Learning About Celiac Disease

In this day and age we hear a lot about gluten. I have heard many people that make jokes about people who eat gluten-free, like they are just trying to be special. However 1 in 100 people, around the world has Celiac Disease, many of which do not know they have it, or that long-term health complications may be in their future. There are some people who’s bodies are unable to digest or break down gluten. This is called gluten intolerance and the level of sensitivity varies between people. But there is a difference between gluten intolerance and people who have Celiac Disease. Celiac Disease is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the digestion system where a person’s immune system causes their body to attack their small intestine when they ingest gluten. When this happens their immune system create toxins that destroy the villi in the small intestine. Villi are tiny finger-like systems that absorb nutrients from food. When a person’s villi are destroyed they can literally starve to death and sometimes other damage in their other body parts occur. Celiac Disease is also known as Sprue, Nontropical Sprue and Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy.

Gluten is a protein found in many foods and personal products like medicines, vitamins and cosmetics.

Gluten is Mainly Found in the Following Grains:

Wheat (Spelt, Durum, Bulgur, Farina, Semolina)
Barley
Rye
Triticale (a man-made hybrid grain made by crossbreeding wheat and rye)
Graham Flour
Oatmeal that has been processed on machinery that processes the grains listed above

It is estimated that nearly 2,500,000 Americans have Celiac Disease and they don’t even know it. Celiac Disease is nothing to laugh about. People who have Celiac Disease must completely remove gluten from their diet and this is not so easy to do, since gluten is used so many ways and not just in bread, pasta, baked goods and beer, but gluten is often used as a stabilizing agent in many processed foods and personal products. Celiac Disease affects children and adults differently. Symptoms and severity of symptoms differ between people depending on how long the person was breast-fed as an infant, the age they started eating gluten, the amount of gluten someone eats and the severity of intestinal damage they have because of this disease. There are some people who will never have regular symptoms, however they may develop long term complications as a result of their disease.

Celiac Disease Symptoms in Children

Regularly tired and irritable
Smaller in size that other children their age
Delayed puberty
Weight loss
Vomiting
Abdominal bloating and pain
Persistent diarrhea or constipation
Pale, fatty, foul-smelling stools
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Learning disabilities
Headaches
Lack of muscle coordination
Seizures

Celiac Disease Symptoms in Adults

Digestive issues
Iron-deficiency anemia
Joint pain and stiffness
Weak, brittle bones
Fatigue
Seizures
Skin disorders, including Dermatitis Herpetiformis
Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
Problems with balance or cognitive impairments
Headaches
Tooth discoloration or loss of enamel
Pale sores inside the mouth
Irregular menstrual periods
Infertility and miscarriage
Reduced functioning of the spleen

Celiac Disease runs in families. If your parent or a sibling has Celiac Disease, there is a 1 in 10 chance that you will develop Celiac Disease. People who have other autoimmune diseases or genetic disorders also have a greater chance of having Celiac Disease.

What Should You Do If You Think You Have Celiac Disease?

If you have had diarrhea or digestive discomfort that lasts longer than two weeks or if your child is pale, irritable, failing to grow, has a potbelly or foul-smelling, bulky stools, it is very important that you make an appointment to see your primary medical professional. At your appointment you should share all your symptoms, honestly. Your doctor will do a physical exam, ask questions and probably refer you for blood tests since people who have Celiac Disease and are currently eating gluten will have high levels of antiendomysium (EMA) and anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTGA) antibodies in their blood that these tests will measure. Your doctor also may order a skin biopsy or an upper endoscopy. Don’t just put yourself on a gluten-free diet before you discuss this with your doctor because it can change the necessary test results used to diagnose your condition. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, if you have a family member who is diagnosed with Celiac Disease or type 1 diabetes, it is a good idea to mention it to your doctor during your regular check ups. Click here to go to celiac.org to see their Symptoms Assessment Tool

What is the Treatment for Celiac Disease?

