • Endured cracked, bleeding skin and fluid in the abdomen
  • Tested positive for celiac disease
  • Gluten-free diet resolved most of her symptoms

Alternatives to the standard blood test that could reveal non-celiac gluten sensitivity in Down syndrome patients

  • The anti-gliadin antibody (AGA) is an excellent biomarker
  • In a study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, 41% of Down syndrome patients had AGA antibodies

 The importance of testing family members

  • A mother who is malnourished during pregnancy may have a child with Down, Turner or Williams syndrome
  • Celiac disease may disrupt fetal development

The overlap of celiac disease and Down syndrome

  • Study found that 18 of 284 subjects ages two to 15 tested positive for celiac disease
  • In another study, 11 of 47 had positive blood tests

Symptoms of celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity

  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Gas
  • Bloating
  • Constipation
  • Short stature
  • Brittle bones
  • Osteoporosis
  • Osteopenia
  • Thyroid issues
  • Anemia
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Skin rash
  • Decreased appetite
  • Yeast overgrowth
  • Lichen planus
  • Difficulty swallowing

Nadine’s story of an autistic patient

  • Sweet gentleman who lived in group home
  • Suffered from diabetes, repeated infections and self-harm
  • Paleo diet made him calmer, didn’t irritate his throat
  • He enjoyed an improved quality of life

Cases of asymptomatic celiac disease in children with Down syndrome

  • Study published in the International Journal of Pediatrics
  • Toddlers screened at around 24 months
  • Biopsy proven celiac disease identified in 3-9% of children with Down syndrome
  • Not all patients with positive screens receive a biopsy if asymptomatic
  • One child in the study gained weight and energy on a gluten-free diet
  • A second child had less constipation and diarrhea
  • Follow-up study reported that 66% had health improvement

Resources Mentioned:

“Screening for Celiac Disease in Down’s Syndrome Patients Revealed Cases of Subtotal Villous Atrophy Without Typical for Celiac Disease HLA-DQ and Tissue Transglutaminase Antibodies” from the World Journal of Gastroenterology

“Prevalence of Celiac Disease in Down’s Syndrome” from the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

“Asymptomatic Celiac Disease in Children with Trisomy 21 at 26 Months of Age or Less” from the International Journal of Pediatrics

Other Resources:

“Celiac Disease” from the Pediatric Gastroenterology Board Review Manual

“The Coexistence of Down Syndrome and a Triad Consisting of: Coeliac Disease, Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus and Congenital Hypothyroidism” from Down Syndrome Research and Practice

“Coeliac Disease in Williams Syndrome” from the Journal of Medical Genetics

“Turner Syndrome and Celiac Disease: A Case-Control Study” from Pediatrics

Connect with Nadine: 

Instagram

Facebook

Contact via Email

Books by Nadine:

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

Mar 31, 2017

“Cheap food is an illusion. There is no such thing as cheap food. The real cost of the food is paid somewhere. And if it isn’t paid at the cash register, it’s charged to the environment or to the public purse in the form of subsidies. And it’s charged to your health.”

–Michael Pollan

Adopting a gluten-free lifestyle can be incredibly overwhelming, and many are resistant to the idea. Maybe you don’t want to give up the foods you love, or you don’t think you can do without pizza and beer. But the truth is that in order to heal, coping is your only option.

 Nadine is here to tell you that going gluten-free is not as difficult as you think. In fact, if it’s hard – you’re doing it wrong! She recommends a number of healthy gluten-free and Paleo-friendly food options, explains how your taste buds will change as you rid your body of addictive proteins, and discusses how to approach your grocer to request gluten-free alternatives. It’s time to stop eating for convenience and begin eating to enjoy high-quality food!

 What’s Discussed: 

Why going gluten-free can be challenging

  • Emotional attachment to food
  • Function as reward/comfort

 How to change your mindset to embrace the gluten-free lifestyle

  • Remember that there is plenty of other food to eat
  • Create a new ‘country’

 Why celiac patients should avoid eating meat from cattle fed on grass treated with glyphosate

  • Celiac patients are trying to heal increased permeability of the intestinal wall
  • Chemical in Roundup can cause ‘leaky gut’

 Nadine’s tips for realizing a healthy gluten-free diet

  • Don’t simply replace gluten-containing with gluten-free products
  • Focus on nutrient dense, whole foods high in good fat
  • Choose organic fruits and vegetables
  • Select 100% grass-fed, antibiotic free meat
  • Avoid dairy (proteins are molecularly similar to gluten)
  • Use almond, coconut or hemp milk and Kite Hill cheese/yogurt
  • Satisfy your sweet tooth with molasses, honey and occasionally maple syrup
  • Pick foods that have been processed very little or not at all
  • Explore new vegetables
  • Try bars when you are on the go (e.g.: Lärabar, EPIC, KIND)
  • Freeze fruits and vegetables to savor year round
  • Consider going Paleo (fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, meat, fish and eggs)

 The benefits of turning your lawn into a garden

  • ‘Growing food is like planting money’
  • Allows you to enjoy kale, tomatoes, beans, peas, peppers, squash, etc.

