| Celiac Disease, celiac sprue or gluten | | | | muscle cramps, seizures or digestive |
| sensitive enteropathy is an autoimmune | | | | disorders. |
| disorder of the small intestines. In our | | | | |
| bodies, the small intestine is responsible | | | | Although there is no cure for celiac disease |
| for the absorption of the foods we eat. When | | | | there are a number of natural and alternative |
| someone with Celiac Disease ingests foods | | | | health remedies you can incorporate into your |
| that contain gluten, the body produces | | | | life to help restore health and eliminate |
| antibodies that attack the small intestines | | | | further damage to the intestinal tract. |
| and in particularly the villi. | | | | |
| | | | Recommendations For Wellness |
| The villi are tiny hair-like projections that | | | | |
| line the small intestine that allow nutrients | | | | Adhere to a gluten-free diet. Avoid foods |
| to be absorbed into the blood stream. Without | | | | that contain grains, including wheat, spelt, |
| healthy villi, the body is unable to absorb | | | | kamut, einkorn, faro, rye, barley and |
| the proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins | | | | triticale. Make it a habit to read all food |
| and minerals we need, regardless of how much | | | | labels and learn to identify ingredients that |
| we eat or how high the quality foods we eat | | | | may contain hidden gluten. When adhering to a |
| are. Without our ability to absorb nutrients, | | | | gluten-free diet, most people begin to |
| over time, it can lead to malnutrition and/or | | | | experience improvements in their symptoms |
| secondary health concerns. | | | | within a few weeks. |
| | | | |
| The cause of celiac disease is unknown but it | | | | Avoid milk and milk products until your |
| is thought to have a genetic association. It | | | | symptoms have started to clear. Individuals |
| can appear at any time in a person's life, | | | | with celiac disease often find themselves |
| but has been known to be triggered for the | | | | lactose intolerant as well. Over time, dairy |
| first time after pregnancy, childbirth, | | | | products can slowly be reintroduced into the |
| surgery or severe emotional stress. Because | | | | diet. |
| of it's potential genetic association, it is | | | | |
| strongly suggested that family members of | | | | Have your bone density checked. It is very |
| individuals diagnosed with celiac disease | | | | common for individuals with celiac disease to |
| take a simple antibody test to rule it out, | | | | experience bone loss and osteoporosis. |
| even if they have no symptoms. | | | | |
| | | | Take a high quality vitamin and mineral |
| Recognizing celiac disease can be difficult | | | | supplement to help restore any nutritional |
| because many of the symptoms are similar to | | | | deficiencies that may be present. Be careful |
| other diseases and disorders. Because of | | | | to ensure that the supplements you are taking |
| this, it is commonly misdiagnosed or | | | | don't contain hidden gluten. Many companies, |
| underdiagnosed. Some common symptoms of | | | | for example, use wheat starch as a binding |
| celiac disease can include abdominal | | | | agent in tablets and capsules. |
| cramping, intestinal gas, bloating, chronic | | | | |
| diarrhea or constipation, fatty stools, | | | | Supplementing with colostrum and other |
| anemia, weight loss or weight gain. | | | | probiotics can help to heal the lining of the |
| | | | intestinal tract. |
| Because of its interference with our body's | | | | |
| ability to absorb nutrition, conditions | | | | Add a digestive enzyme to your health |
| associated with nutritional deficiencies such | | | | routine. Studies have shown that people with |
| as anemia, osteoporosis, or vitamin K | | | | celiac disease often do not produce |
| deficiency can occur. Other more varied | | | | sufficient amounts of pancreatic enzymes. |
| symptoms can include dental enamel defects, | | | | |
| bone or joint pain, fatigue, weakness, | | | | Fish oils, such as those found in omega 3 oil |
| infertility - both male and female, | | | | has been shown to help reduce inflammation of |
| depression, irritability, behavioral changes, | | | | the intestinal lining. |