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Gluten Freedom: The Nation's Leading Expert Offers the Essential Guide to a Healthy, Gluten-Free Lifestyle
World-renowned gluten-related disorders expert Dr. Alessio Fasano presents the groundbreaking roadmap to a gluten-free lifestyle, and how anyone can live better by going gluten-free.
For centuries, bread has been known as the “staff of life.” But for millions of Americans affected by gluten-related disorders, consuming gluten, the complex protein found in wheat, rye, and barley, can be hazardous to their health. In a recent poll presented by Scientific American, over 30% of Americans reported wanting to cut down or eliminate gluten from their diets; the gluten-free market is a $6.3 billion industry and continues to expand.
Now, in Gluten Freedom, Alessio Fasano, MD, world-renowned expert and founder of Massachusetts General Hospital’s Center for Celiac Research, reveals the latest developments in scientific research and treatment, and the answers they provide for this rapidly expanding audience. This groundbreaking, authoritative guide is an invaluable roadmap for the newly diagnosed, for those already dealing with gluten-related issues, and for anyone who thinks they may have an issue with gluten.
Distinguishing scientific fact from myth, Gluten Freedom explains the latest research, diagnostic procedures, and treatment/diet recommendations, helping consumers make the best choices for themselves and their families. Gluten Freedom also discusses important nutritional implications for behavior-related diagnoses such as autism and conditions such as depression, anxiety, and “foggy mind.” Other highlights include:
• The differences between celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and wheat allergy
• Current best practices for gluten-related disorders at any age
• Practical information on setting up a gluten-free kitchen, reading labels, and staying safe and healthy in a world filled with hidden sources of gluten
• The psychological impact of a diagnosis and its effect on a family
• Groundbreaking research for prevention and therapy
• Reliable and accurate resources for patients, parents, and physicians
• And even recipes for an authentic gluten-free Italian dinner from Dr. Fasano’s home kitchen
For centuries, bread has been known as the “staff of life.” But for millions of Americans affected by gluten-related disorders, consuming gluten, the complex protein found in wheat, rye, and barley, can be hazardous to their health. In a recent poll presented by Scientific American, over 30% of Americans reported wanting to cut down or eliminate gluten from their diets; the gluten-free market is a $6.3 billion industry and continues to expand.
Now, in Gluten Freedom, Alessio Fasano, MD, world-renowned expert and founder of Massachusetts General Hospital’s Center for Celiac Research, reveals the latest developments in scientific research and treatment, and the answers they provide for this rapidly expanding audience. This groundbreaking, authoritative guide is an invaluable roadmap for the newly diagnosed, for those already dealing with gluten-related issues, and for anyone who thinks they may have an issue with gluten.
Distinguishing scientific fact from myth, Gluten Freedom explains the latest research, diagnostic procedures, and treatment/diet recommendations, helping consumers make the best choices for themselves and their families. Gluten Freedom also discusses important nutritional implications for behavior-related diagnoses such as autism and conditions such as depression, anxiety, and “foggy mind.” Other highlights include:
• The differences between celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and wheat allergy
• Current best practices for gluten-related disorders at any age
• Practical information on setting up a gluten-free kitchen, reading labels, and staying safe and healthy in a world filled with hidden sources of gluten
• The psychological impact of a diagnosis and its effect on a family
• Groundbreaking research for prevention and therapy
• Reliable and accurate resources for patients, parents, and physicians
• And even recipes for an authentic gluten-free Italian dinner from Dr. Fasano’s home kitchen
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 4, 2013
109 people are currently reading
811 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
December 17, 2014
I thought the book was ok. I found myself getting impatient and skipping large parts that seemed to fill out the book but not really tell me anything tangible. And there were chapters I could easily skip, such as the pregnancy and senior chapters. I was looking for a book that covered what gluten does to your body and this was the closest thing I've been able to find so far. If anyone has suggestions on what else I might read on the topic - please let me know.
