Hello,
I'm relatively new to this community and only partway through Tex's book, so forgive me if this has been answered elsewhere.
I have celiac and CC. I have a young child who has no problems yet, although our pediatrician recommended that he eat gluten regularly as this has shown to be somewhat protective against developing celiac. This really makes no sense to me, but I've allowed him to eat gluten at school (we have none in our house as I am super strict).
I'm wondering if anyone has any info about helping prevent the development of MC in children? I know the causes of the disease are complex/not fully known, but as a mom I would of course like to do everything I can to protect my child.
Thanks for your thoughts,
Sonia
Genetic aspects of MC?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Re: Genetic aspects of MC?
Hi Sonia,
As you are well aware, this is a controversial topic. I note that over the years, even the medical opinion has changed from time to time. Despite the fact that celiac disease was first described over 2000 years ago, it took doctors until the early 1940s, before they were able to even discover the fact that it's caused by a sensitivity to wheat gluten, and the diagnostic tests available are still so insensitive that the medical community's ability to diagnose the disease is a disgrace. The sad fact is, you and I probably know more about food sensitivities and how to treat them, than 99% of the doctors in the world.
They receive a pathetically small amount of training in med school on diet-related health issues. And they rarely learn much more about them in practice, because once they began to practice, they appear to receive most of their training updates from drug reps who come around regularly to pitch the latest medications. But of course, those drug reps never mention any treatments that don't involve expensive prescription drugs. As a result, doctors' knowledge of treating food sensitivities never seems to improve significantly.
So I can't offer any insights based on medical research, but I can tell you what we've learned by sharing information on this board for many years. We've found that, in general, once you stop eating gluten, you will probably never be able to go back to eating it again. In the case of young folks, this is a difficult situation, because so many social activities revolve around food, or involve food. As we get older, it's much easier to deal with this problem, because we can do our own cooking, at home. Relying on restaurant meals for safe foods is an exercise in frustration, because published research shows that for restaurants claiming to offer gluten-free meals, at least 50% of those meals are not gluten free. Breakfast is not too bad, but as the day unfolds, meals served later contain increasing amounts of cross-contamination with gluten.
Consequently, I agree with your concerns, that it would almost surely be better for his long-term health to start avoiding gluten as soon as possible. But from a practical viewpoint, I would have really had a tough time trying to avoid gluten while I was in grade school and college. As long as your son is not showing symptoms, gluten is probably not causing any risks to his long-term health. But of course that's subject to change, if he begins to show suspicious symptoms. And if/when that happens, then the sooner he cleans up his diet, the better, because once an autoimmune disease develops, that significantly increases the risk of developing additional autoimmune diseases.
I apologize for not being able to offer a clear-cut answer to your question, but I hope this will help you to be able to make a decision, because at this point, This issue appears to be more of a personal decision, than a health problem. If symptoms develop, then it promptly becomes a health problem. This is strictly my opinion, obviously, and hopefully you will receive other views on this topic.
Tex
As you are well aware, this is a controversial topic. I note that over the years, even the medical opinion has changed from time to time. Despite the fact that celiac disease was first described over 2000 years ago, it took doctors until the early 1940s, before they were able to even discover the fact that it's caused by a sensitivity to wheat gluten, and the diagnostic tests available are still so insensitive that the medical community's ability to diagnose the disease is a disgrace. The sad fact is, you and I probably know more about food sensitivities and how to treat them, than 99% of the doctors in the world.
They receive a pathetically small amount of training in med school on diet-related health issues. And they rarely learn much more about them in practice, because once they began to practice, they appear to receive most of their training updates from drug reps who come around regularly to pitch the latest medications. But of course, those drug reps never mention any treatments that don't involve expensive prescription drugs. As a result, doctors' knowledge of treating food sensitivities never seems to improve significantly.
So I can't offer any insights based on medical research, but I can tell you what we've learned by sharing information on this board for many years. We've found that, in general, once you stop eating gluten, you will probably never be able to go back to eating it again. In the case of young folks, this is a difficult situation, because so many social activities revolve around food, or involve food. As we get older, it's much easier to deal with this problem, because we can do our own cooking, at home. Relying on restaurant meals for safe foods is an exercise in frustration, because published research shows that for restaurants claiming to offer gluten-free meals, at least 50% of those meals are not gluten free. Breakfast is not too bad, but as the day unfolds, meals served later contain increasing amounts of cross-contamination with gluten.
Consequently, I agree with your concerns, that it would almost surely be better for his long-term health to start avoiding gluten as soon as possible. But from a practical viewpoint, I would have really had a tough time trying to avoid gluten while I was in grade school and college. As long as your son is not showing symptoms, gluten is probably not causing any risks to his long-term health. But of course that's subject to change, if he begins to show suspicious symptoms. And if/when that happens, then the sooner he cleans up his diet, the better, because once an autoimmune disease develops, that significantly increases the risk of developing additional autoimmune diseases.
I apologize for not being able to offer a clear-cut answer to your question, but I hope this will help you to be able to make a decision, because at this point, This issue appears to be more of a personal decision, than a health problem. If symptoms develop, then it promptly becomes a health problem. This is strictly my opinion, obviously, and hopefully you will receive other views on this topic.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
-
Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Re: Genetic aspects of MC?
regardless of genetics
Gluten is known as a highly inflammatory item to the gut. Especially current day gluten.
modifications to grains, growing processes and final processing the gluten in foods now is not the same as what was ingested 40 years ago.
Ongoing inflammation is stressful to the body.
Additionally, our lifestyles now have way more toxins. 40 years ago immune systems were mostly able to moderate the inflammation caused by Gluten. but now, that is not the case.
Sadly the mainstream medical fraternity are naive and brainwashed about diet and its role for long term wellness.
In Australia Doctors only do one semester of tuition on nutrition in their university course. Post university ongoing compulsory training is all provided by Big Pharma. Only doctors who take a pro-active functional approach to wellness will do their own studies.
this program (I hope the link works for USA) provides a great explanation about why more people are reacting to glutenhttps://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/gluten-a-gut-feeling/11016098
Chris Kesser has done lots of research about inflammation that ingredients like gluten can cause
https://chriskresser.com/gluten-free/
One of the suggestions I give to people here is, you can't avoid every trigger/toxin 100% all of the time.
but if you can minimise avoid as many as possible in your day to day life then your immune system will handle the minimised exposure to the triggers you can't avoid.
hope this helps.
Gluten is known as a highly inflammatory item to the gut. Especially current day gluten.
modifications to grains, growing processes and final processing the gluten in foods now is not the same as what was ingested 40 years ago.
Ongoing inflammation is stressful to the body.
Additionally, our lifestyles now have way more toxins. 40 years ago immune systems were mostly able to moderate the inflammation caused by Gluten. but now, that is not the case.
Sadly the mainstream medical fraternity are naive and brainwashed about diet and its role for long term wellness.
In Australia Doctors only do one semester of tuition on nutrition in their university course. Post university ongoing compulsory training is all provided by Big Pharma. Only doctors who take a pro-active functional approach to wellness will do their own studies.
this program (I hope the link works for USA) provides a great explanation about why more people are reacting to glutenhttps://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/gluten-a-gut-feeling/11016098
Chris Kesser has done lots of research about inflammation that ingredients like gluten can cause
https://chriskresser.com/gluten-free/
One of the suggestions I give to people here is, you can't avoid every trigger/toxin 100% all of the time.
but if you can minimise avoid as many as possible in your day to day life then your immune system will handle the minimised exposure to the triggers you can't avoid.
hope this helps.
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Re: Genetic aspects of MC?
Whether it's naivety, or they're just smart like a fox, that policy is good job insurance for the medical profession in general.Gabes wrote:Sadly the mainstream medical fraternity are naive and brainwashed about diet and its role for long term wellness.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.