Gluten Free RN

Freeze your poop and mail it to Texas!

In all seriousness, a stool analysis can offer vital information about your body's absorption of fat and nutrients, and today the Gluten Free RN explains the significance of knowing your fecal fat score and other baseline labs that can offer clues about how gluten has adversely affected your health.

Nadine outlines recommended labs for celiac disease and gluten intolerance, discussing how each test can inform the way you tweak your diet or add necessary supplements to your health care routine. She also reviews the importance of follow-up labs to track how you are healing and help you get better, faster!

The importance of standardization in celiac testing and follow-up labs

Things to consider re: the results of a celiac panel

• 70% produce a false negative
• A positive test guarantees intestinal damage
• Lab to lab variability can be problematic
• Must include total IgA and IgG
• Interpretation can be problematic
• Ask for a hard copy of your results

Why a "gluten challenge" is dangerous

• No medical or social reason to do so
• May cause organ damage

Additional tests that can offer valuable information

• Fecal fat score (ask for #, over 300 indicates malabsorption)
• Complete blood count
• Comprehensive metabolic panel
• Vitamin D3 level (below 40 ng/ml is critically low)
• Vitamins A, E & K levels
• Vitamin B6 & B12 levels
• MTHFR gene test
• Magnesium RBC test
• Zinc level
• Iodine level
• B9/Folate level
• Ferritin level
• Iron level
• Thyroid panel
• Bone density test
• Lipid panel
• ANA test (autoimmune issues)
• ESR test
• CRP test

How to obtain reimbursement for labs

Why a diet change is preferable to medication in lowering cholesterol

• Statin drugs don't treat the underlying cause of chronic inflammation
• Still at risk for heart attack and stroke

What a stool analysis can tell you about your microbiome

Why you should avoid food allergy testing in the first year of a gluten-free diet

Cyrex Labs

EnteroLab

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Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism

On this episode of the 'Gluten Free RN,' Nadine helps you get on the road to recovery with a gluten-free, casein-free diet. She walks you through what to expect and offers tactics that will support your success.

Nadine breaks down the steps you should take to make your home a gluten-free space and ensure your comfort and health when you are on the go. She also talks you through how to carefully select food that is not just gluten-free, but also nutrient dense.

Nadine explains the significance building a support system that includes a knowledgeable healthcare team and peers who've adopted a gluten-free lifestyle. Listen and learn how to get better, faster as you get started on a gluten-free diet!

Why it is necessary to eliminate both gluten and casein

• Microvilli that break down sucrose and lactase are first destroyed, last to grow back
• The gluten and casein proteins are molecularly very similar
• The body reads casein as a threat and triggers the immune system

The particulars of taking a daily liquid multivitamin

• Consider twice a day, morning and night (when your body heals)
• Take with food and high-quality fat
• Make sure it doesn't contain wheat grass or barley grass

How to clean your home thoroughly to remove all gluten

• Meticulously clean out kitchens and cupboards
• Give away wooden utensils, cutting boards, pastry cloths, rolling pins and colanders
• Eliminate personal care products and pet supplies containing gluten
• Wash your hands before you eat
• Wash fruits and vegetables before eating

Why it's important to carry snacks with you

The challenges of eating out on a gluten-free, casein-free diet

• Staff may not have a clear understanding of a gluten-free diet
• Cross-contamination risk can be very high

How to rebuild your microbiome

• Eat things that are alive, i.e.: sauerkraut, fermented food, kombucha
• Especially important if you've ever taken antibiotics

What to expect in the first days of going gluten-free

• The feeling you can't get enough to eat
• Cravings for gluten and dairy products
• Symptoms of illness as your body detoxes (headaches, fatigue, diarrhea)

How to read labels to ensure gluten-free food is high-quality

• Look for certified gluten-free labels
• Make sure it's also nutrient-dense
• Nadine suggests only buying products with a maximum of five ingredients
• Only buy products if you can picture each of the ingredients listed

The importance of joining a support group

• Share experiences, resources
• People to shop and eat with

The necessity of building healthcare team to assist with your lifestyle transition

• Understand the baseline and follow-up labs needed
• Might include Nurse Practitioner, MD, DO, Naturopath, Acupuncturist, Chiropractor and Massage Therapist

The benefits of keeping a diary or food log

• Allows practitioners to offer feedback
• Could include pictures of any painful areas
• Track your progress with new photos every three months

Nadine's Getting Started One-Pager

drrodneyford.com

countrylifevitamins.com

EZ Gluten Food Testing

Nima Sensor Test Kit

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Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism

Nadine covers the neurological symptoms associated with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Celiac disease is primarily a neurological disorder, but the neurological symptoms are often misdiagnosed.

