Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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.

Dr. Stephen Wangen explains the difference between celiac disease, allergies, and intolerances in a way that everyone can understand. These often subtle differences can be significant to someone who may be reacting to the foods they eat. Everything in the book is substantiated with solid facts, interviews, studies, and reliable data. He covers everything, explaining in detail what tests are needed, questions to ask your doctor, what to do once you've been diagnosed, complications that may arise, to the healing process. I highly recommend this book if you have a wheat intolerance or allergy because Dr. Wangen will put everything into perspective for you.
Connie Sarros, author of 5 gluten-free cookbooks, "The Newly Diagnosed Survival Kit" for celiacs, and co-author of "Gluten-Free Cooking for Dummies"

Dr. Wangen's book explains a host of reasons why one should be eating gluten free. As a nationally recognized authority in the area of gluten-intolerance, he is qualified to explain these different reasons. Everything in this book is helpful to those of us searching for more answers.

I have been a diagnosed celiac for almost 12 years now. When I was diagnosed with celiac disease and started the gluten-free diet I had no idea there would be many members of our support group who did not have a medical diagnosis of celiac disease. As the membership chair of our local support group, and as a GF Bed and Breakfast owner, I find that the majority of people I talk to have chosen to eat GF for many various reasons. Most of our guests have multiple dietary restrictions and are still searching for answers about new dietary problems that have come up.

We keep a copy of Healthier Without Wheat in the bookcase of our B&B suite for this reason. It is interesting to talk with guests about which chapters got their attention. I highly recommend this book if you are still looking for answers about gluten intolerance.

In his new book, Dr. Wangen provides a much needed comprehensive and understandable medical explanation of gluten intolerance. I have been teaching gluten-free cooking classes for years and I have noticed a shift from all students with celiac disease to many with gluten intolerance to some who are gluten-free by choice for health reasons. Healthier without Wheat connects diet to health and is the book I will hand people who don't understand the connection but are seeking relief from serious medical issues. Thank you for the valuable resource.

I read this book after I discovered Coeliac Disease was not the only form of wheat intolerance. It's a very easy read and much of the information really struck a chord with me. After reading, I felt certain I ought to try a wheat-free diet and after discussing it with my doctor, I did exactly that. It's been almost two-months since I went 'gluten-free' and I have never felt better. My allergies have almost disappeared, I have more energy, need less sleep, the condition of my hair and skin has improved and I'm feeling slimmer and trimmer every day. Massive results, all inspired by this book. I wish I'd read it 10 years ago.

I also loaned it to a friend who has been puzzled over her son's health issues and she agreed that it was truly amazing information.

The information is authoritative and thorough and makes a convincing case for the prevalence of wheat intolerance.
Obviously you have to weigh up the information in relation to you own circumstances, but if you suspect a wheat intolerance, or even if you have a niggling, unexplained health issue this book is certainly worth a read.

For the growing number of us sickened by wheat, Stephen Wangen's Healthier Without Wheat tells us why that is and what to do about it. In this thorough, yet easy-to-read book, Dr. Wangen explains wheat allergies, celiac disease, and non-celiac gluten intolerance and includes fascinating case studies that help us understand his points. I especially loved the insightful quotes that precede each chapter, for example, "make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you" by Ralph Waldo Emerson and a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that covers everything you ever wanted to know and probably some things you didn't even know you should ask. This is an excellent handbook for understanding wheat as a possible culprit in today's society as well as how to live a healthy life without it. Get a copy and keep it handy; you'll refer to it again and again.
---Carol Fenster, author of 1,000 Gluten-Free Recipes (Wiley, 2008)

While there is much useful information in the book, most of the information is repeated throughout. Want to know the tests for gluten intolerance, celiac, or allergy? The author will tell you about them repeatedly. Want to know which grains have gluten and which don't? The author will give you the list several times. Want to know the signs or symptoms of gluten intolerance? The author will give them to you more than once. When the author is not repeating the same information, he is telling you some basics and stating over and over again that a later chapter will go more into depth on that subject. Not a bad book, but it would have been better had it been half as long, or contained more in-depth information.

I am very glad to have come across this book. It is very detailed and comprehensive. I have learned a lot about being gluten intolerant. Also, I was not aware that gluten intolerance can be divided into two general categories--celiac and non-celiac. This book also includes helpful information about blood testing and diagnosing for these problems. I recommend this book for anyone who experiences allergic reactions to foods.