Who Gets Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease is an immune disorder where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. When people with celiac disease eat gluten, their body’s immune system responds by attempting to attack the small intestine. This leads to damage of the villi, which are small fingerlike projections lining the small intestines. When the villi get damaged, nutrients cannot be absorbed properly into the body.
Celiac disease affects all people differently. Some people have no symptoms at all, while others suffer from a myriad of symptoms. Some people develop the disease as a child, and others are well into adulthood before they are diagnosed.
The most common symptoms of Celiac disease include:
- Abdominal pain or bloating
- Chronic diarrhea/constipation
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
Currently, the only treatment for celiac disease is a strict, gluten-free diet. Cutting out gluten from your diet may seem daunting and challenging. Fortunately, there are now many healthy and delicious options that are naturally gluten free. They include:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Meat and poultry
- Fish and seafood
- Dairy
- Beans, legumes and nuts
There are also many websites available to help you locate and purchase gluten free foods, such as http://gfmall.com/
Gluten intolerance is different than celiac disease. If you suffer from symptoms related to gluten but your blood test for celiac disease came back negative, you may have non-celiac gluten sensitivity. It is estimated that 18 million Americans have gluten sensitivity, which is 6 times the amount of Americans who have celiac disease.
If our board certified physicians find that you have celiac disease, our staff nutritionists will help you with a gluten-free diet (GFD) plan to ease the pain and manage your symptoms.