Nadine shares her own story as well as client anecdotes regarding the neurological issues faced by celiac patients and those with non-celiac gluten sensitivity. She outlines the common symptoms and discusses how to either slow their progression or eliminate them entirely.

Nadine explains the way gluten affects your neurological system and how a Paleo lifestyle can help you heal. Listen and understand how to get your brain back!

How an immobile patient misdiagnosed with MS was able to walk again

• Inspired by Dr. Terry Wahls book, The Wahls Protocol, she adopted a Paleo diet
• Food can be medicine or poison

Misdiagnoses given to people who actually suffered from gluten ataxia

• Parkinson's
• ALS
• MS
• Psychosomatic disorder

Why experts advocate for including an AGA in celiac testing

• It provides a biomarker for non-celiac gluten sensitivity

Why the neurological component of celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity is so significant

• The entire enteric nervous system is located in the bowels
• Constipation and diarrhea occur when peristalsis is paralyzed due to gluten

The neurological symptoms of celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity

Why patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia could be restored by a Paleo diet

• An autopsy is the only way to definitively diagnose Alzheimer's
• Many patients have improved significantly after removing gluten from their diets

The components of a Paleo diet

• Meats and fish
• Nuts and seeds
• Fruits and vegetables

How a Paleo lifestyle cleared Nadine's neurological issues

• Her balance issues went away
• She no longer suffered frequent falls

The standard nutritional panels for a celiac patient

How glyphosates can cause leaky gut even in the absence of celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity

The health benefits Nadine has witnessed in patients who adopt a Paleo diet

• No longer take prescription medication
• Normal blood pressure
• Desirable cholesterol level
• Absorb nutrients appropriately
• Body heals

The Wahls Protocol by Dr. Terry Wahls

Discovery Health: Celiac Disease

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Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism

On this episode of the 'Gluten Free RN,' Nadine explains how gluten affects your skin. If you have celiac disease or a gluten intolerance, you may also suffer from dermatitis herpetiformis, a painful rash that is often misdiagnosed.

Nadine shares her struggle with DH and offers advice about eliminating gluten from both your diet and personal care regime in order to heal your skin. The only treatment for this issue is a 100% gluten-free diet.

Your skin is the largest organ in your body, so listen and learn how to keep it looking and feeling good!

The definition of Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH)

• Blistering, vesicular rash that is typically round
• Itchy, very painful and distracting
• Caused by IgA deposits under the skin
• May appear on hands, legs, back, armpits, buttocks, elbows, knees, scalp, torso and even eyes
• Not contagious
• The only treatment is a 100% gluten-free diet

Nadine's struggle with DH

• Blisters, itchy and painful hands as a child
• Irritated by latex gloves as a nurse, hands developed rash
• Misdiagnosed by several dermatologists
• DH finally identified by Dr. Abigail Haberman
• Rash had exploded all over Nadine's body and she was near death
• Most of the rash resolved quickly after adopting a gluten-free diet

Why steroid creams, long-term antibiotics and dapsone aren't the answer

• DH is an external expression of what's happening internally
• Topical creams don't treat the underlying cause
• Long-term antibiotics disrupt the microbiome and put you at risk for developing other infections
• Dapsone is associated with serious side effects for the blood and liver
• Removing gluten from your diet and personal care products is the only cure

The importance of eliminating gluten from personal care products

• Anything you put on your skin can travel through to your bloodstream
• Discontinue the use of products that contain wheat, barley, rye or oats
• Nadine also recommends eliminating products that contain chemicals such as lauryl sulfates and paraffins

YouTube: Your Skin on Gluten

Primal Pit Paste

ZuZu Luxe Cosmetics

Red Apple Lipstick

Desert Essence Organics

Gluten-Free Danube Cruise

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Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism

This time on the 'Gluten Free RN' podcast, Nadine examines the many autoimmune disorders that are associated with celiac disease. Once you have acquired one autoimmune disease, your chances of developing another increase exponentially – Nadine had seven!

Nadine shares how she was able to heal the inflammation in her intestines that caused those autoimmune disorders and go from a positive ANA panel to a negative one in just a year on a Paleo diet.

Listen and understand which autoimmune diseases are linked to gluten intolerance and how to dodge those bullets by going gluten-free!

