the celiac disease/ heart disease connection and local food

I read this morning that people with celiac disease are 47% less likely to die of cancer, but 48% more likely to die of heart disease.  Cardiomyopathy (a defect in the heart muscle itself that may go along with tachycardia or arrythmia, weak valves and edema) appears to be relatively common among celiacs.  2-3 times as many celiacs get heart transplants than the general population and insufficient blood flow and spitting up blood, which I was doing a lot of before my attack, also appear to be relatively common. 

My thoughts:  maybe celiacs have less cancer because the disease almost FORCES them to avoid processed foods.  Gluten is not only in bread, but also is in many products that contain carcinogenic ingredients like msg and nitrates. 

However, gluten free cookies and crackers, which are commonly available, are just as likely to contain trans fats, which are horrible for the heart, as regular cookies and crackers.  Celiacs have a great deal more trouble digesting and holding onto nutrients because of intestinal damage.  Although the intestines will gradually heal in those who follow their gluten free diet religiously, years of malnutrition may take quite a toll on the heart muscle.  Virtually all celiacs are deficient in B complex vitamins, especially folic acid, and some are deficient in selenium. 

The good news:  I read elsewhere that selenium supplementation is very helpful to cardiomyopathy patients.  Since I eat 90% local food, I looked up where I live now and where I lived previously on a map of selenium in the soil.  And guess what?  I have lived in selenium deficient areas 43 of the 44 years I've been on this earth!  So I've got some on order from vitacost.com, along with a good raw multivitamin. 

Selenium deficiency is the only negative I've found to eating local foods.  Otherwise, I am happy to eat local, even when summer produce is no longer available.  Since I do not eat winter produce in the summer and summer produce in the winter (with the exception of bananas, which are a cheap source of both potassium and tryptothan), I don't feel deprived.  By October, I haven't eaten a potato in five months, and suddenly, although I eat a lot of raw food, baked and boiled potatoes seem like an indulgence to me.    Apples are awful in the summer.  But I eat three a day, raw, most of the winter.  They are a handy lunch food, along with carrots and celery.  I don't tire of them until they start losing their crispness and juiciness, about February or so. 

I am grateful to learn that there may be a natural treatment for me so I don't have to go under the knife.  I've had two fairly comfortable nights in a row.  I have been taking my natural diuretic and I have avoided gluten like the plague, even in tiny amounts like in soy sauce.  Mom came to help me with the shop and took me out for gluten free pizza at Pedotti's.  I wasn't hungry until it got to the table and it smelled so good, I became ravenous and devoured my half with gusto.  Apparently the owner's son has celiac disease and so they offer quite a few gluten free selections.  Mom, who can eat regular pizza, agreed that Pedotti's pizza was delicious.  So if you're ever in Sutherlin, stop in!  They are just a few blocks off I-5, next to the visitors' center.