It did drive home some points though, to be fair. For example, my main takeaways were the importance of getting tested and what that involves, as well as the differences between gluten sensitivity and celiac disease. There is value in the book, for me it was a matter of digging through to find what I was looking to learn.
Oh and on a side note. The Turkey Chili recipe wasn't bad and it came in handy after Thanksgiving day. :)
It did drive home some points though, to be fair. For example, my main takeaways were the importance of getting tested and what that involves, as well as the differences between gluten sensitivity and celiac disease. There is value in the book, for me it was a matter of digging through to find what I was looking to learn.
Oh and on a side note. The Turkey Chili recipe wasn't bad and it came in handy after Thanksgiving day. :)
February 17, 2019
I think the problem with this book is that it tries to be too many things at once. Given that Dr. Fasano's main contribution to the topic is in the diagnosis, treatment and research on Celiac disease, it's a shame that the book focuses so much on recipes and stories easily acquired through blogs and internet resources.
The part of the book that did focus more on the current state of the scientific findings, on the biology and the diagnostic criteria of the disease I did find very useful. But it's as if in an attempt to be accessible and light-hearted, the book just rushes through that information and doesn't go into enough detail. Again, from such an authority in the field, more in-depth scientific information would have been much more valuable than recipes for gluten-free muffins.
However to be fair, as a primer on the subject of CD, 'Gluten Freedom' is probably a lot better than most books.
The part of the book that did focus more on the current state of the scientific findings, on the biology and the diagnostic criteria of the disease I did find very useful. But it's as if in an attempt to be accessible and light-hearted, the book just rushes through that information and doesn't go into enough detail. Again, from such an authority in the field, more in-depth scientific information would have been much more valuable than recipes for gluten-free muffins.
However to be fair, as a primer on the subject of CD, 'Gluten Freedom' is probably a lot better than most books.
August 26, 2021
An enjoyable book and I certainly learned something from it. However, in my humble opinion, it's a little too repetitive here and there. I think Dr. Fasano could've cut this book to 250 pages and would still have all the important information in there. Under 'normal circumstances', this work would be a solid 3 star for me.
But, since I'm somewhat directly affected by Celiac Disease, I'm obviously biased so that I wasn't reading this 'under normal circumstances'. I can't appreciate highly enough the relentless work doctors around the globe are doing to help us living a better and 'more normal' life. Fasano also gives a bright outlook on the future possibilities to conquer this disease, which definitely helps us to stay encouraged and optimistic about the future.
But, since I'm somewhat directly affected by Celiac Disease, I'm obviously biased so that I wasn't reading this 'under normal circumstances'. I can't appreciate highly enough the relentless work doctors around the globe are doing to help us living a better and 'more normal' life. Fasano also gives a bright outlook on the future possibilities to conquer this disease, which definitely helps us to stay encouraged and optimistic about the future.
April 7, 2014
A must read for anyone with celiac disease, gluten intolerance, wheat allergy and thyroid disease. By far the most comprehensive resource by the leading expert on celiac disease in an easy to understand format. As a bonus, Dr. Fasano shares some of his Gluten free Italian recipes.
April 8, 2014
This book from goodreads first reads and the author alessio fasano which i received free to review was a book in which i was amazed that i didnt have this one before.i was diagnosed while in my 40's and have had a hard time with the transition of understanding what it was and why i had it.i read this book and was amazed at the knowledge it had for me and i think it is a book everyone should read.It gives four parts of which the first part describes what it is,why it is,and how it is and then it moves on toward living with out gluten.this book can also help people with autoimmune and other traits that can possibly be linked to this.again this is a must read book and i again want to thank goodreads first reads and the author for the opportunity to read this amazing book...
March 12, 2023
I found my way to this book via a recommendation by Dr. Charles Parker, whose book New ADHD Medication Rules had a substantial positive impact on my understanding of ADHD, ability to make more effective use of my meds, and as a result, my life.