 How to tailgate on a gluten-free diet

  • Explore gluten-free alcohol options (i.e.: Ground Breaker, 2 Towns, honey mead)
  • Try gluten free snack foods like Kettle Brand or Jackson’s Honest chips and Jilz Crackers
  • Enjoy guacamole, salsa, hummus and pesto dips
  • Sample desserts like Hail Merry Miracle Tarts

 Nadine’s guidelines for selecting healthy foods

  • No more than five ingredients
  • Should be able to picture each ingredient

 Quality sources of fat

  • Bacon
  • Pumpkin seed and nut butters
  • Olive oil
  • Avocados
  • Eggs

 Resources Mentioned:

 Kite Hill

 Ground Breaker Brewing

 2 Towns Ciderhouse

 Kettle Brand Chips

 Jackson’s Honest Chips

 Jilz Crackers

 Hail Merry Miracle Tarts

 Lärabar

 EPIC Bar

 KIND Snacks

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Books by Nadine:

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

Mar 24, 2017

Wherever there is wheat, there is susceptibility to celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Gluten is a growing global problem, exacerbated by the popularity of the western diet around the world. This issue has personal, social and political implications as it places a significant economic burden on individuals, communities, and even entire nations.

 The Gluten Free RN brings us a ‘big picture’ perspective of the celiac and gluten sensitive population around the world, as we learn about how other countries support these individuals. She also covers the industries that have begun to recognize the power of the gluten free population as a consumer group.

 Nadine will be doing some globe-trotting herself come September for the International Celiac Disease Symposium in New Delhi, and she is currently soliciting advice regarding where and how to eat safely during her travels in India and Thailand. Feel free to message her with recommendations!  

What’s Discussed: 

When and where wheat originated

  • Fertile Crescent (Northern Africa and the Middle East)
  • 10,000 years ago
  • High prevalence of celiac disease in these regions now

 The International Celiac Disease Symposium

  • September 2017 in New Delhi
  • Held every two years
  • Scientists, medical professionals and other interested parties
  • Share latest research

 Where celiac disease is common

  • Anywhere people are eating grains
  • More widespread as other regions adopt a western diet
  • Increased risk in Punjab population of India

 The basics of celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity

  • Can present in many ways (300+ signs and symptoms)
  • #1 autoimmune disease in the world
  • More likely to recover the sooner identified
  • 30-50% of the population carry the genes (HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8) that indicate predisposition
  • Body doesn’t have enzymes to break down gluten proteins
  • Gluten damages intestines
  • Nadine recommends adopting a Paleo diet in order to heal

 The World Health Organization’s “burden of disease”

  • Measures the impact of celiac disease
  • Based on financial cost, mortality, morbidity, etc.

 How Italy supports celiac patients

  • Provide extra days off work for doctor’s appointments, shopping
  • Ship gluten free food

 Potential symptoms of celiac disease affecting every ethnicity

  • Odd gait (gluten ataxia)
  • Skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis)

 The power of celiac and gluten-sensitive patients as a group

  • Largest untapped market in the world
  • Some industries taking notice (pharmaceutical, food)
  • Use influence to heal selves and educate others

 Why some people are so resistant to eliminating grains

  • Sometimes crave what is bad for you
  • Nutritional deficiencies may cause addiction

 Resources Mentioned:

 Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies -  by Jared M. Diamond

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Books by Nadine:

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

Mar 17, 2017

It’s not a matter of if, but rather when you will encounter an emergency situation. And if you suffer from celiac disease or gluten intolerance, it is incredibly important that you are prepared with the appropriate supplies you will need to endure a hurricane, earthquake, blizzard, or other disaster.

 Nadine teaches you how to stock your cupboards with nutrient dense foods should you need to shelter in place for an extended period of time. She also outlines other essentials you will need to stay alive and assist others who may need help!

 What’s Discussed: 

Nadine’s experience responding to Hurricane Katrina

  • People were unprepared
  • FEMA provided only cheap filler foods

 Why it’s important to stock nutrient dense foods in case of emergency

  • Alleviates stress
  • Allows you to feed yourself for a period of time

 Nadine’s list of nutrient dense foods to stock

  • Protein bars
  • Gelatin
  • Jerky (without soy, teriyaki sauce)
  • Canned tuna, sardines
  • Canned chicken, turkey
  • Protein powder
  • Seaweed
  • Nuts
  • Pumpkin seed butter
  • Chocolate bars (80-100% cocoa, no milk)
  • Many more! Listen for the full list!

How to cope with a loss of electricity

  • Consume foods stored in freezer first
  • Prioritize eating perishables

 The importance of being self-reliant during a time of emergency

  • Helps you avoid overburdened hospitals and clinics

 Other essentials to have on hand in case of emergency

  • Multi-vitamins
  • Prescription medications (keep list in wallet/purse)
  • Can opener
  • Heat source (paper, wood)
  • Sleeping bags, pillows and blankets
  • Flashlights w/ working batteries
  • Extra batteries
  • Socks and shoes
  • First aid kit
  • Waterproof containers
  • Gluten free shampoos, lotions
  • Extra contact lenses and solution/glasses
  • Cash
  • Pet food

 How to obtain water if forced to shelter in place

  • Utilize water heater

 Resources Mentioned:

 Country Life Vitamins

 Road ID

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Books by Nadine:

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

Mar 10, 2017

Freeze your poop and mail it to Texas!

In all seriousness, a stool analysis can offer vital information about your body’s absorption of fat and nutrients, and today the Gluten Free RN explains the significance of knowing your fecal fat score and other baseline labs that can offer clues about how gluten has adversely affected your health.

