Dangerous Grains: Why Gluten Cereal Grains May Be Hazardous To Your Health

A BARGAIN: 244 pages and 383 citations with accessible science about hundreds of illnesses. READ THIS BOOK, and if the symptoms and illnesses of yourself and/or esteemed others jump out at you, read it again (as I have) for relevance, understanding, connection, note-taking, retention, resolve and competence in sharing. Also read the appendices and the 28 pages of information-dense references. Also, if you have the fortitude, look up the definitions of all of the listed illnesses - such work and knowledge acquisition might provide the discipline required for making any recommended dietary changes. MAIN TOPICS: illnesses and diseases in the US population resulting from 1) celiac disease which is "an ailment whereby the inside lining of the small intestine...is chronically damaged by gluten proteins and their interaction with the immune system" (~1% of population). and 2) "non-celiac gluten sensitivity (which) exists whenever an individual's immune system is mounting an abnormal reaction to gluten" (~ 20% of population).USEFULNESS: The authors skillfully explain the role of gluten grains in almost 200 medical and psychiatric conditions as they emphasize about 20 auto-immune diseases. Some attention grabbers: ADHD, arthritis, asthma, autism, cancer, Crohn's disease, depression, dermatitis herpetiformis, diabetes, epilepsy, headache, heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, liver disease, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, schizophrenia and thyroid disease. They strongly advise testing for food sensitivities and celiac disease when these (especially autoimmune) illnesses exist. They recommend providing doctors copies of reference articles, since they may not know about the rapidly-expanding repertoire of available tests. Already experiencing digestive improvement, I share this book with friends and relatives.CELIAC DISEASE AND HEREDITY: first degree relatives 4.5-8.5%; siblings 13.8%; offspring 12%; identical twins 70%.LESS-FAMILIAR FACTS: 1. Humans have consumed grains during less than 0.5% of their history.2. Gluten-related illnesses have newly occurred with "many aboriginal groups just recently introduced to a gluten-rich diet."3. History: Stanislas Tanchou published findings over 150 years ago that imply that foods from grains cause cancer. Samuel Gee provided a highly-regarded description of classic celiac disease by 1888 and Willem Karel Dicke realized that wheat caused celiac symptoms by 1936. Incidence is 40 times that claimed a decade ago.4. Schizophrenia incidence During WW-II substantially decreased among European populations suffering grain shortages. Ca 1969 F. Curtis Dohan et al reported that schizophrenia is frequently found in celiac disease and the reverse.5. Genetic markers for gluten sensitivity or celiac disease occur in 43% of US population.6. Genetic marker testing, especially if there is gluten-induced illness in relatives, is also advised for the asymptomatic because, "Those who do not feel ill in response to allergic substan

This book is probably the best collection of information and ideas on gluten sensitivity and Celiac disease that I've ever read. There is less sensationalism than I expected and a lot of good discussion contained therein. Autoimmune and behavioral problems associated with gluten sensitivity are also covered very well in this volume. The only negative thing that I have to say is actually not about this book... but about the fact that grain-related illnesses seem to have been largely ignored by the medical establishment until recent years.I have both Celiac disease and Asperger's syndrome myself and would highly recommend this title to anyone who feels that they are a newcomer to dealing with this spectrum of illnesses.

I highly recommend this book. It's well written & very engaging. It's chocked full of valuable information for anyone who is diagnosed with celiac disease, suspicious that they may have gluten sensitivity or anyone caring for a loved one with gluten sensitivity. When I was first diagnosed with gluten sensitivity, I searched my local library for solid information to help me improve my health. To my utter disappointment, all I could find at my local library was a couple gluten free cookbooks. I needed information on how to get well, not brownie recipes. Thanks & congratulation to Dr. Braly & Ron Hoggan for publishing this excellent resource in one convenient volume. I plan to buy multiple copies to give as Christmas gifts to my relatives.

In my opinion, Dangerous Grains is the most comprehensive book ever written about the effects of gluten containing grains on the body. It is the first book written in layman's language that explains in detail the many diseases and disorders that may result from diets based on grains. It has been known for most of the century that grains cause cancer, heart disease, thyroidproblems, schizophrenia, arthritis, etc but the facts have been buried in thick medical text books under the name 'Celiac Disease' gathering dust. Hoggan and Braly have brilliantly compiled very well researched information so that I and you can finally do something to improve our very unwellselves.The book is very well written and easily understandable. The personal experiences and stories are very effective. The list of almost 200 diseases at the back of the book is an excellent idea and many people I know have bought the book based on that feature alone.The writing is exquisite and reading the book is like a having aconversation with a good friend. After reading Hoggan's articles about the damaging effects that grains have had on me, I was able to finally figure out why I had stomach problems, extreme tooth decay and tantrums as a child, infertility, acne and chronic fatigue as a teenager, back pain, and arthritis, depression and diarrhea as an adult. Armed with this knowledge, I am able to take control of my life and live for the first time-symptom free and disease free.I would recommend this book to everyone who wants to be well.

I found this book to be super-excellent. It is a comprehensive resource that provides solid medical information about celiac disease and gluten sensitivity in a highly readable (but not condescending) style. Braly and Hoggan's well-documented explanation of gluten's destructive role in our diets is clear and telling. For me, as a newly diagnosed celiac patient, it was a life-changing eye-opener. But everyone should read it. The received wisdom that grains should be the major component of our diets is pervasive in our society and the general public is unaware of how wrongheaded - and even dangerous - this advice is. Certainly, as the authors are careful to point out, not everyone ends up with celiac disease, but everyone can benefit from the knowledge offered in this book. It makes an important social contribution.