We all have that one task or project around our house that we never seem to get done. Maybe it’s cleaning out the garage, finally framing the family photo, or reorganizing the kitchen. You know it won’t take long to do the task and you’ll feel better when it’s done, but you never seem to make the time.
Living with an autoimmune disease and chronic pain is similar. You know there is probably a better way to treat your ailments than constant medications, appointments, and new treatments. Yet you continue with your medical routine, succumbing to what feels like the inevitability of living with chronic pain and autoimmune diseases and the myriad of medications and doctors that come with it.
However, just as you’ll feel better when you finally tackle that annoying task, you can find relief from your autoimmune disease and chronic pain by breaking away from traditional approaches to these ailments.
Gluten sensitivity is a common underdiagnosed trigger for many autoimmune diseases and chronic pain. Once patients discover they have gluten sensitivity and start a gluten-free diet, their illness and pain often subside. It’s an amazing yet incredibly simple diagnosis that brings relief to many people who suffer needlessly each year. Let’s take a closer look at how this simple diagnosis can get you the much-sought-after cure you’ve been searching for.
Gluten Sensitivity: The Basics
Gluten is a protein found in common grains, specifically wheat, rye, barley, malt, and some other grains such as spelt and couscous. Gluten is what gives dough its elasticity and helps it rise. It is the compound of two proteins, gliadin and glutenin. Most people can eat and digest this protein without any problem.
However, many people suffer from gluten sensitivity or essentially a gluten allergy. Unlike other allergies, say to peanuts, for example, gluten does not usually cause anaphylaxis. However, it triggers the basic allergic response. When you eat gluten, your immune system produces antibodies to fight what it perceives to be harmful to your health. This immune response causes inflammation in your body that leads to a number of autoimmune diseases.
Some of the more common autoimmune responses seen in people with gluten sensitivity include:
- Thyroid disorders;
- neurological problems;
- fibromyalgia;
- celiac disease sprue;
- Skin problems like psoriasis and eczema;
- arthritis;
- And chronic pain.
There are also a number of secondary problems associated with gluten sensitivity due to the way the gluten protein damages the intestines. As gluten passes through the intestines, it can cause damage to the villi, the tiny follicles that pick up nutrients from food and pass them through the body, nourishing you and your organs. When the villi are damaged, they cannot absorb nutrients from food and you may experience chronic fatigue, anemia, narcolepsy, and other symptoms related to nutritional deficiencies.
Put an end to autoimmune diseases
The traditional medical community has only just begun to make the connection between autoimmune diseases and gluten. Those diseases were always seen as stand-alone problems that doctors would treat with drugs. Doctors could test for gluten sensitivity, but previous tests focused on only a fraction of the antibodies associated with gluten sensitivity. Many people were not diagnosed when these tests came back negative. They continued to eat gluten and continued to suffer needlessly.
Newer tests that test for a broader spectrum of antibodies associated with gluten sensitivity have recently become available, and patients can get more definitive answers from physicians who understand the link between autoimmune diseases and gluten sensitivity. You can learn more about why the typical gluten intolerance test is not adequate by reading an informative report on the subject.
You can take steps to address your chronic pain and autoimmune foods without testing, simply by switching to a gluten-free diet. However, often a gluten-sensitive person can cross-react gluten with many of the ingredients found in gluten-free products. Ideally, you should strive to work with a gluten-savvy doctor who can guide you through the proper food selection process.
As you’ve probably suspected for years, there’s a better way to treat your autoimmune disorder and chronic pain than regular doctor visits and a handful of medications. Take the time to explore your illness a little deeper to find the root cause of your ailments. Who knows? Once you address your chronic illness, you may be ready to clean out the garage, too.