Nadine outlines recommended labs for celiac disease and gluten intolerance, discussing how each test can inform the way you tweak your diet or add necessary supplements to your health care routine. She also reviews the importance of follow-up labs to track how you are healing and help you get better, faster!

What’s Discussed: 

The importance of standardization in celiac testing and follow-up labs

Things to consider re: the results of a celiac panel

  • 70% produce a false negative
  • A positive test guarantees intestinal damage
  • Lab to lab variability can be problematic
  • Must include total IgA and IgG
  • Interpretation can be problematic
  • Ask for a hard copy of your results

 Why a “gluten challenge” is dangerous

  • No medical or social reason to do so
  • May cause organ damage

 Additional tests that can offer valuable information

  • Fecal fat score (ask for #, over 300 indicates malabsorption)
  • Complete blood count
  • Comprehensive metabolic panel
  • Vitamin D3 level (below 40 ng/ml is critically low)
  • Vitamins A, E & K levels
  • Vitamin B6 & B12 levels
  • MTHFR gene test
  • Magnesium RBC test
  • Zinc level
  • Iodine level
  • B9/Folate level
  • Ferritin level
  • Iron level
  • Thyroid panel
  • Bone density test
  • Lipid panel
  • ANA test (autoimmune issues)
  • ESR test
  • CRP test

 How to obtain reimbursement for labs

 Why a diet change is preferable to medication in lowering cholesterol

  • Statin drugs don’t treat the underlying cause of chronic inflammation
  • Still at risk for heart attack and stroke

 What a stool analysis can tell you about your microbiome

 Why you should avoid food allergy testing in the first year of a gluten-free diet

Resources Mentioned:

Cyrex Labs

EnteroLab 

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Books by Nadine:

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

Mar 3, 2017

On this episode of the ‘Gluten Free RN,’ Nadine helps you get on the road to recovery with a gluten-free, casein-free diet. She walks you through what to expect and offers tactics that will support your success.

 Nadine breaks down the steps you should take to make your home a gluten-free space and ensure your comfort and health when you are on the go. She also talks you through how to carefully select food that is not just gluten-free, but also nutrient dense.

 Nadine explains the significance building a support system that includes a knowledgeable healthcare team and peers who’ve adopted a gluten-free lifestyle. Listen and learn how to get better, faster as you get started on a gluten-free diet!

 What’s Discussed: 

Why it is necessary to eliminate both gluten and casein

  • Microvilli that break down sucrose and lactase are first destroyed, last to grow back
  • The gluten and casein proteins are molecularly very similar
  • The body reads casein as a threat and triggers the immune system

 The particulars of taking a daily liquid multivitamin

  • Consider twice a day, morning and night (when your body heals)
  • Take with food and high-quality fat
  • Make sure it doesn’t contain wheat grass or barley grass

 How to clean your home thoroughly to remove all gluten

  • Meticulously clean out kitchens and cupboards
  • Give away wooden utensils, cutting boards, pastry cloths, rolling pins and colanders
  • Eliminate personal care products and pet supplies containing gluten
  • Wash your hands before you eat
  • Wash fruits and vegetables before eating

 Why it’s important to carry snacks with you

 The challenges of eating out on a gluten-free, casein-free diet

  • Staff may not have a clear understanding of a gluten-free diet
  • Cross-contamination risk can be very high

 How to rebuild your microbiome

  • Eat things that are alive, i.e.: sauerkraut, fermented food, kombucha
  • Especially important if you’ve ever taken antibiotics

 What to expect in the first days of going gluten-free

  • The feeling you can’t get enough to eat
  • Cravings for gluten and dairy products
  • Symptoms of illness as your body detoxes (headaches, fatigue, diarrhea)

 How to read labels to ensure gluten-free food is high-quality

  • Look for certified gluten-free labels
  • Make sure it’s also nutrient-dense
  • Nadine suggests only buying products with a maximum of five ingredients
  • Only buy products if you can picture each of the ingredients listed

 The importance of joining a support group

  • Share experiences, resources
  • People to shop and eat with

 The necessity of building healthcare team to assist with your lifestyle transition

  • Understand the baseline and follow-up labs needed
  • Might include Nurse Practitioner, MD, DO, Naturopath, Acupuncturist, Chiropractor and Massage Therapist

 The benefits of keeping a diary or food log

  • Allows practitioners to offer feedback
  • Could include pictures of any painful areas
  • Track your progress with new photos every three months

Resources Mentioned: 

Nadine’s Getting Started One-Pager

drrodneyford.com

countrylifevitamins.com

EZ Gluten Food Testing

Nima Sensor Test Kit

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Books by Nadine:

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

Feb 24, 2017

Nadine covers the neurological symptoms associated with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Celiac disease is primarily a neurological disorder, but the neurological symptoms are often misdiagnosed.

 Nadine shares her own story as well as client anecdotes regarding the neurological issues faced by celiac patients and those with non-celiac gluten sensitivity. She outlines the common symptoms and discusses how to either slow their progression or eliminate them entirely.

Nadine explains the way gluten affects your neurological system and how a Paleo lifestyle can help you heal. Listen and understand how to get your brain back!

