<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
 
>> Worst offenders for me were foods containing varying degrees of lactose and
>> FATS,
>
>I have noticed a real inability for my body to digest fats...while I
>have thought I have been gluten free for morethan a month now, I am
>learning that a lot of things I am using are at least suspect to
>have gluten in them....as per below.  Do you know why it is difficult
>to digest/absorb fats with gluten intolerance?
 
    I too have trouble with fats. I do not think there is hidden gluten
in my diet, but I do have a far-fetched idea based on chinese herbology
which may interest some.
    Where intestinal damage and consequential immune system response
occurs, the rest of the organs must work harder to compensate.
I have been to four chinese doctors over the course of 8 years,
all of whom have said the same thing (two of which were also MD's).
In my case, my spleen and liver were "weak." Among the symptoms they
asked me about were dry mouth and sleep habits, as well as the usual
stool consistency, appetite, gas and digestive speed. I also
complained of pain in my forearms and back.
    So I figure that battling celiac response for 10 years or more
weakened my system. Now that I am eating a celiac diet, hidden
problems like fat digestion (as a result of a weak something)
are surfacing.
    What does the doctor prescribe? An herbal tea which tastes
lousy (so it must work--ha, ha). But the pain in my arms disappeared
almost immediately, and I feel better even when I eat heavy food.
Plus my appetite is increasing.
    What I really like about these doctors is the symptoms are
not a surprise to them. Anyone who wants more info about this,
please feel free to ask.
 
tony
montreal