A Nurse’s Story of Celiac Disease from 1953 EP074
Gluten Free RN
What did we know about celiac disease in 1953? The truth is, we knew quite a bit about sensitivity to gluten 65 years ago when Matilda Babbitz’s son Bobby was diagnosed with celiac disease. A nurse by profession, Matilda carefully observed her baby and kept detailed records of his reactions to foods, working with doctors to determine an appropriate diet for Bobby. Today, the Gluten Free RN is sharing an written by Matilda herself. She covers how Bobby presented with celiac disease at six months of age and the dramatic change in his health and behavior after a diet change. Nadine discusses...
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Musings & Truths From the Gluten Free RN EP073
Gluten Free RN
‘Know your own truth and let that guide you.’ How do you cut through the noise and misinformation around gluten sensitivity and celiac disease in order to make the best choices for your health and happiness? By tapping into your intuition and asking WHY when the answers don’t feel right—and reaching out to the right people for support when you need it. Today, the Gluten Free RN is sharing her Top 10 Musings and Truths for health and wellbeing, empowering you to be self-protective and surround yourself with the people who genuinely care enough to speak up for—and with you. She shares...
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African Americans & Celiac Disease EP072
Gluten Free RN
Much existing propaganda claims that African Americans do not suffer from celiac disease. Even the Gluten Free RN was surprised to find out that her adopted daughter had a genetic predisposition to the disease back in 2006, as research available at the time regarded the HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 genes to be primarily Caucasian traits. And until we take steps to conduct a mass screening, we simply don’t know how common celiac disease is among people of African descent. Today, the Gluten Free RN is exploring celiac disease in the African American population. She covers a 2006 study out of Columbia...
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Celiac Disease & Why No One Should Have Belly Pain EP071
Gluten Free RN
Approximately 50% of ER visits are associated with abdominal pain, and the vast majority of those patients are given a diagnosis of ‘abdominal pain of an unknown origin’ and directed to come back if the condition gets worse. This is little comfort to people suffering from severe discomfort who need answers around the cause of their belly pain, not just medication to mask it temporarily. Could undiagnosed celiac disease be the source of their suffering? Today, the Gluten Free RN is diving into the issue of belly pain and undiagnosed celiac disease, discussing the expensive testing often...
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Blood Disorders and Celiac Disease EP070
Gluten Free RN
If you are being treated for a blood disorder, it is time to look deeper and explore the underlying cause. Rather than simply addressing iron- or B12-deficiency anemia in isolation, ask WHY you have a deficiency in the first place. It is possible that damage to your intestines caused by gluten is preventing your body from absorbing the nutrients necessary to grow your red blood cells and keep your immune system healthy. And anemia is not the only blood disorder associated with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity! The Gluten Free RN is taking a closer look at the hematologic...
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Eosinophilic Esophagitis and Celiac Disease EP069
Gluten Free RN
Your gastrointestinal tract is approximately 30 feet long, and it runs from your mouth all the way to the anus! We know that celiac disease can impact any part of the digestive tract. But there is another disease that wreaks havoc on the GI tract as well, a condition called eosinophilic esophagitis or EoE. The Gluten Free RN is explaining the fundamentals of eosinophilic esophagitis, from its characteristic inflammation of the esophagus and elevated eosinophils in the blood to the common symptoms of vomiting and upper abdominal pain. She walks us through the treatment for EoE, an elimination...
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Why No Dairy on a Gluten-Free Diet? EP068
Gluten Free RN
If you’re just getting used to eliminating gluten from your diet, it may feel like a burden to remove dairy as well—especially if you’re a fan of comfort foods like cheese and ice cream. Why exactly do many practitioners recommend a gluten- AND dairy-free diet to patients diagnosed with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity? The Gluten Free RN is walking us through the similarities between gliadin and casein, explaining how the proteins found in gluten, milk and cheese impact our brains. She discusses how Marsh 1 damage from celiac disease leads to an inability to break down...
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Indigenous Populations, Celiac Disease and NCGS EP067
Gluten Free RN
‘Globally, indigenous peoples suffer from poorer health, are more likely to experience disability and reduced quality of life, and ultimately die younger than their non-indigenous counterparts.’ A on the health of indigenous peoples points to a significant problem, but the question is WHY? Why are native populations more prone to autoimmune disorders and type 1 diabetes? Why do they have a higher incidence of alcoholism and drug addiction? And why the lower life expectancy? The Gluten Free RN is exploring the role of food in health outcomes for indigenous populations around the world. She...