 What’s Discussed:

How an immobile patient misdiagnosed with MS was able to walk again

  • Inspired by Dr. Terry Wahls book, The Wahls Protocol, she adopted a Paleo diet
  • Food can be medicine or poison

Misdiagnoses given to people who actually suffered from gluten ataxia

  • Parkinson’s
  • ALS
  • MS
  • Psychosomatic disorder

Why experts advocate for including an AGA in celiac testing

  • It provides a biomarker for non-celiac gluten sensitivity

Why the neurological component of celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity is so significant

  • The entire enteric nervous system is located in the bowels
  • Constipation and diarrhea occur when peristalsis is paralyzed due to gluten

The neurological symptoms of celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity

Why patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia could be restored by a Paleo diet

  • An autopsy is the only way to definitively diagnose Alzheimer’s
  • Many patients have improved significantly after removing gluten from their diets

The components of a Paleo diet

  • Meats and fish
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Fruits and vegetables

How a Paleo lifestyle cleared Nadine’s neurological issues

  • Her balance issues went away
  • She no longer suffered frequent falls

The standard nutritional panels for a celiac patient

How glyphosates can cause leaky gut even in the absence of celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity

The health benefits Nadine has witnessed in patients who adopt a Paleo diet

  • No longer take prescription medication
  • Normal blood pressure
  • Desirable cholesterol level
  • Absorb nutrients appropriately
  • Body heals

 Resources Mentioned: 

 The Wahls Protocol by Dr. Terry Wahls

Discovery Health: Celiac Disease

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Books by Nadine:

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

Feb 17, 2017

On this episode of the ‘Gluten Free RN,’ Nadine explains how gluten affects your skin. If you have celiac disease or a gluten intolerance, you may also suffer from dermatitis herpetiformis, a painful rash that is often misdiagnosed.

Nadine shares her struggle with DH and offers advice about eliminating gluten from both your diet and personal care regime in order to heal your skin. The only treatment for this issue is a 100% gluten-free diet.

Your skin is the largest organ in your body, so listen and learn how to keep it looking and feeling good!

What’s Discussed: 

The definition of Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH)

  • Blistering, vesicular rash that is typically round
  • Itchy, very painful and distracting
  • Caused by IgA deposits under the skin
  • May appear on hands, legs, back, armpits, buttocks, elbows, knees, scalp, torso and even eyes
  • Not contagious
  • The only treatment is a 100% gluten-free diet

 Nadine’s struggle with DH

  • Blisters, itchy and painful hands as a child
  • Irritated by latex gloves as a nurse, hands developed rash
  • Misdiagnosed by several dermatologists
  • DH finally identified by Dr. Abigail Haberman
  • Rash had exploded all over Nadine’s body and she was near death
  • Most of the rash resolved quickly after adopting a gluten-free diet

 Why steroid creams, long-term antibiotics and dapsone aren’t the answer

  • DH is an external expression of what’s happening internally
  • Topical creams don’t treat the underlying cause
  • Long-term antibiotics disrupt the microbiome and put you at risk for developing other infections
  • Dapsone is associated with serious side effects for the blood and liver
  • Removing gluten from your diet and personal care products is the only cure

 The importance of eliminating gluten from personal care products

  • Anything you put on your skin can travel through to your bloodstream
  • Discontinue the use of products that contain wheat, barley, rye or oats
  • Nadine also recommends eliminating products that contain chemicals such as lauryl sulfates and paraffins

 Resources Mentioned: 

YouTube: Your Skin on Gluten

Primal Pit Paste

ZuZu Luxe Cosmetics

Red Apple Lipstick

Desert Essence Organics

Gluten-Free Danube Cruise

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Books by Nadine:

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

Feb 10, 2017

This time on the ‘Gluten Free RN’ podcast, Nadine examines the many autoimmune disorders that are associated with celiac disease. Once you have acquired one autoimmune disease, your chances of developing another increase exponentially – Nadine had seven!

Nadine shares how she was able to heal the inflammation in her intestines that caused those autoimmune disorders and go from a positive ANA panel to a negative one in just a year on a Paleo diet.

Listen and understand which autoimmune diseases are linked to gluten intolerance and how to dodge those bullets by going gluten-free!

What’s Discussed: 

The chances of developing additional autoimmune disorders

  • Once you have one autoimmune disease, your chances of developing another are 30% -50% greater

Nadine’s ‘collection’ of autoimmune disorders

  • Raynaud’s phenomenon is a circulation issue that gave her purple/white hands and feet
  • Sjogren’s syndrome dried out her mucus membranes
  • She suffered from arthritis and joint pain
  • Alopecia caused her hair to thin and fall out

Why celiac disease is sometimes misdiagnosed as MS, ALS or Parkinson’s

How Dr. Terry Wahls went from a wheelchair to riding a bike by eliminating gluten

How it is possible for your body to heal the inflammation causing autoimmune disorders, regardless of what the medical establishment says

  • Remove the things that cause damage
  • Replace the nutrients your body needs

Additional autoimmune disorders associated with celiac disease

  • Liver disease (primary biliary cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis)
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Addison’s disease
  • Dermatitis herpetiformis
  • Alopecia
  • Vitiligo
  • Neurological issues (gluten ataxia, peripheral neuropathies)
  • Connective tissue diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis)
  • Sjogren’s syndrome
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
  • Dilated cardiomyopathy
  • Autoimmune pericarditis
  • Psoriasis
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
  • Pancreatitis
  • Microscopic colitis
  • Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma
  • Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
  • Wilson’s disease

The importance of checking magnesium RBC levels in cardiac patients

The genetic overlap between Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease

  • A study in Scotland found that 94% of Type 1 diabetics carry the HLA-DQ2/-DQ8 genes

Resources Mentioned: 

The Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles by Terry Wahls MD and Eve Adamson

Terry Wahls MD Research Study Update

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Books by Nadine:

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

 

Feb 3, 2017


This episode of the ‘Gluten Free RN’ podcast outlines the benefits of adopting a Paleo diet in order to regain and then maintain your health. Patients with celiac disease or gluten intolerance can get better, faster by choosing the Paleo option.

 Nadine shares how changing her eating habits had an incredibly positive impact on her health as she went from feeling better on a gluten-free diet to feeling fantastic on her own variation of a Paleo diet.

 Nadine gets specific about the foods you can and cannot eat and the incredible health benefits of going Paleo. Listen in and learn how to get back the health you deserve by focusing on good food!

 What’s Discussed: 

The foods to avoid on a Paleo diet

The foods you can eat on a Paleo diet

Nadine’s story

The concept of food as medicine

  • All disease starts in the gut

Where to locate organic fruits and vegetables and meat with no antibiotics/no hormones

The health benefits of a Paleo diet

  • Clears up lingering gluten issues
  • Helps achieve sustainable weight loss
  • Affords clearer, smoother skin
  • Improves the immune system
  • Allows for better sleep

The importance of sleep hygiene

  • Your body heals while you sleep
  • Eight to ten hours is optimal

Why fat is essential in absorbing nutrients

  • Vitamins A, D, E & K are fat soluble

The best sources of fat for nutrient absorption

  • Avocadoes
  • Grass fed meats
  • Olive oil or coconut oil
  • Nuts
  • Nut butters
  • Fish oil
  • Eggs

 Resources Mentioned: 

Paleo Magazine

The Paleo Solution: The Original Human Diet by Robb Wolf

Practical Paleo by Diane Sanfilippo

The Paleo Approach: Reverse Autoimmune Disease and Heal Your Body by Sarah Ballantyne

Midway Farms http://www.midwayfarmsoregon.com/

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Books by Nadine:

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

 

Jan 27, 2017

This time on the ‘Gluten Free RN’ podcast, Nadine explores the connection between gluten intolerance and antibiotic-resistant threats. Because damaged intestines compromise the immune system, undiagnosed celiac patients are more likely to develop infections that necessitate antibiotics.

 Nadine summarizes the 2013 CDC report, Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, explaining the three microorganisms identified in the report with a Threat Level of Urgent. Listen and learn how to protect yourself and your family from the public health threat posed by these bacteria!

 What’s Discussed: 

The prevalence of undiagnosed celiac disease and gluten intolerance

  • 30-50% of the population carry the HLA-DQ2 and/or DQ8 genes

The importance of healthy intestinal tissue

  • 70-90% of the immune system is in your intestines

The soldier analogy

  • Healthy villi are like rested soldiers with loaded weapons on a clear day who can easily take out antigens that don’t belong
  • Damaged villi are like soldiers on a bender with inadequate weaponry, operating in smoke and fire – they either don’t work at all or fire randomly at antigens

The need for a more judicious approach to prescribing antibiotics

  • Overuse of antibiotics wipes out good microbiome along with bad

How to rebuild microbiome

  • Kombucha
  • High-quality probiotics
  • Fermented foods
  • Apple cider vinegar

The need for IgA and IgG testing to complement a celiac panel

The public health threat posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria

  • The 2013 CDC report details 2 million illnesses and 23,000 deaths yearly

The connection between damaged intestines and a higher risk of bacterial infection requiring antibiotics

The three microorganisms with a Threat Level of Urgent

  • Clostridium difficile (causes profuse diarrhea, 14,000 deaths/year)
  • Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (50% fatal, 600 deaths/year)
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae

The causes of inflammation in your intestines

  • Gluten
  • Dairy
  • Sugar

Why Nadine has concerns about the potential pandemic and huge loss of life presented by large numbers of undiagnosed celiac patients who are susceptible to bacterial infections

 Resources Mentioned: 

 CDC Report: Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2013

Enterolab Website

Cyrex Laboratories Website

PubMed

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Books by Nadine:

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

Jan 20, 2017

In this episode of ‘Gluten Free RN,’ Nadine discusses potential signs of celiac disease and gluten intolerance in those 65 and older. Many go undiagnosed because their symptoms are dismissed as a normal part of aging.

Nadine explains how nutritional deficiencies triggered by gluten intolerance can cause the elderly to acquire a list of diagnoses and medications that might not be necessary and do not address the underlying cause of degeneration.

This episode outlines how health setbacks common in the older population (osteoporosis, GI issues, dementia and degenerative disease) may be symptoms of celiac disease that could be improved or even eliminated with a gluten-free diet. Listen and learn how to improve the quality of life for those 65 and up!

What’s Discussed:

The prevalence of celiac disease in the older population

  • 30% of people diagnosed with celiac disease are over the age of 60
  • The elderly population has a prevalence of celiac disease 1-2% greater than the general population

The recommended diet for elderly celiac patients

  • Nadine advocates both a gluten- and casein-free diet

The genes that carry celiac disease

Nadine’s story

  • Undiagnosed celiac disease left her with multi-system organ failure at the age of 40
  • A gluten-free diet fixed the nutritional deficiencies and allowed her body to regenerate

The benefits of adopting a gluten-free diet as an older adult

  • Reverse damage done by gluten
  • Prevent health problems like dementia, osteoporosis, and osteopenia

GI issues that may be symptoms of celiac disease and gluten intolerance in older adults

How a nutritional panel can reveal deficiencies that may be caused by gluten intolerance

  • Low levels of vitamins D, B6, B12, iron, and zinc point to a difficulty absorbing important nutrients
  • An imbalance of magnesium and/or calcium can cause heart arrhythmia and muscle fasciculation

Why men suffering from osteoporosis and anemia should be tested for celiac disease

The connection between erectile dysfunction and potential gluten intolerance

  • ED can be either a neurological disorder or a condition caused by hypoxia

The probable link between Type 1 or 2 diabetes and celiac disease

The importance of testing patients on cholesterol or blood pressure medication for celiac disease

Why Nadine recommends all patients 65 and older be tested for celiac disease yearly

  • Not every patient will test positive but can seroconvert at anytime

How the appropriate absorption of fat can help older patients with gluten intolerance “get their brains back”

  • Our brains are made of fat and every nerve is covered with myelin
  • A brain starved of fat can cause a patient to suffer from brain fog and dementia

The good, high-fat foods that prevent brain atrophy

  • Listen for the list!

Miss Gloria’s story

  • Grumpy and agoraphobic, Gloria rarely left her bed
  • After testing positive for celiac disease, she eventually agreed to try a gluten-free diet
  • Gloria’s health improved to a point where she was able to leave the house regularly and finally move to Savannah, where she spent her last years with her son

How identifying celiac disease and gluten intolerance in the elderly can prevent suffering and early death

Resources Mentioned:

Gluten Free RN on iTunes

Gluten Free RN on Stitcher

Connect with Nadine: 

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Books by Nadine:

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

Jan 13, 2017

In this episode of ‘Gluten Free RN,’ Nadine discusses common signs and symptoms of gluten intolerance in children as well as the importance of identifying celiac disease early to allow for the growth and development of body and brain.

Nadine employs anecdotes about her own clients at the Gluten Free RN office to illustrate the myriad of ways that gluten can affect the health and development of undiagnosed kids.

This episode explains the GI problems, developmental delays, autoimmune disorders and neurological issues that children with gluten intolerance face as long as they remain undiagnosed. Click and listen to recognize the warning signs!

What’s Discussed: 

The common dismissal of celiac symptoms in children

The profound impact of gluten intolerance on fetal development and maternal health

  • It typically takes 9-15 years for a person to be diagnosed correctly

Signs and symptoms of celiac disease and gluten intolerance in children

Failure to thrive

  • Low birthweight
  • Short stature, stunted growth and delayed development
  • Lactose intolerance
  • Abdominal pain and vomiting
  • Focus and retention issues (ADD, ADHD, ODD)
  • Autism
  • Psychiatric issues
  • Delayed puberty
  • Listen for the full list

Katie’s story

  • After suffering from chronic constipation, her colon was removed – but her health did not improve until she learned about celiac disease and changed her diet
  • Because her growth was stunted as a result of malnourishment, Katie only grew to 5’3” despite having a size 10 foot

Why vitamins, minerals and supplements don’t help children with celiac disease or gluten intolerance

Why undiagnosed celiac disease patients suffer from focus issues and psychiatric disorders

  • Inflammation of the brain causes hypoxia
  • Low oxygen flow results in ‘brain fog’

Sam’s story

  • At 17, she was overweight and suffering from abdominal pain
  • She was still wetting the bed and had yet to get her period
  • After receiving a celiac diagnosis and adopting a gluten-free diet, Sam lost 100 pounds and has gone on to have two healthy children

The importance of testing the entire family for celiac disease once one member has received a diagnosis

The high percentage of celiac patients who are asymptomatic

  • Roughly 50% of people diagnosed with celiac disease would say they have no symptoms

The increased chances of developing autoimmune disorders when children with celiac disease go undiagnosed

The enormous genetic overlap between celiac disease and Type 1 diabetes

Why parents should be tested for celiac disease prior to a pregnancy

  • Undiagnosed expectant mothers are at an increased risk of miscarriage, complications and delivering babies with low birthweight and neural defects

How to navigate birthday parties, camps, school events, etc.

  • Proper planning and communication make it easy

Resources Mentioned: 

How Doctors Think by Jerone Groopman

 University of Chicago Medicine Celiac Disease Center Website

 EnteroLab Celiac Testing Resources

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Books by Nadine:

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

Jan 6, 2017

This time on ‘Gluten Free RN,’ Nadine continues to cover the basics of celiac disease and gluten intolerance, reviewing the consequences of intestinal damage and gluten in the bloodstream and discussing what you can and cannot eat as part of a gluten-free diet.

A registered nurse certified in emergency care and a celiac patient herself, Nadine is well-versed in

the health complications and symptoms you might experience with undiagnosed celiac disease or gluten intolerance, including neurological disorders, dermatologic difficulties and even mental health issues.