What's Discussed:

The chances of developing additional autoimmune disorders

• Once you have one autoimmune disease, your chances of developing another are 30% -50% greater

Nadine's 'collection' of autoimmune disorders

• Raynaud's phenomenon is a circulation issue that gave her purple/white hands and feet
• Sjogren's syndrome dried out her mucus membranes
• She suffered from arthritis and joint pain
• Alopecia caused her hair to thin and fall out

Why celiac disease is sometimes misdiagnosed as MS, ALS or Parkinson's

How Dr. Terry Wahls went from a wheelchair to riding a bike by eliminating gluten

How it is possible for your body to heal the inflammation causing autoimmune disorders, regardless of what the medical establishment says

• Remove the things that cause damage
• Replace the nutrients your body needs

Additional autoimmune disorders associated with celiac disease

• Liver disease (primary biliary cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis)
• Type 1 diabetes
• Autoimmune thyroiditis
• Addison's disease
• Dermatitis herpetiformis
• Alopecia
• Vitiligo
• Neurological issues (gluten ataxia, peripheral neuropathies)
• Connective tissue diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis)
• Sjogren's syndrome
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Dilated cardiomyopathy
• Autoimmune pericarditis
• Psoriasis
• Sarcoidosis
• Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
• Pancreatitis
• Microscopic colitis
• Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
• Wilson's disease

The importance of checking magnesium RBC levels in cardiac patients

The genetic overlap between Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease

• A study in Scotland found that 94% of Type 1 diabetics carry the HLA-DQ2/-DQ8 genes

Resources Mentioned:

The Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles by Terry Wahls MD and Eve Adamson

Terry Wahls MD Research Study Update

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Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism

This episode of the 'Gluten Free RN' podcast outlines the benefits of adopting a Paleo diet in order to regain and then maintain your health. Patients with celiac disease or gluten intolerance can get better, faster by choosing the Paleo option.

Nadine shares how changing her eating habits had an incredibly positive impact on her health as she went from feeling better on a gluten-free diet to feeling fantastic on her own variation of a Paleo diet.

Nadine gets specific about the foods you can and cannot eat and the incredible health benefits of going Paleo. Listen in and learn how to get back the health you deserve by focusing on good food!

What's Discussed:

The foods to avoid on a Paleo diet

The foods you can eat on a Paleo diet

Nadine's story

The concept of food as medicine

• All disease starts in the gut

Where to locate organic fruits and vegetables and meat with no antibiotics/no hormones

The health benefits of a Paleo diet

• Clears up lingering gluten issues
• Helps achieve sustainable weight loss
• Affords clearer, smoother skin
• Improves the immune system
• Allows for better sleep

The importance of sleep hygiene

• Your body heals while you sleep
• Eight to ten hours is optimal

Why fat is essential in absorbing nutrients

• Vitamins A, D, E & K are fat soluble

The best sources of fat for nutrient absorption

• Avocadoes
• Grass fed meats
• Olive oil or coconut oil
• Nuts
• Nut butters
• Fish oil
• Eggs

Resources Mentioned:

Paleo Magazine

The Paleo Solution: The Original Human Diet by Robb Wolf

Practical Paleo by Diane Sanfilippo

The Paleo Approach: Reverse Autoimmune Disease and Heal Your Body by Sarah Ballantyne

Midway Farms http://www.midwayfarmsoregon.com/

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Books by Nadine:

Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism

This time on the 'Gluten Free RN' podcast, Nadine explores the connection between gluten intolerance and antibiotic-resistant threats. Because damaged intestines compromise the immune system, undiagnosed celiac patients are more likely to develop infections that necessitate antibiotics.

Nadine summarizes the 2013 CDC report, Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, explaining the three microorganisms identified in the report with a Threat Level of Urgent. Listen and learn how to protect yourself and your family from the public health threat posed by these bacteria!

The prevalence of undiagnosed celiac disease and gluten intolerance

• 30-50% of the population carry the HLA-DQ2 and/or DQ8 genes

The importance of healthy intestinal tissue

• 70-90% of the immune system is in your intestines

The soldier analogy

• Healthy villi are like rested soldiers with loaded weapons on a clear day who can easily take out antigens that don't belong
• Damaged villi are like soldiers on a bender with inadequate weaponry, operating in smoke and fire – they either don't work at all or fire randomly at antigens

The need for a more judicious approach to prescribing antibiotics

• Overuse of antibiotics wipes out good microbiome along with bad

How to rebuild microbiome

• Kombucha
• High-quality probiotics
• Fermented foods
• Apple cider vinegar

The need for IgA and IgG testing to complement a celiac panel

The public health threat posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria

• The 2013 CDC report details 2 million illnesses and 23,000 deaths yearly

The connection between damaged intestines and a higher risk of bacterial infection requiring antibiotics

The three microorganisms with a Threat Level of Urgent

• Clostridium difficile (causes profuse diarrhea, 14,000 deaths/year)
• Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (50% fatal, 600 deaths/year)
• Neisseria gonorrhoeae

The causes of inflammation in your intestines

• Gluten
• Dairy
• Sugar

Why Nadine has concerns about the potential pandemic and huge loss of life presented by large numbers of undiagnosed celiac patients who are susceptible to bacterial infections

CDC Report: Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2013

Enterolab Website

Cyrex Laboratories Website

PubMed

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Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism

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!

