Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine. It can occur in people of all ages and ethnicities. It occurs in people who are genetically predisposed for the disorder.
Common symptoms are fatigue, diarrhea, and other intestinal problems. Increased screening in recent years has led to a huge surge of diagnosed cases, and in the United States it is estimated that as many as 1 in 105 people suffer from the disorder. Celiac disease is caused by a reaction to the protein gluten.
The most common source of gluten is wheat, although other grains can also cause symptoms. For this reason, people with celiac disease must closely monitor what they eat, and be especially vigilant in avoiding any products containing wheat. If you are experiencing symptoms, visit your doctor for a test. If you have been diagnosed, begin to study what products you can and cannot eat.
The most common symptoms of celiac disease are gastro-intestinal problems. However, the disorder can manifest differently in different people. Therefore, if you experiencing any other symptoms that you cannot explain, such as chronic fatigue, headaches, or simply not feeling normal, it is a good idea to go to your doctor for a test. Your doctor can perform a blood test to see if you have the disorder. Your doctor will talk to you about celiac disease, if you do indeed have the disorder.
The first thing you will have to change is to eliminate all wheat from your diet. This can be extremely difficult at first, but once you figure out what foods you can’t eat and change your lifestyle it will not be terribly hard to do.
Make sure you check the ingredients of every food you eat to make sure it doesn’t contain any wheat. Since the disorder is becoming more commonly known, food labels are increasingly using the label “gluten-free” which will make your life much easier. Also make sure to talk to your friends and family about celiac disease so they will know about your new diet.
A common concern of people diagnosed with celiac disease is going out to eat at restaurants. Many restaurants now include gluten-free options on their menu. This will make it easier to eat out, but some people have such a high intolerance that you also need to watch out for cross-contamination. This can occur when chefs prepare your food with utensils that have previously been used on bread or other foods with gluten. Just talk to your waiter about celiac disease, they will tell the chef and you should be fine to eat the food.
Managing Celiac Disease