Customer Reviews

Celiac Disease: A Hidden Epidemic

5 star:		(75)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is a very worthwhile addition to a person with celiac disease's library. Rather than another "do's and don'ts" book, it's focus is on the physiology and pathology of celiac disease. But let not your heart be troubled (or your brain twisted) by medicalese -- it is written very clearly and in layman's terms. It starts with an overview of the "normal" digestive tract and the immune system. Then it explains what celiac disease is and what goes wrong. There are chapters on how to diagnose celiac disease and differentiate it from other conditions, as well as discussions on alternative approaches to testing for celiac disease including fecal, breath, and saliva testing and the blood dot test. Dr. Green discusses laboratory differences and false negatives and false positives. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the future of testing.

The next parts of the book are devoted to related conditions and complications with chapters on neurological manifestations like peripheral neuropathy, ataxia, migraines, and epilepsy, malignancy, osteoporosis, depression, DH, diabetes, infertility, and other related autoimmune conditions like Sjogren's Syndrome, thyroid disease, fibromyalgia, Addison's Disease etc. and discussions of the medical management of celiac disease.

The gluten free diet (the only treatment for celiac disease) is covered in some detail, covering topics such as how much gluten is too much, grain science, cross-contamination, and basic rules for avoiding cross contamination. There are chapters on the new labelling and testing of gluten free products, a short chapter on cooking without gluten (this is not a cookbook), eating in the "real world", dealing with family occasions, the medicine cabinet and cosmetics and "eating naked".

The last part of the book has chapters on dealing with children and young adults who have celiac disease, including the impact of parental attitudes, how adults cope with the changes celiac disease and the gluten free diet bring to their lifestyles and then chapters on research and myths and unexplored areas.

I would say that at least two thirds of the book deals with the medical and scientific issues surrounding celiac disease. The last third of the book deals with lifestyle change and gluten-free diet issues. I was glad that there weren't really any specific products mentioned in the book, so we don't have to worry about whether or not a product really is "still" gluten free or not because we saw it in this book.

All in all, I certainly think that this book is an excellent reference for every celiac to have, and a very important contribution to the celiac community.

Having multiple food intolerences that went mis-diagnosed for years, I am quite familiar with this genre of writing. From this background, I will unequivocably say that this book is incredible. It gives a wealth of information about celiac disease specifically as well as a much-appreciated, comprehensive overview of the background to it--the complexity of the digestive systems and how they work and can go wrong. It is written beautifully with a blend of anecdotes and scientific fact that is a pleasure to read. The authors are obviously very familiar with the difficulties, stress, and pain that can accompany all stages of learning of and living with a gluten-free diet. It's tone is honest, extremely positive, and uplifting. I recomend this book to all interested in this topic, celiacs and non-celiacs alike.

I applaude Dr. Green and Rory Jones with this new book. I've bought and read almost every book and cookbook ever written on celiac disease and the gluten free diet since my diagnosis 17 years ago and this is by far the best.

The book details the history of celiac disease, the medical aspects of the disease in layman's terms, and the diet itself in an easily readible book.

I loved the insertion of the personal stories throughout the book. Many people will find their own story in them. This book should be in every GI doctor's office in the country, not to mention every celiac's home.

I give this book an A+!

I am an annual attendee at Dr. Green's seminars at Columbia University dealing with Celiac Disease. I sent in a letter after the 2005 Patient Education Day seminar offering not only raves about the spectacular quality of the seminars but also some suggestions about how to take the complicated technical material and make it more "user-friendly". This book does exactly that. It is easy reading, interesting, and offers a celiac patient a never ending series of "ah hahs" as the reader matches his personal experiences to the information in the book. This is a five-star book that every celiac patient, every person who cares about a celiac patient, and every doctor who treats a celiac patient should not only own but should read and re-read.

Dr. Green's resume shows that he is the foremost expert on this subject that I've read to date. This book at least comments on and often answers many questions that have risen in the quest to learn about topics such as celiac disease, wheat allergy, gluten intolerance, and the subtleties of differences in diagnoses and interpretations among the medical community and others.

Dr. Green highly recommends the gluten free diet and spends a significant amount of time on management with this diet. However, one of the main problems with gluten is that it is ubiquitous (AKA omnipresent, universal, pervasive, global, abundant, permeating) and often not shown as an ingredient in products where it resides. I do not believe that Dr. Green has adequately addressed this part of the problem or significantly discussed that alternative solutions already exist.

In Chapter 27, on page 270, Dr. Green has three paragraphs about Oral Peptidases and mentions that studies are underway at Stanford University using a recombinant bacterial peptidase...capable of digesting...gliadin. In conclusion of that same chapter, Dr. Green states that most of the therapies described in the chapter are still theoretical...except the...oral peptidases trial already in progress. Three paragraphs in a 280 page book is not significant mention.

Just last month, the Journal of the American Medical Association published an article entitled "Enzymes Might Cut Celiac Symptoms", July 26, 2006, Kuehn 296 (4): 382 Hope does appear to be present and in the process of being proven.

