| Description | | | | months, you should resume normal digestion and |
| Celiac disease is a type of malabsorption | | | | will begin to regain weight. |
| syndrome. During digestion, food is broken down | | | | Complementary and Alternative Treatments |
| into nutrient molecules that can be absorbed by | | | | Nutrition and Supplementation |
| the bloodstream. In people with malabsorption | | | | The number one enemy of celiac is gluten in any |
| syndrome, nutrients are not released into the | | | | form. Avoid all products containing barley, rye, |
| bloodstream but are instead eliminated in the stool. | | | | wheat, oats, hydrolyzed vegetable or plant |
| As a result, the body does not get the nutrients it | | | | protein, textured vegetable protein, malt, modified |
| needs from food. | | | | food starch, binders, fillers, and "natural flavorings." |
| Also called celiac sprue, celiac disease is a | | | | Do not eat hot dogs, gravies, luncheon meat, |
| relatively uncommon ailment, affecting | | | | beer, mustard, catsup, non-dairy creamer, white |
| approximately 1 person in 1000. It is caused by a | | | | vinegar, curry powder, or seasonings. Be sure |
| sensitivity to gluten, a substance found in wheat, | | | | your nutritional supplements do not contain gluten. |
| rye, oats, and barley. With extended exposure to | | | | Gluten-free products are available at health food |
| gluten, the intestinal lining loses the tiny folds | | | | stores, call 800-633-3826 and ask for a |
| through which nutrients are absorbed and stops | | | | gluten-free product catalog. |
| producing adequate amounts of digestive | | | | Because lactose intolerance often occurs with liac |
| enzymes. | | | | disease, eliminate milk and dairy products from |
| While the precise cause of gluten sensitivity is | | | | your diet. For optimum health, breastfeed your |
| unknown, celiac disease is believed to be | | | | child for a longer period of time and postpone |
| hereditary. The disease is diagnosed most often in | | | | introducing cow's milk and grains into the diet until |
| children, though it can appear in adults with no | | | | the child is older. Do not eat sugary products, |
| prior sensitivity to gluten. | | | | processed foods, bouillon cubes, chocolate, or |
| Signs and Symptoms | | | | bottled salad dressings. |
| Abdominal pain or cramps | | | | Although it may sound as though there aren't any |
| Bloating | | | | foods left to eat, you can and should eat foods |
| Diarrhea | | | | rich in folic acid, such as green leafy vegetables, |
| Foul-smelling, grayish stools that may float and | | | | lentils, seeds, nuts, and beans. Be sure to include |
| may be larger than normal | | | | raisins, strawberries, raspberries, fresh vegetables, |
| Gas | | | | sunflower seeds, and rice bran. Pay close |
| General weakness and fatigue | | | | attention to your intake of iron and B vitamins; |
| Weight loss | | | | people with celiac disease are often deficient in |
| In children, failure to grow or muscle weakness | | | | these nutrients. |
| Conventional Medical Treatment | | | | Because celiac disease affects the intestine, your |
| To diagnose celiac disease, your physician may | | | | body is unable to absorb many vital nutrients. |
| take a stool sample and a barium X-ray of your | | | | Make sure your healthcare professional checks |
| small intestine. You may also have to have a | | | | your digestion and nutrient absorption. |
| biopsy (tissue sample) taken from the lining of | | | | Supplementation is necessary, and the daily |
| your small intestine. Celiac disease is usually | | | | guidelines that follow should help manage your |
| treated with a strict gluten-free diet. When | | | | symptoms. (Note: To avoid any digestive |
| carefully followed, a gluten-free diet allows the villi | | | | problems you should gradually build up to these |
| of the small intestines to resume their normal | | | | amounts. Always do so under the supervision of |
| shape and absorption ability. Within two to four | | | | your healthcare professional. |