Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a condition in which the small intestine is hypersensitive to the protein gluten. Many people follow a gluten-free diet because it promotes weight loss and good health; nevertheless, they are not harmed if they sometimes eat gluten. For those with celiac disease, however, even a tiny amount of gluten poses a serious threat to them.

All the food that your body consumes is broken down and absorbed in the small intestine. More specifically, villi are protrusions on the small intestine's lining that aid in nutrition absorption. In celiac disease if gluten is consumed it flattens down these villi and induces inflammation which reduces absorption of the nutrients. This deprives the body of the proper nutrition it requires, which can result in a variety of health issues.

A number of companies produce gluten-free food, yet they are ignorant of celiac disease and its seriousness. Because of this, a portion of the processing unit might be contaminated, which can result to be quite harmful to people suffering with the disease. Raising awareness of celiac disease is the first step towards solving the problem. For many people gluten free can be a way out but for some it is the only way

Symptoms & Causes

If you have celiac disease, you may experience digestive symptoms or symptoms in other parts of your body. Digestive symptoms are more common in children than adults. Some people with celiac disease have no symptoms.

Diagnosis

Doctors use information from your medical and family history, a physical exam, and medical test results to look for signs that you could have celiac disease. Doctors diagnose celiac disease with blood tests, biopsies of the small intestine, skin biopsies, and genetic tests.

Treatment

To treat celiac disease, you will need to follow a gluten-free diet. Your doctor will explain the gluten-free diet and may refer to you a registered dietitian who specializes in treating people who have celiac disease. A dietitian can teach you how to avoid gluten while eating a healthy, balanced diet.

Eating, Diet & Nutrition

If you have celiac disease, you will need to remove foods and drinks that contain gluten from your diet. Following a gluten-free diet can relieve celiac disease symptoms and heal damage to the small intestine. People with celiac disease need to follow a gluten-free diet for life.