Warning: Gluten Intolerance, What You Don't Know May Be Killing You

SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA--(Marketwire - July 22, 2011) - According to the Mayo Clinic, untreated gluten intolerance - an umbrella term that embraces both celiac disease and gluten sensitivity - is associated with certain cancers, osteoporosis, infertility, skin rashes, joint pain and a host of other symptoms and diseases. The Clinic says that celiac disease alone, once rare, now affects 1 in 100 people and increases the risk of death fourfold. Gluten sensitivity may affect more than 20% of the population. A new, free e-book can help individuals determine whether gluten intolerance may be causing their health problems.

The e-book was written by Dr. Vikki Petersen, co-founder of HealthNOW Medical Center, Clinical Nutritionist, author, and pioneer in the field of gluten sensitivity, and is available on her website.

According to Dr. Petersen, intolerance to gluten could be the root cause of over 300 health complaints and conditions, and current estimates of the number of people affected may be low.

"Gluten intolerance was, until recently, considered rare," said Dr. Petersen. "Today, with 1 to 4% of the population being affected by celiac disease and upwards of 10 to 20% affected by gluten sensitivity, it has become extremely common."

After discovering it to be the source of myriad symptoms with her patients, Dr. Petersen pioneered research on the subject. She found that gluten intolerance is not only very common, it can also be the root cause of many health conditions ranging from digestive problems, weight gain, eczema and headaches to poor concentration, ADD/ADHD, depression, fatigue, and mood swings - to name just a few.

"Gluten intolerance affects almost every organ and system in the body," said Dr. Petersen. "If everyone was screened for gluten intolerance, it would radically increase the health of Americans."

Shortly after Dr. Petersen's findings were published in her book "The Gluten Effect", more scientists and researchers started recognizing the problem.

"Within 6 months of publishing the book," said Dr. Petersen. "Major university celiac research centers began to come out in support of gluten sensitivity and the impact that it has on health. In the past two years that support has only grown with more research funds being spent to understand this condition further."

Dr. Petersen has now treated hundreds of patients for gluten intolerance with considerable success. This is one example:

"I was a chronic sufferer of allergies, sinus problems, migraines, stomach disorders and severe back pain. I have used prescription medication all my life and when I first arrived I was on three daily allergy medications, migraine pills and painkillers. After treatment, including a gluten-free diet, virtually all my symptoms have disappeared in 30 days or less and I stopped using all my medications. You really don't know what a good day is until you have one again after years of pain and suffering" - H.G.

Dr. Petersen wrote her new, free e-Book, "Gluten Intolerance: What You Don't Know May Be Killing You" to spread the word and help more people regain optimal health.

To take advantage of Dr. Petersen's offer and get the free e-Book, or to find out more about gluten intolerance, visit HealthNOW Medical Center.

About HealthNOW Medical Center

HealthNOW is a unique medical clinic in Sunnyvale California that combines the best of internal medicine, clinical nutrition, naturopathy, physical therapy and chiropractic. The team of doctors from these disciplines proactively work together to resolve patients' unique health problems and conditions. What really sets this medical center apart from most medical clinics highlights a very unfortunate fact about the medical industry, its emphasis on treating symptoms. HealthNOW is about what every medical clinic in the world should be: finding and fixing the root cause of health problems.

HealthNOW takes pride in being able to wean patients off drugs successfully by identifying the actual root cause of the problem. While dietary and nutritional factors are often causative agents, other contributing factors are identified and personalized for each patient through specialized lab tests to achieve a successful result. HealthNOW Medical Center treats patients from around the country as well as internationally. They created a "Destination Clinic" to cater to the needs of those visiting from out of state or out of the country.

Dr Vikki Petersen, DC, CCN is co-founder of HealthNOW Medical Center and the author of "The Gluten Effect". She has been featured in national magazines, international medical journals and is a frequent headlined speaker. She regularly blogs at Everyday Health, Celiac.com, Celiac Central and HealthNOW.