Category: Dr. Vikki Petersen Gluten Articles

Articles by Dr. Vikki Petersen on celiac disease, gluten intolerance and gluten sensitivity. She has over 20 years of experiences in the alternative medical field.

Posted on

Have a Gluten Intolerance? Consuming Gluten in Moderation?

Dr. Vikki Petersen provides us with an editorial on a Huffington Post article and some very smart advice that you won’t want to miss, especially if you have a gluten intolerance. Learn how eating gluten may effect you, even just cheating once a month. Read on to learn more.

Gluten Intolerant? Be Careful of ‘Everything in Moderation’ Advice

By: Dr. Vikki Petersen

Vikki Petersen
Dr. Vikki Petersen

We’ve all probably heard ‘everything in moderation’ as a good rule of thumb to follow. Whether we are talking about diet or exercise it seems to ring true, for the most part. But all rules have exceptions and this one is no different.

If you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity moderate consumption of gluten is a death sentence. Is that an exaggeration? No, it isn’t. Gluten is known to increase the incidence of dying from all causes when it is untreated and the treatment is the total and complete elimination of gluten. Continue reading “Have a Gluten Intolerance? Consuming Gluten in Moderation?”

Posted on

Undiagnosed Celiac? Your Bones are at Risk

Dr. Vikki Petersen stresses the importance of an undiagnosed celiac getting diagnosed; how gluten effects their bone health; explains evidence of same; and reminds us to never cheat on our gluten diet. Thank you once again, Dr. Vikki, for educating us all!

For those of us who know something about celiac disease we understand that:

It’s an autoimmune disease

We may or may not know the following however:

Where there’s one autoimmune disease there tends to be others

Autoimmune diseases are the third leading cause of death in this country Continue reading “Undiagnosed Celiac? Your Bones are at Risk”

Posted on

Celiacs Have No Digestive Complaints

Vikki Petersen
Vikki Petersen, D.C., C.C.N.

By Dr. Vikki Petersen

We live in a country that diagnoses a mere 5% of those suffering from celiac disease. Considering that undiagnosed celiac disease raises your risk of mortality 4x over the general population plus, as an autoimmune disease, it increases your risk of developing other autoimmune diseases, our shoddy ability to diagnose the disease should be addressed urgently. Continue reading “Celiacs Have No Digestive Complaints”

Posted on

Gluten Intolerant? Don’t ‘Fall’ for Peer Pressure!

Dr. Vikki Petersen, D.C., C.C.N.

By Dr. Vikki Petersen

As adults I believe we would all like to think that peer pressure went the way of high school. While for many that may be true, unfortunately peer pressure seems to be alive and well in many of my patients who are gluten intolerant.

Just this week I’ve run into the following patients:

A gentleman who had been suffering with severe IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea and discomfort multiple times per day) last year, who, after learning he was gluten intolerant and making the necessary dietary Continue reading “Gluten Intolerant? Don’t ‘Fall’ for Peer Pressure!”

Posted on

Are There Degrees of Gluten Intolerance?

Dr. Vikki Petersen, D.C., C.C.N.

By Dr. Vikki Petersen

I recently saw an “Ask the Doctor” question on the medical section of a popular news website. The individual asked about degrees of gluten sensitivity. She already knew that she didn’t have celiac disease, but she wanted to know if gluten was still a problem for her. Much of the data shared was accurate, but there was some misinformation disseminated that I wanted to point out so that you won’t be confused or misinformed. To define our terms, gluten intolerance is used as an umbrella condition that embraces both celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. Continue reading “Are There Degrees of Gluten Intolerance?”

Posted on

Celiac Disease: Newly Diagnosed and Still Having Symptoms?

You may be wondering why some gluten intolerant individuals are on a grain-free and gluten-free diet. I have heard from many newly diagnosed celiac patients, as well as gluten intolerant, who react to foods which do not contain gluten. One should not react if eating a gluten-free food from a reputable manufacturer or making it themselves at home, especially if you know that most people do not react to it. When newly diagnosed, one can react to other grains which can mimic gluten such as rice, corn, etc. This is known as being cross-reactive. It is usually not permanent, though. The small intestines just need to heal before introducing corn, rice, dairy, etc. It usually takes about 3 months of eliminating these foods before reintroducing them. If you do not avoid the foods that cause a reaction you only asking for trouble. You need to avoid anything which may cause inflammation to heal a leaky gut and your intestines. Continue reading “Celiac Disease: Newly Diagnosed and Still Having Symptoms?”

Posted on

Multiple Sclerosis Raises Risk of Celiac Disease Dramatically

Image: Dr. Vikki Petersen
Vikki Petersen, D.C., C.C.N.

By Dr. Vikki Petersen

I have had the experience of diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with gluten intolerance. The results were often an improvement of their nervous system, MS related symptoms. When they related their improvement to their neurologist, it was frequently met with disbelief or a comment that implied some type of ‘placebo’ effect. Patients would be very frustrated at the dismissal of what they felt was a significant factor in their health. Continue reading “Multiple Sclerosis Raises Risk of Celiac Disease Dramatically”

Posted on

Gluten Intolerance and Stress

Vikki Petersen, D.C., C.C.N.

Gluten intolerance, be it celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, creates a lot of stress on the body. Through malabsorption, inflammation and a host of other damaging factors, it is no wonder that the stress gland itself would be similarly affected.

The stress glands are designed to help us adapt successfully to life’s stressors and do so in many ways.

Do you find yourself in a situation where you need to move quickly? This gland will increase your heart rate and bring more blood to your muscles with the result of making you faster and stronger. Continue reading “Gluten Intolerance and Stress”

Posted on

Celiac Disease News: A Vaccine is in Phase I Trials

Vikki Petersen, D.C., C.C.N.

Dr. Vikki Petersen elaborates on the celiac disease vaccine…

Dr Robert Anderson, PhD from Australia announced this month that after several years of research his vaccine was ready for a Phase I trial. I remember meeting Dr Anderson 2 years ago at a National Foundation for Celiac Awareness conference where he shared with me his goals about this research.

The study was composed of 34 celiacs, 19 people of whom received the vaccine while 15 received a placebo of saline water. Continue reading “Celiac Disease News: A Vaccine is in Phase I Trials”