General

Coeliac disease is an extreme allergy to gluten and avoiding gluten in foods is essential. In addition many people with fatigue, bloating, diarhoea or constipation are sensitive to gluten and feel better when they avoid gluten. But did you know that many medications also contain gluten?

I realise that it can be challenging to exercise the self-restraint to walk away from the pies, bagels, breads and pastas. However, the growing range of gluten free products in supermarkets is making this easier.

So when I realized that there were hidden sources of gluten in some medications, I was less than impressed that the pharmaceutical companies are creating yet another challenge for people to eliminate gluten from their diets.

Because pharmaceutical companies don’t have to post ingredients, gluten can be hidden in medications as it is useful in absorbing water, keeping moisture in tablet mixtures or even just acting as a filler ingredient.

Read more: How your supermarket is designed to make you buy junk food!

So how do you find out if your medications contain gluten?See if there is any mention of starch in the medication as this is usually code for gluten existing in the product. Also, keep in mind that there is a difference between branded and generic medications. Though they may work the same, one may have gluten where the other does not.

Lastly, you can find a list of gluten free medications created by pharmacist Suzy Cohen

Related topic: Curious about Paleo Diet Benefits

Natural therapies for autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune conditions or autoimmune disease is where your body mounts an immune attack against itself. Some common autoimmune conditions include Rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus (SLE), Psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative colitis, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

What is an autoimmune condition?

Perhaps you or someone you know has been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition and you are wondering exactly what this means. ‘Auto’ is the Latin word for ‘self’ and ‘autoimmune’ essentially means that your body mounts an immune response against itself.

These conditions are characterized by inflammation and destruction of body tissues by the body’s own immune system – commonly experienced as pain, swelling, and a wide variety of symptoms depending upon what areas of the body are affected. Some common autoimmune conditions include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Lupus (SLE).
• Psoriasis.
• Crohn’s disease.
• Ulcerative colitis.
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.‍

Why does the body attack itself?

The role of your immune system is to protect you from potentially harmful invaders such as bacteria, viruses, toxins and allergens. In response to such invaders, your immune system sends out T cells (your main infection-fighting cells) to help destroy the invading cells. T regulatory cells are special cells that act like traffic controllers. They oversee how many and what type of T cells are released and help keep your immune system in check.

In addition, inflammation results in further local tissue damage, which can affect the functioning of specific organs. For example, in ulcerative colitis, the gut lining is attacked and damaged, resulting in poor digestive function and abdominal pain.

Since the majority of the immune system is housed in the gut, a healthy balance of beneficial microbiota (bacteria) in your digestive system is important for a well-regulated immune system.  Poor diet, stress, and some medications can lead to imbalances in gut bacteria, which is a common feature in people with autoimmune conditions.

‍Related: Why your health problems may have started in the gut 

Autoimmune Condition Treatment Considerations

Vitamin D is a fundamental nutrient for autoimmunity, as it is required for the production of healthy T regulatory cells. Correcting vitamin D deficiency can help support an appropriate immune response, thereby reducing the number of symptom ‘ flare-ups’.

Regular, low-impact exercise not only releases pain-killing endorphins but also helps combat the fatigue associated with autoimmune conditions.

Diet is key to supporting healthy gut microbiota – eat plenty of wholes, unprocessed foods, including whole grains and fiber, to encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria in your gut.

Omega-3 essential fatty acids EPA and DHA – found in fish oils, these act as an ‘off switch to help resolve unchecked inflammation. Fish oils may provide not only symptomatic relief of pain but can also help reduce inflammation-driven tissue damage; allowing the affected organs to return to normal functioning.

Beneficial bacteria, in the form of probiotics, can help re-educate the immune system by restoring the balance of microbes that influence the immune response. For example, the use of probiotics in cases of ulcerative colitis can reduce local gut pain and inflammation, improve digestive function, and ultimately reduce the number of “flare-ups” experienced.

This advice is for general purposes only. Please book an appointment for individualized assessment and treatment.

Dr Peter Holsman is a qualified Medical Practitioner, Naturopath and Professional Speaker based in Melbourne. An expert in his field with over 30 years of experience, he specializes in treating people with fatigue-related illnesses including digestive problems, anxiety, stress, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, menopause, thyroid, and adrenal hormone concerns.