by Bobby Wenzoski

Created on: December 06, 2011

People with celiac disease cannot eat foods containing gluten; if they do, their body begins to destroy itself. Gluten is found in food products such as bread, pastas, tortilla chips, candy, some medications, vitamins and many other common ingestible items, even lipstick.

If a person with celiac disease eats a food product containing barley, wheat or rye, it begins the destruction process to their intestine lining. If this happens, it stops them from absorbing needed nutrients from their food, so even if they continue to eat, no matter what they eat, they become malnourished due to the protein gluten.

Celiac disease (CD) also known as Coeliac disease is an auto-immune disease that affects every organ of the body, and is often difficult to diagnose as the symptoms often mimic those of other diseases. On average, patients report 11 years of symptoms go by before an accurate diagnosis is made.

Celiac disease is characterized by the auto-immune response to the proteins that are known by the medical community as "gluten." These proteins are found in wheat, barley, rye, triticale, kamut and anything derived from these grains. Some people with celiac disease also avoid oats due to cross-contamination issues.

For people with celiac disease, ingesting even a small amount of gluten causes the immune system to damage the villi, this process leads to malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies and a host of other related and serious health issues. Over time, celiac disease can cause deficiencies that damage the brain, nervous system, bones, liver and other organs. It can also trigger other auto-immune disorders to form.

Celiac is a genetic disease that can be present from birth, or can be "switched on" at any point in life by trauma, stress or illness. As this illness is both environmental and genetic, it is uncertain how this process can happen in some individuals but not in others.

Currently, there is no cure and only one 1 known treatment; a lifetime diet that avoids all contact with gluten.

Once gluten has been eliminated from the system, the small intestine can start to heal, a process that can take anywhere from several months to several years depending on the damage that was done. During the period of healing, additional dietary avoidances may need to be implemented.

Classical symptoms of celiac disease include; diarrhea, constipation, bloating, vomiting, stomach pain, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, joint pain, tooth discoloration, infertility, irritability and depression.

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