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What is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease (aka coeliac disease) is a genetic autoimmune disorder where ingesting gluten (a protein in wheat, barley, and rye) triggers an immune response that damages the small intestine's lining. This damage leads to inflammation and atrophy of the villi, tiny finger-like projections in the intestine responsible for nutrient absorption. As a result, individuals with celiac disease may experience symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, fatigue, and malnutrition. Over time, untreated celiac disease can lead to more severe health problems, including anemia, osteoporosis, weight loss, and increased risk of certain cancers. A strict gluten-free diet is the only effective treatment. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease, not a wheat allergy. It's also different from non-celiac gluten sensitivity, gluten intolerance, or sensitivity to gluten.
My Long Journey to Celiac Disease Diagnosis
Like many people, I spent a lot of years, a lot of dollars, and endured many tests and misdiagnoses, before doctors finally discovered that I had celiac disease (also known as coeliac disease or celiac sprue), and needed to eliminate gluten and all gluten-containing ingredients from my diet. Gluten is a protein found in the three main gluten-containing grains: wheat, rye, and barley; and is often hidden in processed foods, and things like soy sauce and beer...[READ MORE about my long and winding road to a celiac disease diagnosis and recovery.]
Gluten-Free Diet
To treat my celiac disease I had to go on a gluten-free diet for life. That meant learning to read food labels to avoid gluten ingredients, and eating a diet of mostly naturally gluten-free foods like meats, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and packaged foods only if they are certified gluten-free or labeled gluten-free, for example gluten-free breads made using gluten-free grains.
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Recent Activity
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- julie falco replied to julie falco's topic in Related Issues & Disorders3
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- Dhruv replied to Dhruv's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms19
Confused with test results
@trents I absolutely understand the perspective of getting off completely from wheat, but sometimes situation may occur that you won't have choice to eat other than wheat, my son travels a lot, since they travel in team, it's not easy to go out and find him a gluten free every single time! I have seen, even in NJ I m struggling to find out gluten free stuff... -
- Scott Adams replied to mswhis's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease10
Can Celiac disease be related to Interstitial Cystitis.
Here are two older articles we've done on this topic which might be helpful: -
- Rogol72 replied to Jean Shifrin's topic in Related Issues & Disorders1
Travel Abroad
I've been to Italy recently for a wedding and it was excellent. I made my own gluten-free sandwiches/pannini to take on the flights. Spain is good and you can get good gluten-free breads in the supermarkets there. The UK and Ireland are very good also. Australia would be good since Coeliac Disease is fairly common there ...1 in 70 as opposed to 1 in... -
- Pat Denman replied to SoBannaz's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease3
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