Healthier Without Wheat: A New Understanding of Wheat Allergies, Celiac Disease, and Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance. [Paperback]

Stephen Wangen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2009

This is the leading resource for discovering your wheat allergy or gluten intolerance. For millions of people, bread, pasta, and many other foods are bad for their health. Thousands of people have already come to their own realization that they are healthier without wheat in their diet, but it can be difficult to figure out when most doctors aren t knowledgeable on the topic. This book provides validation for what these people have discovered, and explains how you too can determine whether or not wheat and gluten are making you sick.

In Healthier Without Wheat you learn the difference between celiac disease, non-celiac gluten intolerance, and wheat allergies. You will discover how hundreds of health problems are connected to wheat and gluten reactions and why sorting this out on your own can be more difficult than you might think. You will also discover how you can be gluten intolerant even if you don t have celiac disease, and why non-celiac gluten intolerance can be just as severe as or more severe than celiac disease.

You will also learn how to determine if your infant or child reacts to wheat or gluten. Healthier Without Wheat also covers nutritional deficiencies commonly seen in gluten intolerance, and equally important, what to do if you are avoiding gluten but not getting better. There are many books on living gluten free, but only one on how to determine whether or not you are gluten intolerant or have a reaction to wheat. You should read this book if you or someone you know suffers from any of the following: abdominal pain, chronic anemia (iron deficiency), arthritis, autoimmune diseases, constipation, depression, diarrhea, eczema, fatigue, fibromyalgia, frequent illness, headaches, heartburn, hypoglycemia, irritable bowel syndrome, irritability, migraines, or osteoporosis.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Thank you for giving validity and clarity to gluten intolerance beyond celiac disease. Healthier Without Wheat provides insight for screening, diagnosing, and ending the suffering of thousands of people. I started reading it and didn't want to put it down. --Cynthia Kupper, R.D., Executive Director, Gluten Intolerance Group of North America

The concise and easy to understand manner of Dr. Wangen will leave his readers with both an awareness of the bigger problem of gluten and how it could adversely be affecting their own lives and the lives of others. --ForeWord Magazine

Of the many books on celiac disease and gluten intolerance on the market today, this is one of the best for both patients and those in the medical field. Recommended for all. --Library Journal

About the Author

Dr. Stephen Wangen is a licensed and board certified gluten intolerant physician who lectures nationally on the subject of gluten intolerance. He is co-founder of the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment Center, where he serves as the Medical Director. He is on the Board of Trustees of the Gluten Intolerant Group of North America, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support to people with all types of gluten intolerance. He continues to investigate the relationship between food allergies and health as the research director of the Innate Health Foundation. He published his first book, The Irritable Bowel Syndrome Solution, in 2005.

Product Details

• Paperback: 275 pages
• Publisher: Innate Health Publishing; 1 edition (March 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976853795
• ISBN-13: 978-0976853794
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,664 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #66 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Diseases & Physical Ailments > Allergies
  • #98 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Diets & Weight Loss > Gluten Free

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

87 of 90 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't own the book, but I've met the doctor February 25, 2010

By Belaugh86

Format:Paperback

I saw Dr. Stephen Wangen at a seminar in the South Seattle area recently. He made an appearance at a local library. Both my Mom and I are non-celiac gluten intolerant, which was covered in great detail at the seminar.

Dr. Wangen did an amazing job of describing the difference between Celiac disease, non-celiac gluten intolerance, and gluten sensitivity - all different reactions to gluten. About a year and a half ago, I had "undiagnosable" symptoms such as headaches, constipation, extreme lethargy, brain fog, hives, tiny itchy spots on my skin, depression, anxiety, and more. No doctor could diagnose what was wrong with me. Two visits to the ER, one visit to a walk in clinic, 5 specalists and many, many books later, I started to wonder if I could be gluten intolerant. If only I had picked up Dr. Wangen's book earlier.

