| Gluten-free is more than a diet it's a Lifestyle! CELIAC DISEASE |
Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disease. It is also known as Celiac Sprue or Gluten
Eteropathy.
Your digestive system is unable to digest the protein found in wheat, rye, barley
and oats. You may be able to add oats back to your diet after being on a gluten-free
diet for a period of time. Oats are still controversial.
When gluten is ingested it triggers an inflammatory response that results in damage
to the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of nutrients we all need.
Decreased absorption can lead to many other illnesses.
Recent estimates suggest 1 in 133 people have the disease, it can be as high as 1 in
85. If a person has a parent or sibling with Celiac Disease the rate can be as high as
1 in 22. Celiac Disease is under-diagnosed because the symptoms can resemble
many other diseases.
Symptoms (may include):
Many Celiacs are lactose intolerant and suffer from other food sensitivities as well.
Some people with Celiac Disease don't have any symptoms at all!
Celiac Disease left untreated can lead to other diseases some life-threatening.
Celiac.com is a great source of information and has a list of diseases and disorders
associated with Celiac Disease. (examples: Chrons Disease, Colitis, Intestinal
Lymphomas, type 1 Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, IBS, Multiple Sclerosis, & Thyroid
Disease). Approximately 10% of Type 1 Diabetics have Celiac Disease.
If you suspect you have Celiac Disease or have gluten intolerance see your doctor
or a Gastroenterologist about getting your blood tested. Do NOT start on the diet
before getting tested. Your doctor might also want to take a biopsy of your small
intestine.
There is no cure for Celiac Disease. You will need to adhere to a strict gluten-free
diet. Once you have started the diet you will notice improvement in as little as a few
weeks. It could take anywhere from several months up to three years for complete
healing of the small intestine.
Again, see your doctor if you suspect you might have Celiac Disease. I am not a
doctor and this site should not be used for medical diagnosis. This information has
been gathered by many sources. Information at mayoclinic.com is very detailed yet
easy to understand.
There are a variety of websites with information on Celiac Disease and gluten
intolerance: including a full description, treatments, research, and the latest news
(including up-to-date statistics) etc. (Resources)
Eteropathy.
Your digestive system is unable to digest the protein found in wheat, rye, barley
and oats. You may be able to add oats back to your diet after being on a gluten-free
diet for a period of time. Oats are still controversial.
When gluten is ingested it triggers an inflammatory response that results in damage
to the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of nutrients we all need.
Decreased absorption can lead to many other illnesses.
Recent estimates suggest 1 in 133 people have the disease, it can be as high as 1 in
85. If a person has a parent or sibling with Celiac Disease the rate can be as high as
1 in 22. Celiac Disease is under-diagnosed because the symptoms can resemble
many other diseases.
Symptoms (may include):
- intestinal gas, bloating cramping
- diarrhea and /or constipation
- weight loss w/appetite, or weight gain
- unexplained anemia, fatigue, lack of energy, unable to concentrate
- multiple vitamin deficiencies (folate, B6, B12, iron, Calcium, vitamin D)
- mouth sores
- very dry skin
- muscle wasting
- muscle cramping
- behavioral disturbances
- depression, anxiety
- Dermatitis Herpetiformis (itchy, blistering skin condition)
- dental enamel defects
- bone or joint pain
- osteoporosis
- missed menstrual periods
Many Celiacs are lactose intolerant and suffer from other food sensitivities as well.
Some people with Celiac Disease don't have any symptoms at all!
Celiac Disease left untreated can lead to other diseases some life-threatening.
Celiac.com is a great source of information and has a list of diseases and disorders
associated with Celiac Disease. (examples: Chrons Disease, Colitis, Intestinal
Lymphomas, type 1 Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, IBS, Multiple Sclerosis, & Thyroid
Disease). Approximately 10% of Type 1 Diabetics have Celiac Disease.
If you suspect you have Celiac Disease or have gluten intolerance see your doctor
or a Gastroenterologist about getting your blood tested. Do NOT start on the diet
before getting tested. Your doctor might also want to take a biopsy of your small
intestine.
There is no cure for Celiac Disease. You will need to adhere to a strict gluten-free
diet. Once you have started the diet you will notice improvement in as little as a few
weeks. It could take anywhere from several months up to three years for complete
healing of the small intestine.
Again, see your doctor if you suspect you might have Celiac Disease. I am not a
doctor and this site should not be used for medical diagnosis. This information has
been gathered by many sources. Information at mayoclinic.com is very detailed yet
easy to understand.
There are a variety of websites with information on Celiac Disease and gluten
intolerance: including a full description, treatments, research, and the latest news
(including up-to-date statistics) etc. (Resources)
Gluten-free LIFESTYLE glutenfree-lifestyle.com 2008 All rights reserved.
St. Charles IL
UNITED STATES
dt@glutenfree-lifestyle.com
St. Charles IL
UNITED STATES
dt@glutenfree-lifestyle.com
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| Adhering to a strict gluten-free diet is a major lifestyle change. Being healthy is worth it! |