One or the most remarkable facts about celiac — the autoimmune reaction to the gluten in wheat, barley and rye — is the stunningly wide range of problems it can cause. The list of difficulties linked to celiac includes not only digestive discomfort but things like nerve damage, dementia, thyroid disorders, and diabetes and nutrient deficiencies. Celiac is a many-headed health monster.

Traditionally, the medical community has considered celiac to be a digestive disease. Symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, stomach pain and intestinal gas were believed to be the main signs that your body was experiencing physiological complications related to gluten. However, more recently, researchers have begun to recognize that gluten’s harmful effects are not always restricted to digestion. It is that fact that can make celiac such an insidious disease.

For example, if you began to unexpectedly suffer nerve damage and/or brain fog , chances are you wouldn’t initially suspect that the bread you eat every day might be the cause of your condition.  Continue reading →