Celiac Disease

Celiac Disease – Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disease in which the small intestine becomes inflamed when triggered by gluten. What is gluten?

Celiac Definition

Celiac disease is a digestive and autoimmune disorder that can damage your small intestine. People with celiac disease might experience symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, gas, anemia and growth issues. Celiac disease can be triggered by a protein called gluten. Gluten is found in grains, like wheat, barley and rye.

Celiac Disease is also referred to as celiac sprue, non-tropical sprue, and gluten-sensitive enteropathy.

When a person with celiac disease eats gluten, the protein interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food by damaging a part of the small intestine called villi. Damaged villi make it nearly impossible for the body to absorb nutrients into the bloodstream, leading to malnourishment and a host of other problems.

One out of every 133 Americans has celiac disease, equivalent to nearly 1% of the U.S. population. Unfortunately, 83% of the 3 million Americans living with celiac disease remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Celiac disease is a genetic disorder, meaning that it passes from parent to child via DNA. In some cases, stressful events such as pregnancy, surgery, infection, or severe emotional distress can trigger the onset of the disease.

Celiac Symptoms

Celiac Disease Diagnosis

Celiac Disease Treatment

When Celiac Disease goes undiagnosed and without knowing you continue to damage the villi in your gut, a gluten free diet will not fix all of your symptoms. You gut is at a state of neglect & is not absorbing nutrients. Your goal is to heal your gut completely which may take some time depending on how damaged it is.

Celiac Disease Diet

Of course, a gluten free nutrient is needed, but some other things to help you on your way to healing would include:

+Pre & Probiotic- just a probiotic alone may not be enough to help your body absorb nutrients due to the damage. Prebiotics are compounds in food that induce the growth or activity of beneficial microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. The most common example is in the gastrointestinal tract, where prebiotics can alter the composition of organisms in the gut microbiome.

+Essential oils- can help with a leaky gut and stomach discomfort, (Ginger, Fennel, Coriander) or help aid in digestion,(Peppermint, Tarragon, Anise, Digize, and Caraway -Tummyize for children). They can also help aid in motion sickness, nausea, indigestion, heartburn, and many others digestive issues.

Look into an anti-inflammatory diet. It can cut down the inflammation also in the gut.

Other Juvenile Autoimmune Diseases:

• Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) affects 5:100,000 children each year
• Juvenile Diabetes (Type 1 Diabetes) affects 2:10,000 children each year
• Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) is rare and only affects about 3,000-6,000 in the US
• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) affects 1: 1,000 children each year
• Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) affects about 1:1,000 children each year
• Kawasaki Disease affects 1:10,000 under age 5 each year
• PANDAS affects 1:200 each year
• Rheumatic Fever affects 4:1000 each year