Join the Gluten Free RN on this podcast to learn the signs of undiagnosed celiac disease and gluten intolerance so that we can all be healthy and vital for years to come!

What’s Discussed: 

The definition of celiac disease and its chronic nature

  • Diagnosis requires HLA-DQ2 and/or DQ8 genes and documented villous atrophy

The importance of healthy intestinal tissue

  • 70-90% of the immune system is in your intestines

Grains to avoid that contain gluten

  • Wheat
  • Barley
  • Rye
  • Oats (due to cross-contamination)

Places where gluten may be hiding

Gluten-free, nutrient dense foods

Complications caused by gluten in patients with celiac disease or gluten intolerance

  • Chronic inflammation (suffering from an -itus of any kind)
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Damaged immune system
  • Malnutrition/deficiencies

The increased risk of cancer in patients with undiagnosed celiac disease

Symptoms doctors look for before testing for celiac disease

  • Chronic diarrhea
  • Malabsorption
  • Extreme weight loss or malnutrition

Components of the test for celiac disease

  • Blood test (celiac panel)
  • Biopsy of the small intestines

The amount of time it takes to regenerate damaged villi in the absence of gluten

  • Nadine recommends you continue the clinical trial of a gluten-free diet for at least six to 12 months

Additional signs of a possible gluten intolerance or celiac disease

Additional symptoms Nadine has encountered in undiagnosed patients

Indicators of gluten intolerance in children and elders

Resources Mentioned: 

Montana Gluten Free Website

Kite Hill Non-Dairy Foods

Gluten: Zero Global by Rodney Ford

Connect with Nadine: 

Instagram

Facebook

Contact via Email

Books by Nadine:

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

Dec 30, 2016

This episode of ‘Gluten Free RN’ covers the basics of celiac disease and gluten intolerance – what those terms mean and what they might mean for you. Nadine explains which genes suggest a predisposition to gluten intolerance and what circumstances lead to a diagnosis of celiac disease proper.

 Nadine talks you through what happens in your digestive tract that leads to gluten proteins attacking your organs and preventing your body from absorbing the nutrients it needs. She also outlines the foods and products you need to avoid to achieve ‘gluten-zero,’ as well as the foods you can enjoy as part of a gluten-free diet.

 Listen in and learn where gluten is hiding and how to modify your diet to reverse the adverse effects of gluten!

What’s Discussed: 

  • The definition of celiac disease and its chronic nature
    • 30-50% of the population carries the genes
  • How a trigger event (i.e.: a cold, pregnancy, stress, an injury) initiates the autoimmune disorder
  • Options for getting tested for the genetic predisposition
  • The closed system of the digestive tractand how food is processed
    • While some food is used for energy, much just passes through
  • Villous atrophy and the four stages of tissue damage
    • Marsh 1: microvilli destroyed; body cannot break down sugar and milk
    • Marsh 2/3: villi themselves fold over or atrophy; tight junctures between villi (that keep things your body can’t utilize in the GI tract and out of your bloodstream) open up
    • Marsh 4: villi gone and only red, inflamed tissue remains; ‘leaky gut’
  • The effects of increased permeability of the intestinal wall
    • Damaged immune system
    • Rather than passing through the GI tract, gluten proteins get into bloodstream and wreak havoc on organs
    • Body can’t absorb nutrients out of food
  • The importance of healthy intestinal tissue
    • 70-90% of the immune system is in your intestines
  • The soldier analogy
    • Healthy villi are like rested soldiers with loaded weapons on a clear day who can easily take out antigens that don’t belong
    • Damaged villi are like soldiers on a bender with inadequate weaponry, operating in smoke and fire – they either don’t work at all or fire randomly at antigens
  • The long road to recovering from villous atrophy
    • It takes 6 months to a year to reverse the damage
  • Grains to avoid that contain gluten
    • Wheat
    • Barley
    • Rye
    • Oats (due to cross-contamination)
  • Places where gluten may be hiding
  • Gluten-free foods
    • Fresh fruits and vegetables
    • Plain meats and fish (not breaded or beer battered)
    • Beans/legumes
    • Tree nuts
    • Rice, corn and potatoes
    • Quinoa and teff
    • Dairy
  • What a gluten-free rating means
    • The Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) certifies products that contain less than ten parts per million

Resources Mentioned: 

Gluten: Zero Global by Rodney Ford

 Enterolab Website

 Glutenpro Celiac Test

 Country Life Vitamins

 Kite Hill Foods

Connect with Nadine: 

Instagram

Facebook

Contact via Email

Books by Nadine:

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

 

Dec 19, 2016

In this episode of ‘Gluten Free RN,’ Nadine discusses the urinary system and urinary issues associated with the ingestion of gluten, gluten intolerance and/or celiac disease. If you are experiencing health problems related to the urinary system, it is possible that eliminating gluten and dairy will eliminate the problem.

 Nadine utilizes anecdotes from her own experience and those of her friend and colleague Wendy Cohan, author of The Better Bladder Book, to illustrate the connection between diet and urinary health.

 This episode explains how your urinary system works and outlines the difficulties you may be experiencing. Click and listen to learn how changing your diet could alleviate your pain!

