Gluten is found in wheat and many other grains. Gluten is a gray, sticky mixture that makes dough tough and elastic and allows it to hold together while rising. In some people with gluten sensitivity, however, it can create problems.
One of the proteins in gluten is called gliadins. Gliadins in the intestinal tract of sensitive individuals can cause diarrhea, gas, weight loss, skin rashes, and recurring abdominal bloating and pain. Experts say gluten sensitivity often goes undiagnosed. The terms celiac disease and gluten sensitivity are basically synonymous, and it is also known as celiac sprue or nontropical sprue. About 1 in 4,700 Americans have been diagnosed with Celiac disease but some experts say as many as 1 in 133 Americans actually suffer from it.
If someone with Celiac disease eats something with gluten in it, he could actually be damaging his intestines. This could prevent the intestine from absorbing essential nutrients, thus putting the individual at high risk for malnutrition and Geographic Tongue.
Dr. Glen E. Ackerman has 27 years of private practice experience and is board certified in both Family Medicine and Holistic Medicine. He says a vitamin deficiency and too much gluten in the diet has caused Geographic Tongue in many of his patients.
Dr. Ackerman has found that the best solution is to eliminate the gluten and begin a supplementation program that many would consider extreme. Compared to the “One a Day” mentality promoted by television, this regimen involves taking “too many pills.” Actually Dr. Ackerman’s program is designed to provide the best combination of vitamins in the fewest number of pills (four whole pills plus two halves or five a day total).
Compared to the cost of most prescriptions it is surprisingly inexpensive.
If you don’t like taking pills, you can eliminate one of them by taking Vitamin C in a dissolvable effervescent powder form that I absolutely love from www.nutri.com. Plus B-Complex is also available in liquid form so in addition to eliminating another pill it might actually be more absorbable in addition to being much easier to take.
One of the keys to Dr. Ackerman’s vitamin regimen is the high concentration of B complex vitamins. These are relatively expensive so it is quite common for the cheaper brands of multivitamins to skimp on them and include only token amounts in their formula, perhaps only 100 mcg (micrograms) instead of 100 mg (milligrams) which is only 1/1000 as much. This is one case where the old adage “you get what you pay for” is definitely true.
High quantities of B vitamins can turn your urine bright yellow, but this is nothing to worry about. Some skeptics say this shows you are wasting your vitamin money but tests have shown that your body actually needs vitamins (like C) in your urine to eliminate toxins.
Dr. Ackerman has had good success with this vitamin regimen which I’ve included in my book Treating and Beating Geographic Tongue and Other Tongue Problems. If your deficiency is one covered by this plan, you should see good results.
“Wheat Field” by adamr / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