I was tested by an allergist for wheat and dairy allergies. Negative. I was also tested for Celiac disease - also negative. In his seminar and in his book, Dr. Wangen specified the difference between allergies, intolerance, and sensitivity, and also covered in great detail how and where senstivity and intolerance testing can be done. I've never had an intolerance test done, because every doctor I've been to - including a naturopath, allergist, and even a gastroenterologist all said the testing is "unreliable." Dr. Wangen stated in his seminar that the IgE, IgG and IgA testing used to diagnose intolerance or sensitivity to particular foods is absolutely reliable, but that most doctors and health care professionals will "brush off" or "disregard" the testing because so little gluten sensitivity research has been done; therefore, they might not understand the testing entirely.

I've read The Gluten Connection and The Yeast Connection, both by different authors. I really believe that Dr. Wangen sums it up better in this one book than the two separate books above. He also touches lightly on yeast overgrowth, candida albicans, and other disgestive disorders.

Long story short, in his seminar, Dr. Wangen answered all of my questions and more when it comes to my unexplainable, undiagnosable symptoms. I've been gluten free, dairy free, and mostly symptom free on my own for about a year now, but after attending his seminar, I finally feel validated in my complaints. It feels great to know I'm not crazy. I highly recommend this book over other books because of the detail and extensive knowledge that Dr. Wangen has on the subject of gluten sensitivity. I also appreciate the fact that he stays open-minded to other forms of food sensitivity, and he doesn't place immediate blame on gluten only. He advocates for self-awareness, listening to your body, and always getting a second opinion. Start here, and you might just find the answer you've been looking for.

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Just because you were told you do not have Celiac Disease doesn't necessarily mean you aren't still VERY SICK March 7, 2010

By L. Bernstein

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Not all doctors understand how to properly diagnose gluten intolerance. I have been gluten intolerant for years without knowing it. One doctor tested me for celiac disease, and when the test came back negative, he told me I was fine and could eat gluten (wheat, barley, rye, etc.) without ever having to worry about it.

He was wrong, and I kept getting sicker by the day.

I am one of countless people who do not have celiac, yet I get very, VERY sick from eating gluten -- celiac gene tests and biopsy aside, my symptoms are exactly the same as someone with celiac, including malnutrition, malabsorption, HORRIBLE body aches that mimed Fibromyalgia (it got to where I could barely walk, and I might have been on the way to being diagnosed with MS), mouth sores, brain fog, trouble sleeping, numbness in arms and legs, nasty, embarrassing lower GI problems (oh my gosh . . . the list goes on and on.) I eventually became so weak; I couldn't even carry a lightweight purse.

I felt as though I were dying, and I thought I was going crazy. People around me didn't understand. It was hell.

Fortunately, I eventually found a doctor who understands celiac and gluten-intolerance (University of Chicago Celiac Center), and fortunately, someone FINALLY read the tests correctly.

As I was going through my U of C rounds of tests, I found Healthier Without Wheat and read it. It helped me understand that I wasn't going crazy by questioning my original diagnosis. It brought me great comfort in seeking out a second opinion -- this was a blessing for which I will always be grateful. (For those who understand the medical side of things: I tested double DQ6, with a very high level of gliadin in my blood.)

Dr. Wangen's book also gives the best explanation of non-celiac gluten intolerance AND wheat allergy that I have found, to date.

Now that I've been properly diagnosed, and now that I'm eating gluten-free, I'm feeling better than I have in many, many years.

If you've been told you do not have Celiac, but your body is acting exactly like it DOES have celiac, well, you may indeed have it and need to be tested again. . . OR you may not have celiac, but perhaps you have gluten intolerance the way I do, or maybe a wheat allergy.

Bottom line is that you need to listen to yourself and your body. In the meantime, if you are questioning if you may or may not have celiac, gluten intolerance or an allergy to wheat, this book can help.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!!! October 27, 2009

By jcycle

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was lucky to find this book at the library. It was so much better than other books I've come across on similar topics, that I wanted to buy it. I have self-diagnosed myself with the problems mentioned in the book. I feel like a new person, with energy, now that I avoid wheat.