There is no medicine to take to relieve Celiac Disease. Celiac Disease is treated only by removing gluten from your diet. Your doctor will talk with you about how to avoid foods with gluten in them or that are commonly processed on machines that process products with gluten in them. Even traces of gluten can make you feel sick and affect your body. Luckily many products in the store are labeled Gluten-Free. If a product is not labeled this way, there may be traces of gluten in that product.

Foods You Should Avoid if Not Labeled Gluten-Free:

Beer
Bread
Cakes and pies
Candy
Cereals
Cookies
Crackers
Croutons
Gravy
Imitation meat or seafood
Oats
Pasta
Processed lunch meats, sausages and hot dogs
Salad dressing
Sauces (including soy sauce)
Self-basting poultry
Soups

Gluten-Free Grains and Starches That Are Safe for People with Celiac Disease:

Buckwheat
Corn
Amaranth
Arrowroot
Cornmeal
Flour made of rice, soy, corn, potatoes or beans
Pure corn tortillas
Quinoa
Rice
Tapioca

There are still lots of healthy foods you can eat that do not have gluten in them, so don’t be too overwhelmed.

Some Naturally Gluten-Free Foods Are:

Fresh meats, fish, and poultry that has not been breaded, coated or marinated
Fruit
Most dairy products
Starchy vegetables like peas, potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn
Rice, beans and lentils
Vegetables
Wine, distilled liquors, ciders, and spirits

By eating a diet free of all gluten, people with Celiac Disease should begin to feel better within 6 weeks. Their body will heal from the damage gluten does to their body, which lets their body absorb nutrients in foods without dire side-effects so they can lead a normal, active life without pain but they still need to make sure to see their doctor for regular check ups because people with Celiac Disease have a greater chance of developing coronary artery disease and small bowel cancers. On the up-side early diagnosis of Celiac Disease lowers chances of developing other medical conditions. People who have Celiac Disease, who do not maintain a gluten-free diet have a greater chance at other terrible autoimmune diseases and medical conditions.

Some Conditions Related to Celiac Disease Are:

Lupus
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Type 1 Diabetes
Thyroid Disease
Autoimmune Liver Disease
Addison’s Disease
Sjogren’s Syndrome
Down Syndrome
Turner Syndrome
Lactose Intolerance
Intestinal Cancer
Intestinal Lymphoma

If someone in your family has Celiac Disease, please make an appointment to see your primary medical professional. Simple blood tests can find if you have this disease, and if you have Celiac Disease, you can begin making the necessary lifestyle changes for greater energy and longevity. If you know someone who has the symptoms mentioned and they have not been evaluated by their medical team, please let them know how much you love them and would like to be tested. At Wellness Works NW we want you to be the best, you, you can be. If you are needing someone to cheer you on, help you create a comprehensive wellness plan or just want prayer, please Contact Us today and someone from Our Team will be ready to help you. I hope this article answered questions you had and was easy to understand. If you would like us to write about a particular topic that you can’t find on this site, please send us an email on our Dear Jamie page and someone from Our Team will be glad to research and write about your topic.

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Resources and Start Learning More:

Celiac disease by Mayo Clinic Staff
Celiac Disease: More Than Gluten Intolerance by Vernada Lights and Elizabeth Boskey, PhD and medically reviewed by Elaine K Luo, MD for Health Line
Triticale is Gaining Popularity with Dairy and Beef Cattle Producers by Ann Blount, Cheryl Mackowiak, Nick DiLorenzo and Jose Dubeux of University of Florida Extension for Drovers Newsletter
What is Celiac Disease? by Celiac Disease Foundation Staff

I hope this article helps Fuel Your Wellness. Please leave your comments below.

Summer D Clemenson co-owns Clemenson Enterprises and Wellness Works NW with her wife, Karen G Clemenson. Their personal motto is Creativity, Honesty & Positivity are a must! This mantra helps them stay community and wellness minded in all they do. Summer is an Independent Wellness Advocate at dōTERRA. Summer also writes poetry and inspirational blogs @ ClemensonEnterprises.com. Her crochet art can be viewed and purchased @ KnottyWares.com & she loves special orders!

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