What is Celiac Disease?
So here you are wondering "What is Celiac Disease?"
Celiac Disease (CD) is an auto immune disorder that causes damage to the small intestine, which interferes with the absorption of vital nutrients from food.
People who have Celiac Disease cannot tolerate a protein called GLUTEN, which is found in wheat, rye, barley, and sometimes oats, due to cross-contamination in grain factories.
When people with Celiac Disease eat foods containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging the small intestine. Specifically, the tiny finger-like protrusions called villi, on the lining of the small intestine. Without villi, food is not absorbed and passes through the body and a person becomes malnourished - regardless of the quantity of food eaten. The smallest amount of gluten can cause this reaction. Even a crouton!
Celiac Disease is a genetic disease, meaning that it runs in families. Sometimes the disease is triggered or becomes active for the first time after surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, viral infection, or severe emotional distress.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of Celiac Disease may include anemia, bloating, gastrointestinal problems, weakness, depression, difficulty gaining weight, and/or an itchy skin condition called Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH).
How do I get diagnosed?
If you suspect you have celiac disease, you should see a gastroenterologist. Celiac Disease can be diagnosed with a blood test and is frequently confirmed with an endoscopy of the small intestine. And don’t worry, that endoscopy is a piece of (gluten free) cake!
So, what exactly is this gluten stuff?
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. It is also in couscous, blue cheese, spelt, kamut, Teriyaki sauce, and many other foods. It can be found in oats if the oats are processed in the same plant as other harmful grains. You rarely see the ingredient "gluten" listed on a food package. Yet, it is difficult to avoid as it is often found in unlikely food ingredients like "natural flavors", caramel coloring, starch, malt, textured vegetable protein, and some alcoholic beverages and other distilled products.
Cereals that appear to be made of corn or rice are often flavored with malt, which is made from barley. Candies with no visible signs of gluten might be manufactured on the same belts that have trace amounts of gluten from other products. Beer is a no-no, but there are a few excellent GF beer manufacturers, which you can find with a simple google search. Soy sauce is also out of the question, unless it is a gluten-free soy sauce like La Choy. Braggs liquid amino is also gluten free and tastes just like soy sauce. People with Celiac Disease must be very careful when eating prepackaged food.
When eating out, Celiacs must ask many questions. For example, if you want some fries with that burger (with NO BUN), you must make sure that the fries are not cooked in the same oil as the flour-battered onion rings. Even nacho chips and chicken wings can be contaminated. Sometimes scrambled eggs at a buffet are cut with flour.
You never know, so you have to ask your server alot of questions. Luckily, many chefs are now more aware of food allergies and can answer your questions about menu items. Remember, it is nearly impossible to break down gluten - even in a vat of hot cooking oil.
How can I learn more about Celiac Disease?
The best site to visit is www.celiac.com. You can also go to our links page, where you will find links to many GF food distributors and food companies as well as blogs, meetup groups, and listserves about products and health related questions from around the world.
Will I starve?
No you will not starve! You will feel better than you can imagine. You can find gluten free breads, beers, cakes, cookies, pastas, pizzas, pancakes, pies, and GF baking flours. It might seem impossible to go on this diet (which is for life), but you will be amazed at the selection of GF products in your local health food store and even your local supermarket. Once you start on a GF diet, you’ll see how much better you feel in a few weeks (or even a few days) and any thought of eating a Twinkie will be banished.
Hang in there and learn all you can. Someday, you might even help a newly diagnosed celiac find the right way to eat, and the right way to live a healthy gluten free lifestyle!
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