I've been saying for a year that part of the problem with people knowing about Celiac is getting the word out. Maybe I should clarify that, though - it's getting the CORRECT word out. When false knowledge is being spread about Celiac or gluten-free eating, it does not help Celiacs or the GF community. In fact, it complicates things because then people think that they understand it, but in reality have no idea what they're talking about. This could lead to not properly preparing foods or not paying attention to cross-contamination, which will lead to a Celiac ingesting gluten.
I saw a clip this morning from the Today show (a few days old I believe) that seemed to be trying to educate about Celiac and gluten-free eating. (I never watch this show as our TV is very limited during the day and does not get turned on for most of the day.) The problem is that they have no idea what they're talking about!!! Even their so-called "doctor" had no idea what he was talking about. I will not post a link to the clip as it really was awful, but if you did see it, PLEASE let me clarify a few of the main issues they stated.
1. Celiac is not spelled Ciliac. That should have been clue #1 that they didn't know the issue they were addressing.
2. Having Celiac is not like having a nut allergy, or any allergy for that matter. An autoimmune disease like Celiac and an allergy can have similar outside symptoms, but the body is not doing the same thing on the inside. For an allergy, the body attacks the substance they have a reaction to. Some people are allergic to gluten. For those people, the body will attack gluten entering their body and it can seem from the outside like symptoms for Celiac. As for Celiac, the body attacks itself, particularly the small intestine. It destroys what is called villi in your small intestine, which are finger-like parts that actually are responsible for absorbing nutrients for your body from your food as your intestines break the foods down in the digestive process. Having these destroyed make it where you can't absorb the food you're eating. This leads to malnutrition, as it did in Sophie. That's why she was losing weight and began looking like a starving child from a third world country. Her labs even were showing what you would expect from literally a starving child. An allergy does not cause damage to the small intestine. Comparing Celiac to a nut allergy is very wrong and is NOT the same.
3. Celiacs should not be consuming ANY gluten. The "doctor" on the clip stated that they can't have much gluten. Fact is that even a little bit of gluten could do damage, even if someone does not seem as sensitive and do not get symptoms from even a small amount. (Yes, there are different sensitivity levels but they all can do damage.) This may seem like a small mistake, but it really is important. Even a small amount of gluten over time can cause serious damage and put Sophie back into a malnourished state.
4. The "doctor" also stated that there was no risk in eating gluten-free. That is not really a true statement. There are several risks involved if you are not aware of what you are doing and paying attention to what you are eating, just like in any diet. Eating a balanced meal is important whether you are eating GF or not. If you were to switch out the breads, pastas, and pastries with their GF alternatives and base your diet on eating those, then you will have major issues. Gluten based foods actually contain more nutritional value than GF foods. This is because gluten foods, such as regular wheat-based breads, are fortified with additional nutrients and vitamins (read the labels if you don't believe me). They actually help to balance out your diet, even if you are eating more carbs than you should be. Gluten-free foods are not fortified this way. It is very common for Celiacs to become deficient in one or more nutrients after beginning a GF diet. Most, if not all, need to take supplements to aid in these deficiencies. Sophie takes her vitamins every morning. It has already become part of her routine in the mornings. You must eat a balanced diet focused on fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables, not just the GF alternatives. To say there is no risk in eating a GF diet is misleading and needs to be clarified.
5. This "doctor" also stated that the bigger issue was gluten sensitivity. That issue is not bigger than Celiac, in my opinion. Gluten sensitivity is the term for people who have serious issues when they eat gluten, which can include diarrhea, skin issues, vomiting, etc. Gluten sensitivity can make you miserable when you eat gluten. Celiac, though, can lead to other diseases if left untreated (as in continue eating gluten) - Type 1 Diabetes, Osteoporosis, or even cancer to name a few. Saying that the bigger issue is gluten sensitivity makes it seem like Celiac is just a walk in the park and no big deal.
My feelings about this clip after watching it twice (which was two times too many but had to rewatch to make sure I was hearing things correctly), is that they really are just trying to sell their book. The guests on the show who were supposed to be informing the public about gluten-free eating were the authors of a new South Beach Diet book focusing on GF eating. They have not done their homework to really know what they were talking about! If you see this book, please don't buy it. Just hearing the way they describe it was bad enough. I would imagine that there are several problems with the recipes and information in the book.
If you hear something about Celiac that sounds contrary to what you have heard from someone actually living or dealing with Celiac on a daily basis, no matter if they introduce themselves as a doctor or expert or if they are on a national morning news show, please look further into it!!! Don't just take what they say as true.
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