ARE YOU "REALLY" GLUTEN INTOLERANT?

We have gone blithely along presuming we are GLUTEN INTOLERANT, but unless you have had a test (or even if one came back negative on the day), how can you tell?  There are some questions you might like to ask...

If you have any of the following symptoms, you may be gluten intolerant:

1. Digestive issues - gas, bloating, diarrhea and even constipation.  Consipation is particularly eveident in children who are gluten intolerant.

2. KERATOSIS PILARIS (www.mayoclinic.com/health/keratosis-pilaris/DS00769.  This is also known as "chicken skin" on the back of the arms (nothing to do with doing to many "crow" balances in yoga class!)  This tends to be as a result of fatty acid deficiency and Vitamin A deficiency secondary to fat-malabsorbtion caused by gluten damaging the gut..

3. Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, colitis, lupus, Scleroderma or MS.

4. Fatigue, brain fog or feeling tired after eating a meal that contains gluten.

5.  I also had heart palpitations after eating gluten.  They took a while to subside, but now gone.

6.  Ditto tinnitus.  A welcome surprise.  It does come and go, but is getting less and less.  I am having days of quiteness now.

More than 55 diseases have been linked to gluten - the protein found in wheat, rye and barley.  It is estimated that 99% of the peope who have gluten intolerance or celiac disease are never diagnosed and as much as 15% of the population is Gluten intolerant.  Are you one of them?

AN INFLAMMATION FIGHTING TURMERIC SMOOTHIE..
If you have had undiagnosed gluten intolerance for year, for sure you have inflammation which the Chinese practitioners believe is at the centre of all disease.  Turmeric fights inflammation in a big way, and is being studied for its effects on cancers..  Here is a beautiful turmeric smoothie.

1 slice (or more) of paw-paw or mango
1 frozen banana
Half a cup of pure orange juice (unstrained)
half an inch of fresh turmeric or half a teaspoon of dried turmeric

Whizz in a high speed blender, put into a lovely glass (a martini glass gives a special feeling) add a dollop of real yoghurt and grate some fresh nutmeg over the top.  Perfect to kick start the day.