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:
Connect with Nadine:
‘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
