Effects on Celiac disease

Celiac disease, also known as celiac sprue or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is a digestive disorder that occurs in reaction to gluten, which is a kind of protein found in rye, barley, wheat, and hundreds of foods made with these grains. Our immune system reacts to the gluten and causes damage to the intestine.

The damage to the intestine makes it hard for our body to absorb nutrients, especially fat, calcium, iron and folate.

Normally, the immune system is designed to protect it from foreign invaders. When people with celiac disease eat foods containing gluten, their immune system forms antibodies to gluten which then attack the intestinal lining. This causes inflammation in the intestines and damages the villi (the hair-like structures on the lining of the small intestine), by which the nutrients from food are normally absorbed. If the villi are damaged, the person cannot absorb nutrients properly and ends up malnourished.

Symptoms of celiac disease vary among sufferers and include:
·        Digestive problems (abdominal bloating, pain, gas, diarrhea, pale stools and weight loss)

·        A severe skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis

·        Iron deficiency anemia (low blood count)

·        Musculoskeletal problems (muscle cramps, joint and bone pain)

·        Growth problems and failure to thrive (in children) because they cannot absorb enough nutrients.
 ·        Seizures

·        Tingling sensation in the legs (caused by nerve damage and low calcium)

·        Aphthous ulcers (sores in the mouth)

·        Missed menstrual periods

In addition, celiac disease can leave a person susceptible to other health problems, including:

·        Osteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones and leads to fractures. This occurs because the person has trouble absorbing enough calcium and vitamin D.

·        Miscarriage or infertility.

·        Birth defects, such as neural tube defects (improper formation of the spine) caused by poor absorption of such nutrients as folic acid.

And so if you are diagnosed with celiac disease, you need to adopt a gluten free lifestyle. After cutting out gluten, you would feel better.

As more people discover they have celiac disease and others are adopting a gluten free lifestyle, more and more restaurants now label gluten free items on the menu or have a separate gluten free menu available. But, if these are not available, you may need to prepare some nuts or fruits in your pocket or bag beforehand, or you may order burgers without the bun, for example.