Latest MG Newsletter

Solana
Jun 18, 2025
7 min read

Gluten Intolerance vs. Celiac Disease: What You Need To Know

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Some people experience adverse reactions to it, but the cause and long-term impact differ significantly.

1. What’s the Difference?

Celiac Disease is an autoimmune condition where eating gluten triggers your immune system to attack the small intestine, damaging the villi (tiny, finger-like projections) that absorb nutrients.

Gluten Intolerance (also called non-celiac gluten sensitivity) involves digestive or general symptoms. like bloating, fatigue, brain fog, but does not damage the intestine.

2. Symptoms: Overlapping, But Important

Both conditions can include:

Abdominal pain, bloating, gas

Diarrhea or constipation

Fatigue, headache, “foggy” thinking

Joint pain.

But only celiac disease leads to intestinal damage, malnutrition, anemia, bone thinning, or neurological issues.

3. How Are They Diagnosed?

Celiac Disease: Requires blood tests (for antibodies like tTG‑IgA), possible genetic testing, and an intestinal biopsy, before starting a gluten-free diet.

Gluten Intolerance: No medical tests confirm it. It’s diagnosed by ruling out celiac and wheat allergy, then noting symptom relief when gluten is removed.

4. Treatment

Both need a gluten-free diet.

Celiac patients must be strict, even tiny amounts of gluten can cause injury.

Intolerant individuals may tolerate small gluten amounts, but sensitivity varies.

5. Why This Matters

Celiac Disease is lifelong and can lead to serious health issues if untreated.

Gluten Intolerance is generally less severe but still uncomfortable and worth managing for quality of life.

Conclusion

If gluten causes digestive or general symptoms, don’t self-diagnose. Get tested for celiac disease first. If those tests are negative and symptoms improve on a gluten-free diet, gluten intolerance might be the issue. Understanding the difference lets you treat your body with the right strategy, and avoid unnecessary dietary restrictions.

References:

Mayo Clinic: ‘Coeliac vs gluten intolerance’ (Sharon Theimer, “Coeliac disease vs gluten intolerance: Mayo Clinic Healthcare expert explains the difference”, published September 26, 2023)

Northwestern Medicine: ‘Celiac Disease vs Gluten Intolerance’ (article by Cristina Mutchler, June 28, 2023)

Better Health Victoria: ‘Coeliac disease overview ‘ (Better Health, Victoria State Government, Health Dept.)

EatingWell. “Sneaky Signs of Celiac.” (EatingWell.com, by Novella Lui, RD, M.H.Sc., May 25, 2024.)

How Exercise May Help Protect The Brain From Alzheimer’s

Scientists used a precise method called single-nuclei RNA sequencing (a way to look at what genes are active in individual brain cells) to study how exercise affects the brain, using a common Alzheimer’s mouse model, and found promising results (Mass General Brigham, Jun 12 2025).

What They Discovered:

Targeted Cell Response: Exercise changed gene activity in microglia (immune cells in the brain) and a new type of support cell called astrocytes (associated with blood vessels in the brain).

Brain’s Repair Mechanism: A gene called Atpif1, which helps guide the birth of new neurons (brain cells), was turned on by exercise.

Human Relevance: These findings weren’t just in mice, researchers saw the same patterns in actual Alzheimer’s patient brain tissue, suggesting real-world significance.

Why This Matters:

It supports the idea that exercise doesn’t just boost mood or fitness; it may actively help guard memory and learning by changing brain cells at a molecular level. Understanding which cells and genes are affected could open doors to new treatments tailored to work alongside physical activity.

Maintaining Healthy Habits May Shield Your Brain, Even With Short Telomeres

New research shows that even if your telomeres (tiny protective caps on our DNA that shrink with age and stress) are shorter, a sign of biological aging. Keeping up with good habits can make a big difference (Massachusetts General Hospital, ‘Healthy Habits May Offset Brain Aging Linked to Shorter Telomeres,’ June 12, 2025).

What Are Telomeres?

Telomeres act like shoelace tips for our DNA, protecting it when cells divide. As they get shorter, the risk for stroke, dementia, and depression goes up.

The Good News:

A large study of more than 350,000 people showed that those with shorter telomeres, but strong “brain-care” lifestyles, had no higher risk of stroke, dementia, or depression compared to peers with longer telomeres.

Brain-Care Habits Include:

Balanced diet
Regular exercise
Good sleep
Low alcohol intake
Healthy blood pressure & weight.

Why It Matters:

Even if your biology signals age, lifestyle choices can offset the risks. As researcher Dr. Tamara Kimball from Mass General puts it: “It is never too late to start taking better care of your brain.”

What You Can Do Today:

Diet: Add more fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins.
Exercise: Aim for 150 mins of moderate activity weekly (e.g., brisk walking).
Sleep: Prioritise 7–9 hours of restful sleep each night.
Alcohol: Keep it light or skip it entirely.
Check-Ups: Monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight regularly.
Take‑Home Message:
Even with signs of biological aging, lifestyle changes really work to protect your brain health.

5 Ways To Improve The Workplace For Women During Menopause

Recent research indicates that women of menopausal age are the fastest growing demographic in today’s workplace. More than 40 percent of women in perimenopause and menopause admit to calling in sick as a result of their symptoms. About 10 percent of women say they plan to quit their jobs if menopause symptoms interfere with their career.

