What is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease is an autoimmune digestive disorder that causes individuals to develop a severe intolerance for gluten. Gluten is a protein mainly found in products that contain wheat, rye, and barley.  When people with Celiac disease consume gluten, it triggers a reaction in the immune system resulting in an attack upon the villi, which are located in the small intestine. Villi’s main function is to absorb nutrients from digested food.  When they are damaged, the body begins to suffer from ailments associated with vitamin deficiency and malnutrition, such as anemia, early osteoporosis, and nervous system disorders. Left untreated, Celiac Disease can cause gastrointestinal cancers, gall bladder deterioration, and pancreas malfunctions. Although in the past, this disease was frequently misdiagnosed and thought to be rare, recent statistics and studies evidence that over 2 million Americans suffer from Celiac Disease.

Symptoms and Diagnosis
Common symptoms experienced by people with Celiac Disease, include frequent stomach pain, diarrhea, bloating, anemia, pale and unpleasant smelling stools, weight loss, and fatigue.  Diagnosis has become more sophisticated, and doctors now have available, a number of options, to assist them in determining whether or not an individual has Celiac Disease. Blood tests, antibody level tests, and microscopic examination of intestinal tissues are the most commonly used diagnostic tools.

Treatment
Treatment of Celiac Disease centers on maintaining a 100% gluten free diet, and since even a small amount of gluten can cause damage to the small intestine, celiac sufferers must exercise diligence not only in food choices, but also in choosing everyday products such as vitamins and lipstick (gluten is often used as a binding agent).  Complete recovery, can be had, but it requires a major lifestyle change, which includes sometimes tedious perusal of everything consumed, to ensure that it is gluten free.  When all gluten is removed from the diet, the small intestines will begin to heal and eventually will be restored to their normal state. 

Diet Recommendations
People with Celiac Disease can consume gluten free grains like quinoa and buckwheat.   Be aware that even these grains can be contaminated with gluten unless they specifically state that they are 100% gluten free.  Other Celiac Disease friendly foods are fresh meats, fish, and poultry, a number of dairy products, fruits, vegetables, rice, potatoes, and flours made from rice, soy, corn and potato.

For more information visit the Celiac Disease Foundation Website at www.Celiac.org