iThei mdcdaelcinfd o c elllllrllll citlhscreceiving the screening tests.
The other issue with some of the screening tests is they measure your
body’s intestinal IgA response to gluten. In some advanced cases, the in-
testines may be so damaged the IgA is too depleted to create an immune
response. In that situation, the person will test negative for gluten intol-
erance. A biopsy of the intestines (a much more expensive and invasive
procedure unlikely to be done without a positive screen result) would
show the intestines were severely damaged, however.
The best test for gluten intolerance—or any other food intolerance—is
removing it from your diet for a few weeks followed by a challenge in
which you reintroduce the suspected food.
If you have Hashimoto’s, you likely have some degree of gluten intoler-
ance and need to remove gluten from your diet. Some people may have
the same type of reaction to casein and whey in dairy products. Others
may have a reaction to the protein found in eggs or soy.
I tested borderline for gluten intolerance but positive for dairy protein
intolerance. I felt much better after taking both out of my diet, and this
became an essential key to my recovery. A follow-up challenge with both
foods confirmed my sensitivity.
Although celiac disease is five to fifteen times more common in people with
Hashimoto’s than in the general population, non-celiac gluten intolerance
is also a factor in many autoimmune conditions. Gluten also has a direct
influence on intestinal permeability, even in the absence of celiac disease.
Symptom improvement in many autoimmune conditions has been re-
ported after the initiation of a gluten-free diet. Length of gluten exposure
is positively associated with the development of autoimmune conditions.
This means the longer you eat gluten, the more likely you are to develop
an autoimmune condition! Some researchers have found that three to six
months on a gluten-free diet can eliminate organ-specific antibodies, such
as those to the thyroid seen in Hashimoto’s. Some individuals have report-
ed their TPO antibodies disappeared after getting rid of gluten—without
any other lifestyle changes. Thus, a three- to six-month gluten-free trial
should be undertaken by everyone with an autoimmune condition.
When Did the “Staff of Life” Become So Toxic?
The rates of celiac disease, autoimmune conditions, and gluten intolerance
are increasing in many countries, including the United States and Europe.