What, exactly, is Celiac Disease?

Celiac’s usually describe the disease as a gluten “allergy” because it’s the easiest most concise way to convey the general idea of the disease.  But, in reality Celiac Disease is not a food allergy - it is an autoimmune disease.

What actually happens is when you eat gluten, the villi (tiny hair-like projections in the small intestine that absorb nutrients from food) are damaged. This is due to an autoimmune reaction to gluten. Damaged villi do not effectively absorb basic nutrients – proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and, in some cases, water and bile salts. If it’s left untreated, damage to the small bowel can be chronic and life threatening, causing an increased risk of associated disorders – both nutritional and immune related.

So what the heck is gluten?


Gluten is a protein.  As a protein composite found in foods processed from wheat and related grain species, including barley and rye, it gives elasticity to dough, helping it to rise and to keep its shape, and often giving the final product a chewy texture.

What are the symptoms?

CD is a multi-system, multi-symptom disorder.  Like every auto-immune disease, symptoms vary and are not always gastrointestinal but here are some of the most common:

• Abdominal cramping, intestinal gas
• Distention and bloating of the stomach
• Chronic diarrhea or constipation (or both)
• Steatorrhea – fatty stools
• Anemia – unexplained, due to folic acid, B12 or iron deficiency (or all)
• Unexplained weight loss with large appetite or weight gain
• Dental enamel defects
• Osteopenia, osteoporosis
• Bone or joint pain
• Fatigue, weakness and lack of energy
• Infertility – male/female
• Depression
• Mouth ulcers
• Delayed puberty
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
• Migraine headaches

SOME LONG-TERM CONDITIONS:

• Iron deficiency anemia
• Early onset osteoporosis or osteopenia
• Vitamin K deficiency associated with risk for hemorrhaging
• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
• Central and peripheral nervous system disorders - usually due to unsuspected nutrient deficiencies
• Pancreatic insufficiency
• Intestinal lymphomas and other GI cancers (malignancies)
• Gall bladder malfunction
• Neurological manifestations

Thank you to the Wikipedia & the Celiac Disease Foundation for the information!

Finding Out About Celiac

I figured I had Celiac for a number of years now.  I ignored it.  I’ve already been lactose-intolerant since the age of 10 and I was NOT going to start eating cardboard or become a label reader.  Uuuuugggghh!  How annoying!  And do you know how many foods have gluten in them?  Most of them - again, so annoying.  Then, my dear friend and doctor told me that I did have Celiac.  I just rolled my eyes at her and decided I was still going to live my life the way I wanted and eat whatever I wanted because I didn’t want to go through life being that person, plus I love cake and pie and bagels.  Then, she followed up with – you know it can lead to auto-immune diseases, right?  Of course I have a family history of that already so this time I actually listened to what she had to say.

I did really good being gluten and lactose free – for almost an entire week!  I suck.  I totally cheated.  Plus, have you seen the prices on gluten-free products?  $7 for bread – you have got to be kidding me right!?!?  Unfortunately, I have become a label reader, which I despise, but it’s really unavoidable at this point.  I am getting better at not cheating and finding alternatives to my favorite foods.  I’ve noticed that I have less discomfort and my stomach isn’t bloated anymore.  I guess once you boil it down, a really good rationalization of this is to put good things in your body so you feel good and that’s worth it.