Gluten allergy, celiac disease and weight loss

April is Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness month. One of the associated conditions in some people with IBS is a gluten allergy. It is a highly underdiagnosed condition, so it is worth spreading public awareness about it. Gluten is a protein that can be found in wheat, barley, and rye. The disease associated with intolerance or allergy to gluten is called celiac disease. Celiac disease is an inflammatory condition of the small intestine that affects some people with a genetic predisposition. The inflammation damages the lining of the small intestine, causing many of the symptoms and deficiencies associated with a gluten allergy. About a third of Caucasians are genetically predisposed to celiac disease, but not all get celiac disease. Avoiding and excluding gluten usually resolves the symptoms of celiac disease. Women are twice as likely to be affected and diagnosed with celiac disease than men. Some autoimmune conditions such as type 1 diabetes, Sjogern’s disease, lupus, thyroid disease, and some adrenal diseases (Addison’s disease) are also associated with celiac disease. People who have Down syndrome also have a high chance of having celiac disease.

People classically present with symptoms of diarrhea, weight loss, iron deficiency anemia, lactose intolerance, frequent constipation, severe abdominal pain and obstruction, vomiting, and infertility. Chronic gluten intolerance causes osteoporosis and iron deficiency anemia, mainly due to malabsorption of minerals and vitamins such as calcium, vitamin D and iron in the intestine. However, unless gluten is excluded, taking vitamins or minerals will not reverse the disease or brittle bones.

Gluten allergy can be diagnosed by blood tests, endoscopy with biopsy of the duodenal mucosa, and genetic testing. However, if you are already on a gluten-free diet, genetic testing is the only test that will show a gluten allergy.

If you have celiac disease, it is strongly recommended to avoid gluten for life. You should also frequently check your levels of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D, B12, folic acid, zinc, and copper. There are many support groups for people with celiac disease and a gluten allergy, as well as general public awareness and availability of gluten-free products in many major supermarkets. Visiting a dietitian and/or a doctor who has experience dealing with people with celiac disease is also very effective.

If you have any of the above symptoms, make an appointment to be tested for gluten sensitivity. If you don’t follow a gluten-free diet, celiac disease can be diagnosed through a blood test.

If you are suffering from the above symptoms and eating less but still not losing weight, we have 9 tips and advice for you.
Here are some tips to help you:

1. Get enough sleep at night.

Sleeping around 5-6 hours a night is necessary to ensure that your metabolism does not slow down due to a hormonal imbalance. Also, when you’re sleepy, you crave more foods, especially sugary ones.

2. Count protein intake per meal.

Eating salad does not give you enough calories, so you will soon be hungry. Or if you loaded your plate with blue cheese and candied walnuts, it’s probably going to have about as many calories as a hamburger with fries.

Make sure you have 3-4 oz. of lean protein with each meal to prevent sugar and carbohydrate cravings. Protein digestion will help your body use energy and burn some fat.

3. Too much exercise is not the answer.

No. To lose a pound of fat you need to burn 3500 calories which can be very time consuming and ineffective so we need to focus on having a daily regimen of 75% good nutrition and 25% exercise to lose weight properly.

4. Refrain from eating a lot of high-calorie nuts?

Just because something is healthy doesn’t mean you can eat a lot of it. Switching from white bread to whole wheat, butter to olive oil, chips to nuts is good, but portion control is important as these are all high-calorie substitutes.

5. Don’t eat too early at night.

It is good to eat less food in the evening, but if a person eats at 6 pm and goes to bed at 11 pm, they may need to be careful about their calorie intake after dinner. The body may crave food after 3-4 hours. So no matter how late you dine, try to have less than 30% of your caloric intake after 7:00 p.m.

6. Snack between meals.

To keep your metabolism at its peak, you need to take something every 3 to 4 hours.

7.Keep a food diary.

A study shows that most people who keep a journal about their daily food intake will lose weight faster because they are more aware of what they are putting into their bodies.

8. Eat a full, protein-rich breakfast.

A study shows that people who eat breakfast have a healthier weight. When you skip breakfast, your body goes into starvation mode, and as a result, your metabolism slows down.

9. Put on your apron and start cooking in your own kitchen.

Restaurant meals have a lot of hidden calories; try to eat half of your order if you have to eat out; otherwise, try simple and healthy recipes at home where you can reduce the number of hidden calories in your food.