Nima Portable Gluten Sensor: Can It Help Celiac Disease Patients?

Photo: Nima Portable Gluten Sensor. Source: Nimasensor.com

While there are a few that can ingest gluten, there are some who have a severe reaction to it when it is consumed. Once gluten is detected in the bodies of those with celiac disease, their immune system is triggered and causes an attack on certain areas of their body. Some of the effects the disease can have include malnutrition, intestinal damage, and difficulty absorbing nutrients. Because of these effects, it is possible to develop even worse health conditions such as iron deficiency, infertility, lactose intolerance, peripheral nervous system disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or even cancer.

Even though autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease can be very detrimental or even potentially life-threatening, the solution is actually quite simple--don’t eat gluten. Yes, this sounds really easy to do, but it’s easier said than done, and as of right now, this is the only solution available for patients. Most food that people eat outside would have some traces of gluten in them, even if they’re marked “gluten-free”. So, it is entirely possible for a patient with celiac disease to walk into a restaurant and eat a dish with gluten without them even know it.

Knowing this, is there any way to not eat gluten and still eat out?

Fortunately, technology can now help some people overcome this type of problem. Nima, a healthcare technology company, has invented a device that can detect any trace of gluten in any food, known as the Nima Portable Gluten Sensor.

What is the Nima Portable Gluten Sensor?

The Nima Portable Gluten Sensor is a small device that allows you to test food for any gluten by placing a small sample inside of it. Not only can it be used to test food, but it can also find gluten-free restaurants in your area.

The device comes with a special smartphone app that can be downloaded and synced, which can be found on Google Play for Android and in the Apple App Store for iOS devices.

How does it work?

This device works in three very simple steps:

1. Sample: In this step, the user has to put a bit of food or liquid into one of the test capsules that are included in the package.
2. Test: Once the user has already filled the capsule with a sample, he or she should insert the capsule into the sensor and press the start button. Once pressed, the device will analyze the sample for any gluten.
3. Learn: In this last step, the device will show its results. If the sensor shows a smiley face, then it means there is no presence of gluten. However, if it flashes a message saying “gluten found”, then it means the food has gluten in it. It will only take a few minutes for the result to appear.