  What’s Discussed: 

  • The symptoms of interstitial cystitis (IC)
  • The connection between gluten and IC
  • After adopting a gluten-free diet, colleague Wendy Cohan no longer has IC
  • Other urinary issues that may be caused by the ingestion of gluten
  • Kidney and brain stones
  • Repeat urinary tract infections
  • Bed wetting
  • The health problems specific to men that are caused by inflammation in the urinary system
  • Chronic prostatitis (CP)
  • Prostate cancer
  • Erectile dysfunction (ED)
  • When it is appropriate to treat urinary infection with antibiotics
  • Antibiotic stewardship means we use them judiciously
  • Why implementing a gluten-free diet may be better than taking medication for urinary issues
  • 95% of female IC patients and 77% of male CP patients reported food sensitivities
  • The ways in which other body systems are affected by urinary issues
  • It is rare for these difficulties to occur in isolation
  • Large numbers of IC and CP patients report having additional symptoms, i.e.: irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia
  • The importance of addressing the underlying cause of your urinary issues
  • The components of the urinary system
  • What healthy urine looks like
  • The need for additional research to confirm the effects of gluten on urinary health

 

Resources Mentioned: 

The Better Bladder Book: A Holistic Approach to Healing Interstitial Cystitis and Chronic Pelvic Pain by Wendy L. Cohan https://www.amazon.com/Better-Bladder-Book-Holistic-Interstitial/dp/0897935551/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1481754556&sr=1-1&keywords=wendy+cohan+the+better+bladder+book

 

Connect with Nadine:

Website http://glutenfreern.com/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/glutenfreern/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GlutenFreeRN

Email nadine@glutenfreern.com

 

Books by Nadine:

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

 

Dec 19, 2016

This week on ‘Gluten Free RN,’ Nadine explores gluten intolerance in pets. She looks at the health problems pets have experienced in increasing numbers in the last several decades and contends that a Paleo Diet is more appropriate for your furry friends than a diet that includes grains.

Nadine also explains the risk of cross-contamination and the importance of removing all products containing gluten (including pet food) from your home if you have a sensitivity to it.

Listen and learn the ways in which a gluten-free diet is more appropriate to your pet’s biology and get pet food brand recommendations from Nadine!

What’s Discussed: 

  • How Nadine discovered the benefits of a gluten-free diet for pet health
  • As her gastrointestinal issues improved, so did Slugs’
  • Why grains are not appropriate for dogs and cats
  • Historically, dogs and cats are omnivores by instinct
  • A Paleo Diet including meat and plant matter will improve your pet’s health
  • The diseases pets have developed over the last several decades
  • Many of these conditions are similar to the health problems humans have developed
  • Why it’s difficult to test pets for gluten intolerance and celiac disease
  • A clinical trial is often the only way to determine if gluten is causing your pet’s health issues
  • The symptoms your pet might exhibit that could point to a gluten intolerance
  • The risks of cross-contamination for people who are exposed to the grain in their pet’s food
  • For a celiac patient, exposure to a bread crumb can trigger the same auto-immune reaction as an entire piece of cake
  • The foods you should never give your pets
  • The pet food brands with zero or very low (less than 10 ppm) gluten content
  • Animal Crackers has a huge selection of grain-free, high-quality pet food
  • How to test food for the presence of gluten

 

Resources Mentioned: 

 “Gluten-sensitive enteropathy in a family of Irish setters” by Sylvie C. Daminet https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1576718/?page=1

 EZ Gluten Test Kit http://ezgluten.com/

 

Connect with Nadine:

Website http://glutenfreern.com/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/glutenfreern/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GlutenFreeRN

Email nadine@glutenfreern.com

 

Books by Nadine:

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

Dec 12, 2016

In the premier episode of ‘Gluten Free RN’ Nadine tells us a bit about her journey in regaining her health and why it’s so important to understand that food is medicine to our bodies. If we think about food as medicine, we will make better food choices which will lead to much better health in both the short and long term. 

Nadine also discusses the increasing rate of Celiac disease diagnosis and some factors that may be influencing this. 

Listen in to learn why it’s so important to make good food choices and how making the right ones will help you maintain or even regain your health!  

What’s Discussed: 

  • Nadine’s background 
  • Nurse for 25 years, 10 years as the Gluten Free RN
  • At the time, Nadine didn’t know that gluten intolerance and Celiac disease were often big factors in her patients' health problems 
  • Why Nadine considers herself to be a “Connectologist” 
  • Nadine connects some dots that may not have been previously connected 
  • Why Gluten sensitivity and/or Celiac disease is often common denominator in health problems 
  • Why food is medicine and how that affects our health 
  • Nadine’s journey back from bad health 
  • Learned she had Celiac disease at the age of 40
  • Your GI Tract and immune system
  • 70-90 % of your immune system is in your GI tract
  • As humans, we do not have do not have enzymes to break down gluten proteins 
  • Why you may be predisposed to Celiac disease
  • 30-50% of our population carries the genes that predispose us to Celiac disease 
  • The increasing rate of Celiac disease diagnosis 
  • The importance of having a plan for remaining or getting healthy into your 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s 
  • It’s easier to maintain your health than to regain it 
  • Nadine’s diet recommendations 
  • Common problems of a bad diet
  • Topics that will be discussed in future episodes! 

 

Resources Mentioned: 

Seeds of Deception” by Jeffery Smith

 

Connect with Nadine: 

Email: Nadine@GlutenFreeRN.com 

 

Books by Nadine:

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

 

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