I have been using plant based digestive enzymes for over a year (Peptizyde is the brand we've bought from Houston Nutraceuticals)to help contain and manage my son's encounters with casein and wheat/gluten while we have been handed varying diagnoses of his health. He has the celiac gene which one MD says is not currently active while another MD states that continued ingestion of gluten can and will likely cause celiac in his body while his primary pediatrician had dismissed all of his symptoms as a virus throughout weeks of vomiting and diarrhea. Meanwhile, my son has improved when given his enzymes regularly and with careful dietary and health considerations.

It is very helpful to have this book from Dr. Green to educate us on the facts and myths of this disease and to share the experiences of others in dealing with families and other "helpful" people who don't think a little wheat will hurt anyone. I would like to have been told a bit more from his perspective about his knowledge of and specific comments on digestive enzymes and his personal take on the subject, since we know he's aware of the studies.

I look forward to publication of the results of the Stanford tests and conclusions by Dr. Green and others of the effectiveness of plant based enzyme therapies for this and other health issues.

I applaud Dr. Green for this book and his very extensive coverage of the disease topic and all its intricacies. Four stars because there does seem to be a true solution on the horizon of which Dr. Green is aware but did not discuss enough to be truly helpful.

Joni Caldwell

I stumbled upon this book when it was first released and it changed my world. I had many of the symptoms relating to Celiac Disease and no doctor had ever suggested testing for the disease.

I was relieved to find the reason for my Alopecia Aerata. My dermatologist never said anything about a possible link to Celiac Disease.
I never saw one reference to Celiac Disease in all the literature I got from the Alopecia Foundation. How could that be?

I am angry at how pregnant women with anemia are handled. The medical world assumes that a young woman presenting with anemia is anemic due to heavy menstrual flows. That is a bad assumption. It turns out my anemic condition was due to an intolerance to gluten. So despite how much iron I ingested, I was still anemic. I gave birth to a healthy baby girl who had language delays and was later diagnosed with Autism. She had "pica" (kids who want to eat paper, ice, chalk etc.) Pica is a sign of iron-deficiency anemia. She also had many other symptoms relating to Celiac Disease but the medical community did not connect the dots because she was thriving. How many children with autism or ADHD have mothers with symptoms of Celiac Disease? Pregnant women are tested for so many things. I believe Celiac Disease should also be on the list.

This is an outstanding book that every person in the medical field should be required to read. Patients should insist their medical providers receive better training. The pharmaceutical companies pay for our doctors to be trained on the latest and greatest drug. They don't have an interest in this area because they can't make any money from telling patients to go gluten-free. Our local Gastroenterology Group receives money from a pharmaceutical company for testing a drug to treat irritable bowel syndrome. Those gastroenterologists are not looking for Celiac Disease in their patients with Irritable Bowel.

I have been trying to create more awareness in my little world. I have bought many of these books to pass on to all of my friends and family.

I've bought quite a few books on Celiac Disease, but most only have a little info that helps me. Not this book. It is full of info that's new to me. In fact, this is the only book I need. There's alot of contradictory information out there about what you can and cannot eat, but this book is pretty accurate. Check it out, it certainly helped me!

Dr. Greene's book on Celiac disease is the absolute best on facts and understanding about the symptoms and far reaching results of Celiac disease. It answers questions as to childhood problems that I never associated with my problems. It gives medical terms and diagrams that I "slept through" in health class. It is must reading for anyone who may be suffering from an undiagnosed digestive condition or those under the care of a physician unfamiliar with Celiac disease. It clearly outline the proper tests needed, as well as the proper care that must ensue. We have shared this book with several "suspects", and they, too, have found it to be understandable and informative. Dr. Greene unveils much needed knowledge in his clear writing style.
Martha Holmes

The short check off list at the beginning that's a prelude is all that's needed to delve into this informative, well written, and easy to read book. Anyone searching for "what's wrong with me" and has gastric issues would benefit greatly from this book. Regardless of whether or not one is celiac, Dr. Green provides insight into how the intestinal system works, and why this disease goes undiagnosed in spite of its prevalence. The author strikes the right balance for the lay reader, and provides adequate information that may influence one to take charge in his/her overall medical treatment and diagnosis. The book is an excellent basis for further exploration and research concerning one's health.

The hallmark of a really great book is that you are fully engaged from the first page to the last. You might not expect this in a book about a disease, even if you happen to be a person with that disease. Peter Green, M.D., Director of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia and Rory Jones, a medical writer diagnosed with celiac disease, have intertwined their expertise, resulting in an extraordinary book that is scientific and yet wonderfully readable.

"Celiac Disease, A Hidden Epidemic," is not only a comprehensive source of information and support for persons diagnosed with celiac disease, but may provide a step toward diagnosis for the more than one million undiagnosed who are suffering with symptoms unexplained or misdiagnosed. In this age of seeking information via the internet, we are faced with jumping from site to site and discriminating between fact and mere comment. Dr. Green and Ms. Jones have gifted us with a book that includes accurate and complete explanation of the diagnosis of celiac disease, the disease process, its varied complications and its treatment. The book also beautifully addresses living well with celiac disease, including sections on the gluten-free diet, eating out, coping with change, and parenting children with celiac disease. There are insightful quotes from patients and parents throughout the book, which personalizes the disease and lends support.

This book is a valuable asset for those diagnosed or seeking a diagnosis - and it might also be a great idea to buy one for your physician.

Sue Goldstein, Founder
Westchester Celiac Sprue Support Group