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

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Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism

In this episode of 'Gluten Free RN,' Nadine discusses common signs and symptoms of gluten intolerance in children as well as the importance of identifying celiac disease early to allow for the growth and development of body and brain.

Nadine employs anecdotes about her own clients at the Gluten Free RN office to illustrate the myriad of ways that gluten can affect the health and development of undiagnosed kids.

This episode explains the GI problems, developmental delays, autoimmune disorders and neurological issues that children with gluten intolerance face as long as they remain undiagnosed. Click and listen to recognize the warning signs!

The common dismissal of celiac symptoms in children

The profound impact of gluten intolerance on fetal development and maternal health

• It typically takes 9-15 years for a person to be diagnosed correctly

Signs and symptoms of celiac disease and gluten intolerance in children

Failure to thrive

• Low birthweight
• Short stature, stunted growth and delayed development
• Lactose intolerance
• Abdominal pain and vomiting
• Focus and retention issues (ADD, ADHD, ODD)
• Autism
• Psychiatric issues
• Delayed puberty
• Listen for the full list

Katie's story

• After suffering from chronic constipation, her colon was removed – but her health did not improve until she learned about celiac disease and changed her diet
• Because her growth was stunted as a result of malnourishment, Katie only grew to 5'3" despite having a size 10 foot

Why vitamins, minerals and supplements don't help children with celiac disease or gluten intolerance

Why undiagnosed celiac disease patients suffer from focus issues and psychiatric disorders

• Inflammation of the brain causes hypoxia
• Low oxygen flow results in 'brain fog'

Sam's story

• At 17, she was overweight and suffering from abdominal pain
• She was still wetting the bed and had yet to get her period
• After receiving a celiac diagnosis and adopting a gluten-free diet, Sam lost 100 pounds and has gone on to have two healthy children

The importance of testing the entire family for celiac disease once one member has received a diagnosis

The high percentage of celiac patients who are asymptomatic

• Roughly 50% of people diagnosed with celiac disease would say they have no symptoms

The increased chances of developing autoimmune disorders when children with celiac disease go undiagnosed

The enormous genetic overlap between celiac disease and Type 1 diabetes

Why parents should be tested for celiac disease prior to a pregnancy

• Undiagnosed expectant mothers are at an increased risk of miscarriage, complications and delivering babies with low birthweight and neural defects

How to navigate birthday parties, camps, school events, etc.

• Proper planning and communication make it easy

How Doctors Think by Jerone Groopman

University of Chicago Medicine Celiac Disease Center Website

EnteroLab Celiac Testing Resources

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Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism

This time on 'Gluten Free RN,' Nadine continues to cover the basics of celiac disease and gluten intolerance, reviewing the consequences of intestinal damage and gluten in the bloodstream and discussing what you can and cannot eat as part of a gluten-free diet.

A registered nurse certified in emergency care and a celiac patient herself, Nadine is well-versed in

the health complications and symptoms you might experience with undiagnosed celiac disease or gluten intolerance, including neurological disorders, dermatologic difficulties and even mental health issues.

Join the Gluten Free RN on this podcast to learn the signs of undiagnosed celiac disease and gluten intolerance so that we can all be healthy and vital for years to come!

What's Discussed:

The definition of celiac disease and its chronic nature

• Diagnosis requires HLA-DQ2 and/or DQ8 genes and documented villous atrophy

The importance of healthy intestinal tissue

• 70-90% of the immune system is in your intestines

Grains to avoid that contain gluten

• Wheat
• Barley
• Rye
• Oats (due to cross-contamination)

Places where gluten may be hiding

Gluten-free, nutrient dense foods

Complications caused by gluten in patients with celiac disease or gluten intolerance

• Chronic inflammation (suffering from an -itus of any kind)
• Autoimmune disorders
• Damaged immune system
• Malnutrition/deficiencies

The increased risk of cancer in patients with undiagnosed celiac disease

Symptoms doctors look for before testing for celiac disease

• Chronic diarrhea
• Malabsorption
• Extreme weight loss or malnutrition

Components of the test for celiac disease

• Blood test (celiac panel)
• Biopsy of the small intestines

The amount of time it takes to regenerate damaged villi in the absence of gluten

• Nadine recommends you continue the clinical trial of a gluten-free diet for at least six to 12 months

Additional signs of a possible gluten intolerance or celiac disease

Additional symptoms Nadine has encountered in undiagnosed patients

Indicators of gluten intolerance in children and elders

Resources Mentioned:

Montana Gluten Free Website

Kite Hill Non-Dairy Foods

Gluten: Zero Global by Rodney Ford

Connect with Nadine:

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Books by Nadine:

Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism