The Gluten Effect [Paperback]

Vikki Petersen (Author), Richard Petersen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 13, 2009

Is Your Food Poisoning You? Exhaustion, obesity, digestive problems, headaches and depression: If you suffer from any of these symptoms the cause might well be found in whats on your plate. Yes, it could be the food you eat. Specifically, the problem may be gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley that is emerging as a key factor behind a variety of health problems affecting millions of Americans.

Now, in The Gluten Effect, Drs. Vikki and Richard Petersen are exposing the dangers gluten poses and, using the celebrated HealthNOW Method, providing the path to good health for those with gluten sensitivity. Stop suffering! Find out if a simple change in diet will completely restore your health and give you back the robust lifestyle you deserve. The Drs. Petersen have cracked open a world hidden from view but one that causes untold suffering for millions. The Gluten Effect is a remarkable window into the innumerable ways in which gluten that sticky little molecule found in bread and hidden in so many other placescan cause everything from autism to dementia, from depression to psoriasis and so much more. If you have nagging symptoms that just dont go away, and you have no idea where they come from, you may be suffering from the gluten effect. This book can save your life!Mark Hyman, M.D., New York Times best-selling author of UltraMetabolism, The UltraSimple Diet and The UltraMind Solution.

Product Details

• Paperback: 402 pages
• Publisher: True Health Publishing; 1 edition (February 13, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982271107
• ISBN-13: 978-0982271100
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #224,675 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Vikki Petersen, a Chiropractor and Certified Clinical Nutritionist, is co-founder and co-director of the renowned HealthNow Medical Center in Sunnyvale, California.

Dr. Vikki is acknowledged as a pioneer in advances to identify and treat gluten sensitivity. Recently featured in an exclusive interview on CNN Headline News, Dr Vikki is also endorsed by the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness & The Gluten Intolerance Group of North America for her contributions to gluten awareness in our country.

Dr. Vikki Petersen is passionate about sharing her clinical research findings and treatment solutions for gluten sensitivity and optimum wellness with patients and the general public. As a national lecturer and international radio personality, she makes regular national radio appearances, and headlines speaking events for Silicon Valley and Fortune Five Hundred companies, covering topics such as gluten sensitivity, managing stress and women's health.

Dr. Petersen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College and a Doctorate from Northwestern College of Chiropractic. Dr. Petersen has received Certified Clinical Nutritionist certification from the International and American Association of Clinical Nutritionists. In practice for over 20 years, she remains on the forefront of advances in gluten sensitivity identification and treatment and a wide spectrum of health issues.

Prior to her career in the healing arts, she was a world class figure skater - awarded a gold medal ranking in figures from the United States Figure Skating Association.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 57 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Unexplained Allergies - Maybe it's the Gluten June 1, 2009

By R. Corcoran

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is packed with all the details and anecdotes you could need to understand the insidious effect gluten can have on your body. Mind you, I thought I ate very healthy (minimal red meat, lots of veggies) before learning about gluten sensitivity.

My story. I was lucky enough to hear a seminar from one of the author's back in 2003 at the same time my allergy medicines "quit working" for me. I couldn't sleep, my nose ran 24x7 and then my eyes puffed up. For weeks nothing was working and I was frustrated beyond belief. It was easily the worst attack in 10 years since being in California. I was approaching my mid 30s and I guess my body was showing it's age a bit.

Through a free educational seminar (prior to this great book being available) as well as personalized nutritional testing program, I developed a respect for the "sensitivity" of my body to gluten and sugar. In just 3-4 days of zero gluten and zero sugar, my swollen eyes had resolved themselves with out any medicine. My runny nose had reduced, and I slept 8 full hours for the first time in weeks. That was my "light bulb moment". I had gluten sensitivity! I went gluten free for 6 months, and then slowly introduced a "treat" of bread or pizza once a week. After a while I fell off the wagon, only to find the allergies return with a vengeance. Back on the wagon, the allergies were under control and then gone. Wow!

