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Summary: Amber Graves of Grain
Review: A BARGAIN: 244 pages and 383 citations with accessible science about hundreds of illnesses.
READ THIS BOOK, and if the symptoms and illnesses of yourself and/or esteemed others jump out at you, read it again (as I have) for relevance, understanding, connection, note-taking, retention, resolve and competence in sharing. Also read the appendices and the 28 pages of information-dense references. Also, if you have the fortitude, look up the definitions of all of the listed illnesses - such work and knowledge acquisition might provide the discipline required for making any recommended dietary changes.
MAIN TOPICS: illnesses and diseases in the US population resulting from 1) celiac disease which is "an ailment whereby the inside lining of the small intestine...is chronically damaged by gluten proteins and their interaction with the immune system" (~1% of population). and 2) "non-celiac gluten sensitivity (which) exists whenever an individual's immune system is mounting an abnormal reaction to gluten" (~ 20% of population).
USEFULNESS: The authors skillfully explain the role of gluten grains in almost 200 medical and psychiatric conditions as they emphasize about 20 auto-immune diseases. Some attention grabbers: ADHD, arthritis, asthma, autism, cancer, Crohn's disease, depression, dermatitis herpetiformis, diabetes, epilepsy, headache, heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, liver disease, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, schizophrenia and thyroid disease. They strongly advise testing for food sensitivities and celiac disease when these (especially autoimmune) illnesses exist. They recommend providing doctors copies of reference articles, since they may not know about the rapidly-expanding repertoire of available tests. Already experiencing digestive improvement, I share this book with friends and relatives.
CELIAC DISEASE AND HEREDITY: first degree relatives 4.5-8.5%; siblings 13.8%; offspring 12%; identical twins 70%.
LESS-FAMILIAR FACTS:
1. Humans have consumed grains during less than 0.5% of their history.
2. Gluten-related illnesses have newly occurred with "many aboriginal groups just recently introduced to a gluten-rich diet."
3. History: Stanislas Tanchou published findings over 150 years ago that imply that foods from grains cause cancer. Samuel Gee provided a highly-regarded description of classic celiac disease by 1888 and Willem Karel Dicke realized that wheat caused celiac symptoms by 1936. Incidence is 40 times that claimed a decade ago.
4. Schizophrenia incidence During WW-II substantially decreased among European populations suffering grain shortages. Ca 1969 F. Curtis Dohan et al reported that schizophrenia is frequently found in celiac disease and the reverse.
5. Genetic markers for gluten sensitivity or celiac disease occur in 43% of US population.
6. Genetic marker testing, especially if there is gluten-induced illness in relatives, is also advised for the asymptomatic because, "Those who do not feel ill in response to allergic substances in their environment are more likely to succumb to the harmful effects of these allergens."
7. Celiac disease waits for an average of 11 years before diagnosis and only 2.5% are ever diagnosed.
8. Malabsorption may not be permanent - villi, the millions of nutrient absorbers that line our small intestines, which can be flattened by disease, can be raised up again.
9. Depressive illness is the most common symptom of gluten intolerance
10. Rheumatoid arthritics (about half) show clear signs of gluten sensitivity.
11. AIDS death rate is increased by 20-fold when there is selenium deficiency which is commonly found in non-celiac, gluten-sensitive persons.
12. Significant bone loss occurs in 70% of persons with undetected celiac disease. Dairy products and calcium supplements may actually decrease bone density, while, for celiacs, a year on a gluten-free diet with proper supplementation can increase bone density.
13. Diabetes (IDDM) can be prevented by a gluten-free diet if genetic proneness is detected early.
14. Diet and nutrition's medicinal value is indicated in tens of thousands of studies.
BREAKING THE GLUTEN ADDICTION: There are certain peptides, or protein fragments, found in gluten (in grains) and in casein (in milk) that look and act just like the narcotic known as morphine. Hence, while a gluten-free diet is essential for management of celiac disease, only 50% are able to stick with it, even when they know their health risks. Supplemental to the authors' comprehensive advice about nutrition, support groups etc., I would suggest that, after reading Jacquelyn Rogers' book, You Can Stop - whether you are a smoker or not - you will be able to quit just about anything addictive, including gluten foods.
MSG CONNECTION: There seems to be overlap in msg-free and gluten-free diets. Either substance may be found "hidden" in hydrolyzed plant/vegetable protein, textured plant/vegetable protein, soy sauce, barley malt, stock cubes etc. They write that gluten can even be found "hidden" in msg (monosodium glutamate).
VEGETARIANISM & VEGANISM: The authors urge inclusion of high quality meat in the diet, but some dieters are so militant (and perhaps so disabled by a gluten-induced depression) that they might actually prefer dying to eating meat. I hope that the gluten-sensitive among them will identify vegetable and plant glutens and hidden glutens that might be used as meat substitutes in vegetarian and vegan prepared foods, and I hope they will develop therapeutic gluten-free diets. The authors do report that rheumatoid arthritics experienced "significant objective and subjective benefits" when they were subjected to fasting followed by a vegetarian, gluten-free diet.
WHATEVER WORKS: One could argue that the authors' program is so broad that a conscientious follower might improve his health but never know whether it was the removal of gluten grains (wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt, kamut, triticale), dairy products, non-gluten allergenic foods or hundreds of food additives and chemicals; or whether it was the addition of supplements and more wholesome foods that was the primary factor. But removal of a potential causative element (gluten) of a host of illnesses would certainly tend to simplify the symptom set, enabling easier identification of any remaining dietary offenders. Revised 1-Oct-03 (now fewer than 1000 words)
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Summary: An amazing discovery!
