Celiac Disease–Is Gluten Affecting Your Health and Wellness?

Many know, but many others do not know that they may be suffering the effects of gluten in their diet.

In my research of Celiac Disease, which I did at the request of a friend, I found some surprising and alarming facts.  Here are some that immediately stood out.

About 100,000 Americans have Celiac Disease, and they are across all races, ages, and genders.Most of those who have Celiac Disease have to cope with those who do not believe that they are affected by gluten and they are often derided for their efforts of avoiding gluten at all costs.Another 3 million Americans suffer from Celiac Disease without having a proper diagnosis of the real reason they are dealing from the effects of gluten on their health and wellness.

What is Celiac Disease?

Simply put, Celiac Disease is a disturbance of the digestive system. It is brought on by the body’s inability to tolerate a common element of many foods—the gliadin fraction of gluten.  And gluten is primarily present in wheat, barley, rye and oats.  To most people gluten is harmless.  But in those with Celiac Disease, such gluten can destroy the lining of the small intestine, including the villi, reducing its ability to absorb nutrients.

What are the symptoms of Celiac Disease?

The symptoms of Celiac disease are many and varied. As we list some of these symptoms, it becomes quite evident that gluten does really affect the health and wellness of those suffering from Celiac Disease.  These symptoms may include one or more or all of the following:

Recurring stomach pain

Bloating and gas

Chronic diarrhea or constipation or both

Unexplained weight loss or weight gain

Pale, foul-smelling stool

Unexplained anemia

Bone or joint pain

Behavior changes as depression and irritability

Vitamin K Deficiency

Fatigue, weakness or lack of energy

Delayed growth or onset of puberty

Failure to thrive (in infants)

Missed menstrual periods

Infertility in male & female

Spontaneous miscarriages

Canker sores inside the mouth

Tooth discoloration or loss of enamel

As you can see, these symptoms are present in a number of illnesses. That’s what makes diagnosing Celiac Disease so difficult.  Many individuals suffering from Celiac Disease and who have some of these symptoms are told that they suffer from IBS, or “Irritable Bowel Syndrome.”   And many of these are told by their doctor that they really don’t know what causes IBS.  This usually leaves the sufferer to a life of discomfort and pain and seemingly with no way out.

How do Celiac Disease sufferers get this disease?

It has been found that Celiac Disease usually is first seen in childhood. But some sufferers do not show symptoms until middle age, and doctors have said that in at least some of those cases, the condition may have been present with them all along, although latently.  It should be noted that Celiac Disease is a genetic disorder, which means that the genes that predispose people to Celiac Disease can pass from parent to child in their DNA.  And, in some cases, stressful events such as pregnancy, surgery, infection, or severe emotional distress can trigger the onset of the disease.  So, being an autoimmune disorder, it is definitely not contagious.

When Celiac Disease, through continual ingestion of gluten, is left untreated and ignored, a number of devastating illnesses and conditions can come about.  What happens?  Well the most profound conditions are seen in children.  These children are usually small and emaciated with a swollen abdomen and have underdeveloped muscles.  Why?  The answer is very basic to this disease—the absorption of vitamins is impaired by this disorder.  The result is that a number of diseases may follow, including anemia, rickets, and scurvy and more.  Advanced cases may show bone deformation or osteoporosis.  And, in rare cases, Celiac Disease can even be deadly, especially among adults where the condition has been prolonged and sever.

How can Celiac Disease be properly treated?

Although there are NO pharmaceutical cures for Celiac Disease, proper treatment is available. And most people who have Celiac Disease can not only cope with it but they can even improve their condition.  How?  By following a strict gluten-free diet!  What that really means is that one with Celiac Disease must follow a plan that avoids all foods containing gluten, especially wheat, rye, barley, and oats.

This total gluten-free diet plan may sound easy enough but it is really very challenging. Why?  Because, the fact is that a great deal of the foods that we eat today contain one or more of these gluten foods.  It is not just a matter of eliminating breads and pastries.  Gluten can actually be found in foods that you would never have thought would contain it.

So, what does one with Celiac Disease do to minimize any adverse affects to their health and wellness?

The goal, as we stated, is to strictly eliminate all gluten foods from their diet.  To do this they must:

Read food labels carefullyEliminate food that contains gluten, especially the known ones of wheat, barley, rye, and oats.Be proactive when eating out.  Make sure the food you order is completely gluten-free.  That includes anything even used in the preparation of the item(s) you order.  You must insist that it be totally gluten-free, as some restaurants do not take this condition seriously.Don’t let yourself be discouraged.  And don’t let your guard down.  Your health and wellness are at stake.Tell your friends and family what Celiac Disease is and how they can help you avoid the adverse symptoms of this disease.  Have confidence that your family and friends will understand and that they will cooperate with you.If you find that some people, even some of your friends, make remarks that are insensitive to your condition, do not let yourself become embittered.  Perhaps your friendly response will turn their thinking around to your needs.

What can one with Celiac Disease eat then?

There are a number of good and very healthy foods available for those with Celiac Disease. It may take effort to find those foods and to prepare or have them prepared with your goal of being completely gluten-free.  Actually celiac patients can eat buckwheat, corn, rice, soybean, millet, and potato products.  And, there are also a number of gluten-free flour mixtures that are acceptable.  The thing is that one with Celiac Disease should not become discouraged—good, healthily, and gluten-free foods are available, even in your favorite supermarket.

And, what about the many others who suffer from Celiac Disease without having been diagnosed with having this condition or who have been misdiagnosed because of their symptoms?  Well, perhaps this discussion will make them more aware of this possibility as being the cause of their bouts with the symptoms of Celiac Disease.  Hopefully they will discuss the matter with their doctor, who will employ many of the tests presently available to diagnose it properly.  And, hopefully, they will make the effort to avoid the affects of gluten on their health and wellness, right along with those who actually know they have Celiac Disease.

During my research on this subject, the following resources were used. Perhaps the additional information and discussion found in them can add to a celiac patient’s base of knowledge and understanding of this condition.  These resources are listed here at the end for your consideration.

Tags: celiac, celiac disease, gluten, gluten-free, health and wellness

This entry was posted on August 15, 2010 at 2:09 pm and is filed under Wellness Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

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