Many a friend has jested me on my "gluten free" diet only to try the diet and watch headaches and previously issues such as uncontrolled weight gain disappear. Every person's body is a little different, so the side-effects of the sensitivity are too. For me it's an uncontrollable horrible runny nose (post nasal drip) and very bad sleep (wake several times a night). For other's it's migraines, etc...

As you can imagine, I highly recommend this book. If you have a previously unexplained allergy or unexplained body ache or sleeping troubles, this book is a must read. If you wonder about proper nutrition, you need the data in this book to go beyond the simple "food pyramid" and learn what the Gluten Free subject is all about and how you can improve your nutrition without adding lots of suppliments. Mind you, I take some suppliments. The thing is, all the supplements in the world won't help if you are eating food that your body has a sensitity too. There are substances which can throw your adrenal system into a continual low grade allergy attack. Although not the title subject of this book, I learned that as I got older, the more I would pay for taking my adrenal glands for a ride on the blood sugar roller coaster (that one can of soda a day for 5-10 years took a toll over time.)

Finally, the authors are very professional. Excellent training, and dedicated to the subject of nutrtional health. They run a clinic that specializes in finding the root cause of your body problems and try as I might I found it impossible to find an equivalent group for my family in New York area to visit. They have a very hollistic program that starts with a thorough medical examine to rule out any undetected medical problems. In short, they aren't one of these fly by night one size fits all "vitamin" programs. My mom ran into one of these and was against all "nutrional" programs until I nudged her to visit them during a vacation to see me.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource about gluten sensitivity March 28, 2009

By Gluten Sensitive

Format:Paperback

The Gluten Effect is an excellent resource for people who have just begun a gluten free life. It would also be a great gift to give to those doctors who are still unaware of the effects of gluten on the human body. You do not have to have celiac disease to suffer from the effects of gluten. Unfortunately, most doctors still know little, if anything, about gluten sensitivity. So many people are dismissed with diagnoses of IBS, nervous system disorders, or hypochondria and gluten is the cause. This book is easily understood and backed up by numerous citations to research and studies. I recommend this for anyone who suspects gluten may be a problem.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Gluten plays a role in more diseases than you can imagine December 1, 2009

By Joanne of Joanneunleashed website VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Food that enters the intestine goes through a complex digestive process. It must be broken down to molecules that can pass through the intestinal wall. The intestine is also a major part of the immune system, producing antibodies that destroy harmful bacteria entering the digestive tract.

But some foods we ingest contain proteins that the body does not recognize, and so the intestine mounts an immune response. One common protein that is relatively new to our species and abundant in our food supply is gluten found in wheat, rye, and barley.

For those of us who are sensitive to gluten, this immune response begins to inflame and damage the intestinal tract causing what is known as "leaky gut syndrome." Gaps in the intestine then allow uninvited molecules into the bloodstream. As the body mounts a defense against these intruders, it often mistakes its own tissues as the same foreign bodies. And thus many develop autoimmune diseases. Additionally, the body's ability to absorb nutrients is compromised, resulting in malnutrition.

This book provides a comprehensive explanation of gluten sensitivity and how it contributes to diseases such as celiac, ADD, ADHD, arthritis, diabetes, IBS, fatigue, sleep disturbances, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, malnutrition, depression, fibromyalgia, obesity and many other unexplained symptoms--both physical and mental.

The book emphasizes finding the cause of your illness and eliminating it, as opposed to the common practice of drugging the symptoms while the underlying disease state progresses. I wish this book could be mandatory reading in medical schools.

The authors teach when and how gluten sensitivity testing should be done, and they provide numerous case studies of patients they have treated who have renewed their vigor, improved their mood, lost weight, and reversed many chronic diseases.

I highly recommend The Gluten Effect for anyone suffering from autoimmune diseases, general fatigue, or unexplained illnesses, aches, or pains. The information could completely change your life.