1. Brainstorm ideas with female team members. Consider polling all the women at your company. Gather feedback about what would make your work environment help women feel more comfortable at every stage of life. Brainstorm ideas without judgement and see what creative solutions evolve into practices that can truly make a difference at your office.

2. Raise menopause awareness. Because perimenopause can begin up to 10 years before a woman fully transitions into menopause (a full year without a period), many women don’t associate symptoms like fatigue, difficulty concentrating, poor memory, and even heart palpitations with perimenopause. Raising menopause awareness and normalizing conversations about it on a company-wide level may help women feel less isolated in their experiences.

3. Implement company-wide menopause policies. Create employee menopause policies modeled after pregnancy policies. With guidelines in place for natural life experiences like childbirth and menopause, women will know what to expect when they need to take a sick day or schedule a doctor’s appointment.

4. Designate mental health support. While many businesses offer general mental health services for employees, purposefully designate counseling sessions or menopause support groups specifically for female team members.

5. Support personalised temperature control. If possible, let women control the thermostat in their own office, so they can keep their space at a comfortable temperature during hot flashes. If that’s not an option, provide desk fans or designate a cooling room where the thermostat is lower than the rest of the office.

Medical Experts Warn About The One Thing You Should Never Do In The First Hour After Waking Up

Whether you're doomscrolling, giggling at reels or returning texts you got overnight when you were on Do Not Disturb mode, experts warn that checking your phone in the first hour of waking up is a no-no.

There are a few reasons for this, but the most obvious one is that our phones and the constant stream of information (and misinformation) we get from them can stress us the hell out but it goes even beyond that. It's not just about stress hormones. It's about what kind of day that habit sets in motion.

The Power Of Lifestyle Interventions

In a study of over 356,000 individuals, those with shorter telomeres but healthier behaviours had no elevated risk compared to peers with longer telomeres. These findings highlight the power of lifestyle interventions in promoting brain health, even amid signs of accelerated cellular aging.

Key Facts:

Telomere Risk: Short telomeres are linked to increased risk of stroke, dementia, and late-life depression.
Lifestyle Buffer: A high brain health score, reflecting good sleep, diet, activity, and low alcohol use, may neutralise the effects of telomere shortening.
Actionable Insight: Even people with biological aging markers can benefit from lifestyle improvements.

Source: Mass General

World-First Blood Cancer Therapy To Be Given On NHS

The BBC is reporting a "Trojan horse" therapy that sneaks toxic drugs inside cancer cells is being made available on the NHS in England in a world first. It can halt the blood cancer myeloma for nearly three times longer than current therapies.The drug is an advanced form of chemotherapy that hits cancer with a bigger dose, while reducing side-effects.

Oral Bacteria Diversity Linked To Depression Symptoms

New research from NYU found that adults with fewer different types of mouth microbes reported more feelings of depression. The study analysed data and saliva samples from over 15,000 U.S. adults, making this one of the largest studies on the topic.

Key points to know:

Microbial Variety Matters: People with less diversity in their oral microbiome more often showed signs of depression.
Lifestyle Factors Matter Too: Smoking, alcohol, and dental habits can affect both mouth bacteria and mood.
Direction Still Unknown: It’s unclear whether depression changes mouth bacteria or the other way around.
Potential for Diagnosis & Treatment: In the future, mouth bacteria might help guide depression care.

What you can do today:
Taking good care of your mouth; brushing, flossing, avoiding excess alcohol or smoking, is important for teeth and might even support mental wellbeing.

10 Incredibly Useful Life Hacks That Save Money And Time

There are literally thousands of small ways that you can improve your life right now, but dealing with so much information can be incredibly overwhelming. Instead, it’s best to focus on the best of the best.

Amazon coupon treasure hunts:– Amazon often tags a few goodies with vouchers or coupons. Some deals are gold, others more… bronze. But unless you roam through the deals page yourself, you’ll mostly stumble on them by luck. (Pro tip: bookmark the deals hub!)
Never shop hungry:– Hit up the fridge before the grocery store. It’s the easiest way to avoid snack-spiral splurges.
Thin butter = top toast:– Try using cold butter with a potato peeler for ultra-thin shavings that spread like a dream.
Pretend savings are bills:– Got big annual costs (tax, car repairs, birthdays)? Set up a savings account and treat them like regular bills, automate it monthly and forget them!
Batch your lunch life:– Spend about an hour cooking ahead, and you’ll save a ton and dodge the snack trap all week.
Sip your jar remnants:– When your Nutella, peanut butter, or jam is nearly gone, pour in some milk, close the lid, shake it up, and voilà: homemade shake.
Avocado fresh hack:– Love green avocado? Keep browning at bay by squeezing lemon or lime juice over your avo or guac. Bonus: it tastes zesty fresh!
Spider worry cure:– Hate spiders? They hate peppermint. Spray door and window edges with a water + peppermint oil mix, and watch the crawlers scuttle away.
Let cheese breathe:– Cheese stays tastier when wrapped in parchment or greaseproof paper, not cling film. It needs a bit of airflow!
The ultimate save:– Want massive cash and free time? Don’t have kids.
(Kidding. Or am I? 😉)

Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.