The Gluten Effect: How Innocent Wheat is Ruining Your Health
May 9, 2010 by Nancy
Filed under Book Reviews
By Drs. Vikki & Richard Petersen, doctors of chiropractic, certified nutritionists and founders of the HealthNOW Method and clinic in Sunnyvale, CA, which “combines the best elements of traditional and functional medicine into an approach that treats the underlying root cause of health problems.”
One of the reasons I find book so helpful is that this is not a celiac specific book, not that there aren’t a need for those as well. Many doctors just do not understand the vast number of health issues related to sensitivity to gluten.
The Petersen’s not only understand that gluten can cause a multitude of health problems, but they suggest that you buy a copy of their book to educate your own doctor on these issues. While there is a chapter on celiac disease, there are also chapters that address the countless other major diseases and disorders that have a direct link to gluten.
Here’s what you’ll find in the book:
Section One: Introduction to gluten sensitivity, history of grains, your immune system
Section Two: Is gluten the culprit behind your symptoms? Digestive problems, brain and nervous system, autoimmune disorders, and more.
Section Three: The mainstream gluten disorders: Celiac, Autism, ADD, ADHD, Arthritis, Sjogrens Syndrome, Diabetes, IBS, Thyroid disorders, Osteoporosis, and more.
Section Four: Other Gluten related disorders including depression, weight gain, Fibromyalgia, memory loss, skin disorders and many more.
Section Five: Finding and eliminating the cause: diagnosing gluten sensitivity
This book is very interesting and informative. It’s divided into small, bite-sized sections with many real-life success stories thrown in from the Petersen’s practice. Chances are that you will read about someone who you can relate to: Teens with migraines, a diabetic who no longer has glucose problems, and many, many other amazing stories of hope for patients who suffered needlessly for years before discovering their gluten sensitivities.
Buy the book on amazon.com
or on their website.
Congratulations to the 3 winners of our book giveaway. We hope to do another one at some point.
I would very much appreciate the opportunity to read and share your book. We found that my 9 yr old adopted daughter’s Tourette’s is greatly benefited by a G/F C/F diet. When we changed her diet, I changed mine to make it easier to feed the two of us, and found that my muscle and joint aches as well as interstitial cystitis went away after only 2 months. We are so much better having gone gluten free. Thank you for helping other with your book.
I’ve am only self diagnosed, waiting for a genetic blood test. Been gluten free since Feb and feeling good. I have a headache today, had a small bit of accidental gluten. I have been sick for 30 years.
Looks like a great book! Thanks for this chance to win a copy!
I just recently went gluten free. Trying to learn all I can!
Both my mother, my aunt and one cousin are long time GF advocates. My aunt has developed many recipe variations that are at least as good as the regular variety. It is unfortunate that it is so difficult to diagnose. It seems that eliminating gluten and seeing if you feel better is the best way to go.
My son was diagnosed with celiac disease over 2 years ago. Any new information would be appreciated. I have been trying to limit wheat in my own diet for the last 5 years. I have noticed the difference.
This looks like a great book for anyone interested in what gluten does to the body! I suffered all of my life until I was diagnosed by a naturopath & dietitian at 36. I can’t describe how much better I’ve felt since going g/f. This book looks like it covers more than any site I’ve seen too.
It has been a long two years into my recovery. My journey has taken me on a roller coaster ride of emotions that I dare not ride again. However, that is only a wish and I know there is no way to ever escape those types of feelings, because they precipitate my future.
I have never in my life been more thankful than I am today because there were days when I just didn’t think I was going to make it. There was so much physical, emotional and mental pain that I thought it would consume me, thus leading to my untimely demise.
The past two years have been filled with the ups and downs of weight, significant amounts of blood loss, colonoscopies, endoscopies, surgery and always the ABCs chasing after me (abdominal pain, bloating and constipation). I’ve had to endure severe cases of blepharitis and mouth trauma, all amounting to additional pain.
I am thankful for so many things, but most importantly for my health, which I finally got back five months ago (and with no medications). I wish the doctors at the beginning of my journey could have told me to stop consuming gluten, but they did not. Instead I was misdiagnosed, given drugs that I’m allergic to and was pushed around in an antiquated healthcare system that I’m convinced doesn’t always put the patient first.
More importantly, I am thankful for the books, magazine, blogs and other resources that have been written for people like me who have an allergy to gluten. I am indebted to all who penned their stories of recovery, thus giving me hope and inspiration. Your journey was not in vane because you’ve helped many people overcome, and I am one such person.
I have learned to look at food in a whole new way. I’ve become more creative in my approach. I’ve also been able to educate the clueless wonders of the world about Celiac Disease.
This book looks great. I have gluten allergies and we think my husband has celiacs.
Would love to learn more about celiac disease. I have the disease and so does my brother and sister.
This book looks great. I have gluten allergies and we think my husband has celiacs.