Dr. Fasano is a pediatric gastroenterologist who helped bring awareness of celiac disease to the United States amid a fair amount of skepticism from the local medical establishment of the time (it was circular: celiac was widely recognized in Europe, largely due to people going off of gluten for a time during wheat shortages in WWII; when they started eating wheat again, some people noticed issues and [fast forward several years] doctors in Europe knew to look for it, so it got diagnosed). North Americans never gave up wheat during the war and doctors in the U.S. were largely unaware of it as a condition and didn't consider it when diagnosing patients; ergo, the prevailing opinion was that celiac disease just didn't exist in the U.S.
Dr. Fasano's writing hits a nice balance, most of the time, of staying accessible while delving into the science to a satisfying degree: he doesn't oversimplify for readers or use vague/red-flag terms like "toxins" as he discusses the three gluten-related conditions covered in the book: wheat allergy, celiac disease (an autoimmune condition), and gluten intolerance/sensitivity. When multiple theories of underlying mechanisms are present, he lays out the competing theories, shares which one he leans toward and why, and he doesn't speculate without making it clear he's speculating. It's a touch repetitive in places and might have benefited from tighter editing, but it's a minor quibble. Not having any interest in making more humans, I skipped over the sections on the relationship between gluten intolerance and fertility, same for raising kids with celiac disease.
The author is very clear that individuals should not go off experimenting on their own without the care of a doctor or nutritionist. He specifically cautions the reader against going off of gluten on their own if celiac disease is present or suspected, since going off gluten can lead to a false negative test for the disease.
I didn't suspect gluten was a problem for me but did suspect that widespread inflammation was impacting my mental health and that it could be something food-related that was exacerbating extant depression, anxiety, and ADHD symptoms (which have all gotten worse since piling long COVID onto the mix). Hoping to rule out gluten as a culprit, I tried out Fasano's method--used only with those suspecting a sensitivity, never an allergy or celiac disease--to go off of foods containing gluten (that's wheat, rye, and barley) for two weeks, then resume eating glutinous foods for two weeks and see if they notice a difference.
If someone had suggested to me a few months ago that maybe I should try going gluten-free to lessen the severity of my mental health issues... depending on the day, I might have chosen violence or might have offered a lecture on how draining and obnoxious the endless litany of (well-meaning!) "have you tried -----" is for those who deal with chronic conditions or disabilities, especially when the recipients of these suggestions have been thinking about and living with, around, and through the condition for *years*.
To be perfectly, utterly clear, that has not changed: it is still obnoxious and no one should do that.
With all that said, I must--extremely grudgingly--admit some understanding of how it is that gluten-free people become the monomaniacal, crossfit-level evangelists that they have so rightfully earned a dodgy reputation for being. I did not need to go back on gluten for two weeks; I knew within 24 hours. Trust me that there is nothing short of unambiguous evidence of an immense and drastic change in my ability to function that would lead to my considering, for even a moment, giving up beer and Spätzle and sourdough. Since I wasn't expecting anything, I doubt I'm looking at placebo effect, but it can't be totally ruled out. For what it's worth, I don't believe I've found the unified field theory of my personal mental health or anything--it's not some kind of One True Answer or the whole puzzle. But it is a piece of my puzzle, and a sizable chunk at that.
I have a much better grasp of how my extreme seasonal affective disorder (causing me to, among other things, crave carbs and eat much more bread and pasta than I do the rest of the year) cycles up, amplified by a stacking inflammatory response, to the living hell of anxiety and depression I'm so unpleasantly familiar with by the time I hit February.
This is not going to be a piece of everyone's puzzle, and I'm not going to turn evangelistic about it, but this was (somewhat regretfully) revelatory for me.
Dr. Fasano is a pediatric gastroenterologist who helped bring awareness of celiac disease to the United States amid a fair amount of skepticism from the local medical establishment of the time (it was circular: celiac was widely recognized in Europe, largely due to people going off of gluten for a time during wheat shortages in WWII; when they started eating wheat again, some people noticed issues and [fast forward several years] doctors in Europe knew to look for it, so it got diagnosed). North Americans never gave up wheat during the war and doctors in the U.S. were largely unaware of it as a condition and didn't consider it when diagnosing patients; ergo, the prevailing opinion was that celiac disease just didn't exist in the U.S.
Dr. Fasano's writing hits a nice balance, most of the time, of staying accessible while delving into the science to a satisfying degree: he doesn't oversimplify for readers or use vague/red-flag terms like "toxins" as he discusses the three gluten-related conditions covered in the book: wheat allergy, celiac disease (an autoimmune condition), and gluten intolerance/sensitivity. When multiple theories of underlying mechanisms are present, he lays out the competing theories, shares which one he leans toward and why, and he doesn't speculate without making it clear he's speculating. It's a touch repetitive in places and might have benefited from tighter editing, but it's a minor quibble. Not having any interest in making more humans, I skipped over the sections on the relationship between gluten intolerance and fertility, same for raising kids with celiac disease.
The author is very clear that individuals should not go off experimenting on their own without the care of a doctor or nutritionist. He specifically cautions the reader against going off of gluten on their own if celiac disease is present or suspected, since going off gluten can lead to a false negative test for the disease.
I didn't suspect gluten was a problem for me but did suspect that widespread inflammation was impacting my mental health and that it could be something food-related that was exacerbating extant depression, anxiety, and ADHD symptoms (which have all gotten worse since piling long COVID onto the mix). Hoping to rule out gluten as a culprit, I tried out Fasano's method--used only with those suspecting a sensitivity, never an allergy or celiac disease--to go off of foods containing gluten (that's wheat, rye, and barley) for two weeks, then resume eating glutinous foods for two weeks and see if they notice a difference.
If someone had suggested to me a few months ago that maybe I should try going gluten-free to lessen the severity of my mental health issues... depending on the day, I might have chosen violence or might have offered a lecture on how draining and obnoxious the endless litany of (well-meaning!) "have you tried -----" is for those who deal with chronic conditions or disabilities, especially when the recipients of these suggestions have been thinking about and living with, around, and through the condition for *years*.
To be perfectly, utterly clear, that has not changed: it is still obnoxious and no one should do that.
With all that said, I must--extremely grudgingly--admit some understanding of how it is that gluten-free people become the monomaniacal, crossfit-level evangelists that they have so rightfully earned a dodgy reputation for being. I did not need to go back on gluten for two weeks; I knew within 24 hours. Trust me that there is nothing short of unambiguous evidence of an immense and drastic change in my ability to function that would lead to my considering, for even a moment, giving up beer and Spätzle and sourdough. Since I wasn't expecting anything, I doubt I'm looking at placebo effect, but it can't be totally ruled out. For what it's worth, I don't believe I've found the unified field theory of my personal mental health or anything--it's not some kind of One True Answer or the whole puzzle. But it is a piece of my puzzle, and a sizable chunk at that.
I have a much better grasp of how my extreme seasonal affective disorder (causing me to, among other things, crave carbs and eat much more bread and pasta than I do the rest of the year) cycles up, amplified by a stacking inflammatory response, to the living hell of anxiety and depression I'm so unpleasantly familiar with by the time I hit February.
This is not going to be a piece of everyone's puzzle, and I'm not going to turn evangelistic about it, but this was (somewhat regretfully) revelatory for me.
November 3, 2019
Don’t waste your time with this book! Read the Mayo Clinic’s “Going Gluten Free” by Joseph Murray instead https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
My first red flag was the cover. It’s enough to know that the author is a doctor so he has some authority on the matter but it was strange that his full title was in large text on the cover.
Then I read the foreword, which is written by a rich white guy who doesn’t have celiac. (His daughter has celiac and his wife was the one who apparently handled the responsibility of feeding her... so again, why is he writing the foreword?) This just centers healthy white males when this is a book for the sick! This doesn’t reflect the experience of so many others, especially women. For myself and female friends with celiac, it takes a decade of testing, pain, and being gaslit or misdiagnosed by doctors to even learn you have this condition. The last thing I want to deal with is more medical misogyny and the opinions of people who aren’t directly impacted by it.
Then the book starts out by declaring that he’s an “international expert” and co-chair of a conference and he committed “professional suicide” by his studies (in case it wasn’t enough that he’s a doctor and is associated with Harvard). He also mentions how he told people with wheat sensitivity that they just had the placebo effect until a female doctor called him out. He also threw shade at the Dutch for no reason? I don’t understand why it surprised him that a Dutch doctor made a big discovery in the Netherlands. There was no context for that remark. The whole book revolves around his massive ego. The recipes? All Italian to reflect his heritage. And he literally has caprese included as a recipe! Really??
Please do not waste your money on this book. He genuinely does not care about people living with celiac or wheat related disorders and there are WAY better books available. Again, I recommend “Going Gluten Free” which proves you can be a male doctor and not write a misogynistic mess of a book.
My first red flag was the cover. It’s enough to know that the author is a doctor so he has some authority on the matter but it was strange that his full title was in large text on the cover.
Then I read the foreword, which is written by a rich white guy who doesn’t have celiac. (His daughter has celiac and his wife was the one who apparently handled the responsibility of feeding her... so again, why is he writing the foreword?) This just centers healthy white males when this is a book for the sick! This doesn’t reflect the experience of so many others, especially women. For myself and female friends with celiac, it takes a decade of testing, pain, and being gaslit or misdiagnosed by doctors to even learn you have this condition. The last thing I want to deal with is more medical misogyny and the opinions of people who aren’t directly impacted by it.
Then the book starts out by declaring that he’s an “international expert” and co-chair of a conference and he committed “professional suicide” by his studies (in case it wasn’t enough that he’s a doctor and is associated with Harvard). He also mentions how he told people with wheat sensitivity that they just had the placebo effect until a female doctor called him out. He also threw shade at the Dutch for no reason? I don’t understand why it surprised him that a Dutch doctor made a big discovery in the Netherlands. There was no context for that remark. The whole book revolves around his massive ego. The recipes? All Italian to reflect his heritage. And he literally has caprese included as a recipe! Really??
Please do not waste your money on this book. He genuinely does not care about people living with celiac or wheat related disorders and there are WAY better books available. Again, I recommend “Going Gluten Free” which proves you can be a male doctor and not write a misogynistic mess of a book.
July 13, 2019
This book started out very interesting and informative but then it quickly went down hill. I found myself skipping over many pages as the information in them did not apply to me. Like the recipes used ingredients I could not use or want to use. Like an entire cup of sugar! Who in the world wants to use all of that sugar?? I think even a fourth cup of sugar is too much. There's no reason to eat so much sugar. Many of the pages in the middle of the book contained recipes. I'm more interested in the science part of the book or the personal stories that people with celiac shared in here. Unfortunately the majority of the book was on other stuff...like problems of going to school (which does not apply to me).
The chapters at the beginning were very informative though. I did not know the bit about northern European descent increasing your odds of celiac. Learning that alone was worth reading the book. The history of it was good too.
The chapters at the beginning were very informative though. I did not know the bit about northern European descent increasing your odds of celiac. Learning that alone was worth reading the book. The history of it was good too.
August 15, 2018
I was recently diagnosed with celiac disease, so I wanted to learn about it from a reputable source. It took me a while to get through this book, even though I think the authors did their best to make the science accessible.
I found the history of the condition and the medical world's understanding of it interesting. I do recommend reading it, or at least skimming it for relevant info if you are newly diagnosed. Does include sections on how to live gluten free and what to eat (none of the recipes are vegan).
I found the history of the condition and the medical world's understanding of it interesting. I do recommend reading it, or at least skimming it for relevant info if you are newly diagnosed. Does include sections on how to live gluten free and what to eat (none of the recipes are vegan).
January 1, 2023
Very interesting information on celiac disease and the many levels of gluten sensitivity.
From the history of our collective knowledge of gluten related disorder's to the latest research regarding said disorders, Dr. Fasano continues to study the puzzle of CD and shares some of the latest data on the topic.
Some parts of the book, I found to be somewhat repetitive and some a little random but all in all a worthwhile read.
From the history of our collective knowledge of gluten related disorder's to the latest research regarding said disorders, Dr. Fasano continues to study the puzzle of CD and shares some of the latest data on the topic.
Some parts of the book, I found to be somewhat repetitive and some a little random but all in all a worthwhile read.
June 15, 2018
I highly recommend this book for anyone with celiac disease. I was diagnosed 9 years ago with “silent” celiac disease and learned what that actually means for the first time in this book! It is split into technical and lifestyle aspects on celiac disease. The lifestyle section is well divided so you can skip what’s not relevant. Great book!
February 7, 2020
Read for continuing ed credit. Great book written by one of the leading clinicians and researchers in the field of gluten disorders. Comprehensive explanations of the biomechanics of celiac disease, gluten intolerance, gluten sensitivity, their diagnoses, treatments, and direction of current research. Not just scientific—good practical info included as well. Some recipes, too. Very readable.
July 11, 2022
Super informative but pretty poor editing and organization. The first half of the book was incredibly helpful and informative, and I wish I would have read it right when I was diagnosed, because it would have changed how I approach eating gluten free. Worth the read just for the first half. The second half can be skimmed or skipped completely.
November 27, 2019
This book is by one of the world's foremost researchers on Celiac disease, Alessio Fasano. Easy to read and understand, as well as giving advice on the diet and lifestyle, Dr. Fasano gives a history of the past discoveries and speculates on future possible cures.
May 6, 2021
Good information about the basics of Celiac Disease. Found it interesting to learn how the 20ppm limit came about. However, it was a bit of an odd mix of the science mixed with recipes and lifestyle tips. Definitely felt like it was written by someone who speaks to children a lot.
April 5, 2023
Fasano is the country’s leading expert on Celiacs and his name pops up for pretty much any celiac advancement made in the US over the last 30 years. This book was very informative about the history of celiacs and what do to after being diagnosed but….it’s not well written and quite boring.
April 7, 2023
I really liked the way Dr. Fasano writes. The information was easy to understand and applicable. Through this book, I learned a lot about the history of Celiac and the research that is being done today to search for a better treatment other than a gluten free diet.
December 6, 2023
I read the book after watching a few of Dr.Fasano's lectures at different universities on YouTube. It didn't add much.
However, I found it very informative. I think it will be very helpful for anyone suffering from any kind of Gluten related disorders.
However, I found it very informative. I think it will be very helpful for anyone suffering from any kind of Gluten related disorders.
December 18, 2025
Though I'm not celiac, I find useful this book, specially first Part, which treats the science-medical part. Fasano and its center are world leaders in understanding and treatment of gluten disorders, his insights are very Valuable among the huge misinformation that prevails.
January 1, 2018
This is a must-read for anyone recently diagnosed with Celiac disease or gluten-related disorder. Fasano is great at being honest about what we do and don't know about gluten. Huge fan!
March 15, 2019
Excellent information, but I docked a star because the language is quite technical for a general audience.
October 6, 2021
I didn't really enjoy the style of writing in this book. Some of the information was interesting.
November 7, 2021
Lots of great information.
March 13, 2020
probably one of the few must reads if you have Celiac disease.
Read
March 4, 2017It was a good read. it was alot about the history of celiac disease and gave some ideas of gluten free meals. it also gets into the difference between wheat allergies and celiac. don't know why it was ecommended
June 22, 2014
I read every word in this book at least once, from the title page through the bibliography. I have a wide variety of books on celiac and gluten intolerance. Most of them have provided some helpful information and some completely off-target or misleading information. One of the problems I've had with my celiac library is the intrusive influence of bias on the part of the authors. So when I saw that the leading international researcher in this area was releasing a consumer-health book on the topic, I pre-ordered it, and kept checking back, eager to see it.
This is the first book I've found that is SOLIDLY based on the evidence, doesn't cherry-pick the supporting evidence, and provides a balanced view. Dr. Fasano constructs a coherent architecture for understanding the current state of knowledge on celiac and gluten-intolerance, what we do and don't know, the difference between evidence and experience, how the evidence has evolved over time, where the evidence has shifted back and forth, and (for those topics where we still have more questions than evidence) what are important questions currently being explored and what direction appears to be emerging. That is the first third of the book, and the part that I most wanted.
In that introductory section on research, the authors work very hard to try to make the scientific terms and concepts clear. There is still quite a bit of jargon, pretty much unavoidable, and this isn't necessarily an easy read for someone without a science background. However, the way it is written, if you find the terms or jargon a problem, you CAN skip sentences or paragraphs and get to the bottom line conclusion.
In the rest of the book, the authors tell stories and give advice on lifestyle and diet (including recipes!). To this end, they invite brief pieces from a wide variety of persons living with celiac or gluten issues. These essays are selected to represent a WIDE variety of the lifestyle challenges and solutions, with the focus on solutions. Pregnant? A parent? College student? Athlete? Elderly? Traveler? Complicated health issues? Many perspectives are presented. While this is not a cookbook, many people share one or two simple recipes to illustrate how easy it can be to eat gluten-free. My absolute favorite fun part of the book was when Dr. Fasano shares his obvious love of his homeland and Italian cuisine with lush poetic language. Those few pages are the exception rather than the rule in this book, but really bring a vibrancy and sense of life to what could otherwise be a rather dry and somewhat pedantic topic.
This is the first book I've found that is SOLIDLY based on the evidence, doesn't cherry-pick the supporting evidence, and provides a balanced view. Dr. Fasano constructs a coherent architecture for understanding the current state of knowledge on celiac and gluten-intolerance, what we do and don't know, the difference between evidence and experience, how the evidence has evolved over time, where the evidence has shifted back and forth, and (for those topics where we still have more questions than evidence) what are important questions currently being explored and what direction appears to be emerging. That is the first third of the book, and the part that I most wanted.
In that introductory section on research, the authors work very hard to try to make the scientific terms and concepts clear. There is still quite a bit of jargon, pretty much unavoidable, and this isn't necessarily an easy read for someone without a science background. However, the way it is written, if you find the terms or jargon a problem, you CAN skip sentences or paragraphs and get to the bottom line conclusion.
In the rest of the book, the authors tell stories and give advice on lifestyle and diet (including recipes!). To this end, they invite brief pieces from a wide variety of persons living with celiac or gluten issues. These essays are selected to represent a WIDE variety of the lifestyle challenges and solutions, with the focus on solutions. Pregnant? A parent? College student? Athlete? Elderly? Traveler? Complicated health issues? Many perspectives are presented. While this is not a cookbook, many people share one or two simple recipes to illustrate how easy it can be to eat gluten-free. My absolute favorite fun part of the book was when Dr. Fasano shares his obvious love of his homeland and Italian cuisine with lush poetic language. Those few pages are the exception rather than the rule in this book, but really bring a vibrancy and sense of life to what could otherwise be a rather dry and somewhat pedantic topic.
April 1, 2015
I am someone with gluten sensitivity with two copies of HLA-DQ2.5 (very high risk of celiac), and my son has Crohn's. We're pretty familiar with most of the published research about celiac and gluten sensitivity. That being said, I still learned a lot from reading this book: how the immune system causes celiac disease; how zonulin causes leaky gut, which directly influences your risk of any autoimmune disease; the interplay between genes and disease; how there are no serological markers for gluten sensitivity yet, but Dr. Fasano knows that it exists (unlike most of the major news media outlets).
So I enjoyed the book. The only complaint I had is that I think the book was written for the audience specifically of the person who is either very new diagnosed with celiac, or for the person who has never read anything written about celiac. The middle of the book was very much about adapting to the gluten free diet and how to help your child or college student navigate being gluten free, along with a bunch of anecdotes and recipes sprinkled throughout. The first third of the book and the latter third were very scientific and packed with information, so that middle section was a little discordant and, like another reviewer mentioned, I really wanted to skip forward to the end. I think that either could have been placed at the end of the book, or in a separate nutrition/diet book. I've read enough of these "change your diet, change your life" books, and that seems to be a very popular approach.
Thank you for the great read, Dr. Fasano. Please keep fighting the good fight!
So I enjoyed the book. The only complaint I had is that I think the book was written for the audience specifically of the person who is either very new diagnosed with celiac, or for the person who has never read anything written about celiac. The middle of the book was very much about adapting to the gluten free diet and how to help your child or college student navigate being gluten free, along with a bunch of anecdotes and recipes sprinkled throughout. The first third of the book and the latter third were very scientific and packed with information, so that middle section was a little discordant and, like another reviewer mentioned, I really wanted to skip forward to the end. I think that either could have been placed at the end of the book, or in a separate nutrition/diet book. I've read enough of these "change your diet, change your life" books, and that seems to be a very popular approach.
Thank you for the great read, Dr. Fasano. Please keep fighting the good fight!
July 29, 2014
Based on the high ratings for this book, I was expecting an awesome read. Unfortunately, it just wasn't that for me. I really enjoyed the first half of the book, where Dr. Fasano shared his history and the history of celiac disease. However, in the second part of the book, I found some of his recommendations for dealing with celiac disease to be lacking. As a person who is discovering that I am HIGHLY sensitive to trace gluten, I was frustrated when the book made it sound as if there was little need to replace anything in your kitchen because a good washing should make everything safe. His guidelines for which ingredients were ok and not ok to eat were vague and misleading at times. Also, the sections pertaining to dealing with celiac disease seemed disorganized.
I realize that not all celiacs are as sensitive as I am, and so his guidelines may work well for some. But, as the supposed "expert" on celiac disease, I would expect him to provide information on the different levels of sensitivity to gluten and to provide help and insight to those of us who cannot simply "stop eating gluten" and feel ok.
I realize that not all celiacs are as sensitive as I am, and so his guidelines may work well for some. But, as the supposed "expert" on celiac disease, I would expect him to provide information on the different levels of sensitivity to gluten and to provide help and insight to those of us who cannot simply "stop eating gluten" and feel ok.
October 15, 2023
This is a must read for anyone with a gluten concern. It offers a lot of answers and gives hope for those who feel lost and disappointed by living a gluten free life. Just read the part one last. Absorbing all the science and information behind the clinical trials slows down the pace of the book. Read about your solutions first and how to live with gluten issues then go back and find out about all the wonderful things Dr. Fasano has done for the gluten community.
Read more thoughts about Gluten Freedom on The Book Banana by Kathleen the Bookworm and on Kathleen the Bookworm's Instagram.
Read more thoughts about Gluten Freedom on The Book Banana by Kathleen the Bookworm and on Kathleen the Bookworm's Instagram.
September 4, 2015
I read this in August 2015. It tells the history of increased understanding and research, of celiac disease, in the USA. Also, it introduces zonulin. The book is written in layman's language. I encourage people to read this book because a lot more people have celiac (coeliac) disease, non-celiac gluten intolerance, and wheat allergies than people realize. It would be great if there was universal, periodic celiac disease testing so that people wouldn't go around undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. It will be great when more research reveals more about non-celiac gluten intolerance (NCGI).
Schizophrenia and other mental diseases were thought to be caused from psychosomatic or have other mental issues. Then, research started showing that there was an actual physical problem causing the diseases. Likewise, they're going to fine-tune and discover more about NCGI. Fatigue and other physical issues can be psychosomatic. But, diarrhea, constipation, and other symptoms are pretty hard to be attributed to psychosomatic issues.
Schizophrenia and other mental diseases were thought to be caused from psychosomatic or have other mental issues. Then, research started showing that there was an actual physical problem causing the diseases. Likewise, they're going to fine-tune and discover more about NCGI. Fatigue and other physical issues can be psychosomatic. But, diarrhea, constipation, and other symptoms are pretty hard to be attributed to psychosomatic issues.
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