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 possibly oats. When people with Celiac Disease eat foods containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging the small intestine. Specifically, tiny finger like protrusions, called villi, on the lining of the small intestine are lost. Without villi, a person becomes malnourished - regardless of the quantity of food eaten. The smallest amount of gluten can cause this reaction.
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 you 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.
So, what is this gluten stuff?
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, oats, and barley. You rarely see the ingredient "gluten" listed on a package. Yet, it is difficult to avoid as it is found in unlikely food ingredients like "natural flavors", caramel coloring, starch, malt, and some 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. Hence, people with Celiac Disease must be very careful when eating prepackaged food.
Celiacs must be careful eating out as well. 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 battered onion rings. It is nearly impossible to break down gluten - even in a vat of hot oil.
When eating out, Celiacs must ask many questions.
How can you learn more about CELIAC DISEASE?
Go to our links page! There you will find links to many gluten-free food distributors as well as in-depth web sites and a way to get on-line information about products and health related questions from around the world every day.