Weight gain – Gluten Free RN

Hypothyroid, Pulmonary Edema and Celiac Disease EP059

February 2, 2018

by Nadine Grzeskowiak, RN with No Comment Podcast

When the Gluten Free RN went on a gluten-free diet 11 years ago, her thyroid settled down and the associated symptoms and disorders—Graves’ disease, weight gain and hair loss—resolved.

But when Nadine was inadvertently hit with gluten two years ago, several of those symptoms returned, along with a few new ones. She was losing hair and gaining water weight again. On top of that, her sinuses were congested. She developed asthma, a rash on her lower right leg and a scary case of pulmonary edema (excess fluid in the lungs).

Hindsight being 20/20, Nadine realizes that her recent diagnosis of hypothyroidism is associated with that accidental gluten ingestion. Further study made it clear that there is a potential connection between her thyroid problems and pulmonary edema, as the leaky gut that comes with celiac disease can cause fluid shifts into body tissues.

Today the Gluten Free RN explores the links among celiac disease, thyroid disorders and pulmonary edema. She explains the function of the endocrine system, the symptoms associated with hypothyroidism, and the diet she recommends for patients with thyroid issues. Listen in for Nadine’s insight around how gluten affects the thyroid gland and why the resulting low sodium levels might trigger edema in celiac patients.

What’s Discussed:

The function of the endocrine system

Glands in body that make hormones

The connection between celiac disease and thyroid disorders

Thyroid especially vulnerable to gluten protein in wheat, barley, rye and oats

Nadine’s symptoms of hypothyroidism

Lower extremity edema
Congested sinuses
Hair falling out
Pulmonary edema
Asthma
Rash on leg

How damp rash lotion resolved Nadine’s symptoms

Prescribed by acupuncturist in Chiang Mai
Rash cleared, could breathe easy
Symptoms returned within four weeks of return to US

Nadine’s thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels

Within normal limits despite thyroid issues
Practitioner declined to order thyroid panel

The relationship between thyroid issues and edema

Sodium = major electrolyte, maintains body’s pH
Hypothyroidism means low sodium levels
Leaky gut of celiac disease leads to fluid shifts (edema)

The research around thyroid disorders and celiac disease in Current Allergy and Asthma Reports

Association between CD and thyroid disorders well documented
Increased prevalence of autoimmune thyroiditis and Graves’ disease in celiac populations

The diet Nadine recommends for celiac patients with potential thyroid issues

Gluten-free, dairy-free
Whole food, Paleo

Why patients with unexplained pulmonary edema should be tested for celiac disease AND thyroid disorders

Potential connection among all three

The symptoms associated with hypothyroidism

Puffy face, constipation, fatigue
Muscle weakness, aches and pains
Irregular, delayed menstrual periods
Hair loss, thinning hair
Slower heartrate, hypothermia
Depression, memory problems

by Nadine Grzeskowiak, RN with No Comment Podcast

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

Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance in the Elderly Population EP007

January 20, 2017

by Nadine Grzeskowiak, RN with One Comment Podcast

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