About Celiac Disease

What is Celiac Disease?

Celiac Disease is a genetic, autoimmune disease that causes damage to the lining of the small intestine when gluten is ingested

What Is Gluten?

Gluten is part of the protein that is found in grains such as wheat, malt, barley, rye and oats ( Research is showing celiacs can consume uncontaminated oats, those harvested and processed with designated equipment preventing cross contamination from the above mentioned grains). Talk with your healthcare provider before adding oats to your diet

What foods have gluten?

A lot! Any foods that have the above named grains, which include bread, bread crumbs, crackers, cereals, soups, gravies, broth, salad dressings, condiments, pastas, this is just a short list but the good news is that there are many alternative products available and many more items you can have than you can’t! Gluten is often hidden in processed foods as a secondary ingredient, ex: modified food starch, natural and artificial flavorings, caramel coloring, malt flavor. Reading labels are important and mandatory.

What happens if you eat gluten?

The gluten protein causes your body to trigger an immune response inside the small intestine. Your body see this as foreign and it causes your nutrient absorbing, fingerlike hairs, called your villi, to malfunction, causing a variety of symptoms.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of celiac disease can vary widely. Chronic fatigue and pain syndromes, osteoporosis, central and peripheral nervous disorders infertility, altered mental function, depression, anxiety, intestinal cancers

Who gets Celiac Disease?

Anyone

Children and adults
Twice as many women as men
If you are genetically predisposed it can be triggered by emotional, physical stress or trauma, over exposure to wheat, viral infection, child birth or surgery.

Your likelihood of having Celiac Disease increases especially if someone in your family has been diagnosed.

How many people have this disease?

The current studies indicate 1 in 133 Americans have celiac disease.

What is the treatment?

A healthy balanced gluten free lifestyle, no drugs no chemo, just delicious healthy food.