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How to Easily Go Gluten-Free or Paleo EP066
Gluten Free RN
‘It’s too hard.’ ‘It’s too expensive.’ ‘It’s time-consuming.’ ‘My family won’t support me.’ There are lots of excuses why you can’t go gluten-free or Paleo, but the Gluten Free RN argues that if it’s hard, you’re doing it wrong. And today, she’s prepared to explain how to easily go gluten-free or Paleo and either maintain or regain your health. Nadine begins with a discussion of the connection between food and pain or discomfort. She explains how the processed, non-food that most people consume causes damage that prevents us from absorbing the nutrients our...
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Russia and Celiac Disease EP065
Gluten Free RN
As stories about Russia continue to dominate the news cycle, you are probably familiar with the recent sanctions against the country, Vladimir Putin’s reelection, and even the expulsion of Russian diplomats from the EU and US. But what do you know about celiac disease in Russia? The Gluten Free RN is taking a closer look at the limited information about celiac disease in Russia, giving us an overview of the country’s size and population and the likely number of celiac cases based on the global tendency. She discusses the thriving wheat production industry in Russia as well as the...
info_outline‘Globally, indigenous peoples suffer from poorer health, are more likely to experience disability and reduced quality of life, and ultimately die younger than their non-indigenous counterparts.’
A UN Report on the health of indigenous peoples points to a significant problem, but the question is WHY? Why are native populations more prone to autoimmune disorders and type 1 diabetes? Why do they have a higher incidence of alcoholism and drug addiction? And why the lower life expectancy?
The Gluten Free RN is exploring the role of food in health outcomes for indigenous populations around the world. She begins with an explanation of the dietary differences between hunter-gatherer and agricultural societies, discussing how native populations were exposed to the gluten in grains only when European conquerors came to occupy their lands.
Nadine shares her challenge in finding information about indigenous populations and celiac disease, explaining why further study is necessary. She speaks to the highly processed nature of the commodity foods provided to Native Americans in the US and the shortcomings of Canada’s Food Guide when it comes to the health of First Nations people. Listen in and learn the significance of educating indigenous populations around celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, empowering those groups to make choices that will improve their health and quality of life!
What’s Discussed:
The global indigenous population
- 370M in 70-plus countries
- Rich diversity of cultures
The health status of indigenous populations
- Higher incidence of autoimmune disorders, T1D
- Higher prevalence of addictive disorders, cardiovascular disease
- Lower life expectancy, increased morbidity/mortality
Why indigenous populations have more health issues
- Access to health care, isolation and lifestyle
- Food (hunter-gatherer vs. agricultural society)
The lack of information around indigenous populations and celiac disease
- Very few studies available
The impact of grains on the native population
- Significant change in health care outcomes, quality of life
The prevalence of celiac disease in indigenous populations
- At least 1%, likely 3% or higher
- No way to know without mass screening
Why eating healthy is a challenge for the indigenous population
- Food scarcity, desserts
- Reliance on commodity foods provided by government
The conclusions of the Prairie Nymph blog on Canada’s Food Guide
- Based on diet of European origins, doesn’t mention celiac disease
- Ignores health benefits of traditional diet for First Nations people
Why it’s important to educate indigenous people around celiac disease
- Empower to make food choices with better health outcomes
Resources:
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jaren M. Diamond
Dough Nation by Nadine Grzeskowiak
USDA Commodity Supplemental Food Program
‘Canada’s Food Guide and Native Women’ by Prairie Nymph
The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen by Sean Sherman
American Indian and Alaska Native Health
‘Celiac Disease: A Life-Changing Diagnosis’ in Indian Country Today
‘Government Food Boxes? It’s Nothing New for Native Americans’ on WDET
UN Indigenous Peoples Fact Sheet
Summary of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
WHO Health of Indigenous Peoples
WHO Indigenous Peoples and Substance Abuse
Connect with Nadine:
‘Your Skin on Gluten’ on YouTube
Melodies of the Danube Gluten-Free Cruise with Nadine
Books by Nadine:
Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Heal