Review: An extremely well written book. I highly recommend this book for yourself and a copy to share with your own physician! Why treat conditions with medications, when food allergies are the root cause.
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Summary: Excellent primer on gluten sensitivity/Celiac disease
Review: Bread is the staff of life. All over the world, billions of people eat huge amounts of grain every day. Wheat and rice, lots and lots of wheat and rice. It keeps us alive. It is known as food. But the enthusiasm of American yokels for stupid food fads is apparently not to be tamed. Oh, those eggs, those bad eggs! Oh, that steak, that bad steak! Oh, that wheat, that bad wheat! Oh, that champagne, that bad champagne! What, then, are we to eat????? And, more to the point, what are we to eat with pleasure? I wish American children would pay more attention to their teachers, especially their Home Economics teachers!!
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Summary: A Warning for Everyone
Review: I found this book to be super-excellent. It is a comprehensive resource that provides solid medical information about celiac disease and gluten sensitivity in a highly readable (but not condescending) style. Braly and Hoggan's well-documented explanation of gluten's destructive role in our diets is clear and telling. For me, as a newly diagnosed celiac patient, it was a life-changing eye-opener. But everyone should read it. The received wisdom that grains should be the major component of our diets is pervasive in our society and the general public is unaware of how wrongheaded - and even dangerous - this advice is. Certainly, as the authors are careful to point out, not everyone ends up with celiac disease, but everyone can benefit from the knowledge offered in this book. It makes an important social contribution.
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Summary: Finally a solid resource for celiacs
Review: I highly recommend this book. It's well written & very engaging. It's chocked full of valuable information for anyone who is diagnosed with celiac disease, suspicious that they may have gluten sensitivity or anyone caring for a loved one with gluten sensitivity. When I was first diagnosed with gluten sensitivity, I searched my local library for solid information to help me improve my health. To my utter disappointment, all I could find at my local library was a couple gluten free cookbooks. I needed information on how to get well, not brownie recipes. Thanks & congratulation to Dr. Braly & Ron Hoggan for publishing this excellent resource in one convenient volume. I plan to buy multiple copies to give as Christmas gifts to my relatives.
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Summary: Finally a solid resource for celiacs
Review: I highly recommend this book. It's well written & very engaging. It's chocked full of valuable information for anyone who is diagnosed with celiac disease, suspicious that they may have gluten sensitivity or anyone caring for a loved one with gluten sensitivity. When I was first diagnosed with gluten sensitivity, I searched my local library for solid information to help me improve my health. To my utter disappointment, all I could find at my local library was a couple gluten free cookbooks. I needed information on how to get well, not brownie recipes. Thanks & congratulation to Dr. Braly & Ron Hoggan for publishing this excellent resource in one convenient volume. I plan to buy multiple copies to give as Christmas gifts to my relatives.
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Summary: Grains are good, just does stuff yourself
Review: If readers would exercise and forget about so called Dangerous Grains, they would CERTAINLY lose weight.
Yet people want the lazy way out with silly fad diets.
For those who have fatten themselves up over 20 years, they certainly will not lose the weight in 40 days.
Listen friend - the best 3 pieces of diet advice are:
1. exercise
2. exercise
3. exercise
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Summary: Dangerous Grains is Superlative!
Review: In my opinion, Dangerous Grains is the most comprehensive book ever written about the effects of gluten containing grains on the body. It is the first book written in layman's language that explains in detail the many diseases and disorders that may result from diets based on grains. It has been known for most of the century that grains cause cancer, heart disease, thyroid
problems, schizophrenia, arthritis, etc but the facts have been buried in thick medical text books under the name 'Celiac Disease' gathering dust. Hoggan and Braly have brilliantly compiled very well researched information so that I and you can finally do something to improve our very unwellselves.
The book is very well written and easily understandable. The personal experiences and stories are very effective. The list of almost 200 diseases at the back of the book is an excellent idea and many people I know have bought the book based on that feature alone.
The writing is exquisite and reading the book is like a having a
conversation with a good friend. After reading Hoggan's articles about the damaging effects that grains have had on me, I was able to finally figure out why I had stomach problems, extreme tooth decay and tantrums as a child, infertility, acne and chronic fatigue as a teenager, back pain, and arthritis, depression and diarrhea as an adult. Armed with this knowledge, I am able to take control of my life and live for the first time-symptom free and disease free.
I would recommend this book to everyone who wants to be well.
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Summary: Surprised at Your Surprise
Review: Surprised at Your Surprise, September 24, 2002
Reviewer: Janice (see more about me) from Alberta, Canada
You say: In fact, it was almost as if the "new and innovative" technologies and treatments referred to are really not yet available and are off in the distant future somewhere. There was no reference anywhere of how one could obtain any of the testing discussed in the book. - Many test and treatments are not yet available to the average person, and may not be available for many years, especially if lack of money is a factor. As for the lack of specific contact information, I don't think this is as important as knowing that the technology does indeed exist. Policies change, people migrate - what might be available to you where you live, may not be within reach where I live, or may be available three years from now, and so on. You say: Either this or the authors are intentionally keeping this information a secret from the reader. - What would be their motivation for this? If you go back and read the foreword and preface, it seems clear (to me) the writers are involved for reasons other than personal financial gain.
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Summary: Marion Bradley lives under a big rock
Review: The person who wrote that this is some new diet fad has never been as sick as the people who actually have Celiacs disease, and who have to stay on this diet or DIE!!! Marion needs to become educated before she opens her mouth. This is a real disease, and believe someone who knows from experience, wheat can kill you if you have this disease.
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