What Is Celiac Disease?

Warning  This is not medical advice.

Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food. When you have celiac disease you cannot tolerate gluten, which is a protein in wheat, rye and barley.

When gluten is consumed the immune system responds by damaging or destroying the Villi, tiny fingerlike protrusion lining the small intestine; this Villi allows nutrients from food to be absorbed through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream. Without healthy villi you will become malnourished.
Celiac disease is genetic; it runs in families and it can develop at birth or later in life.

What are the Symptoms of Celiac Disease?

Symptoms for Children Include:

Diarrhea
Vomiting
Constipation
Pale foul smelling stool
Failure to thrive
Delayed growth
Seizures

Adult Symptoms Include:

Anemia
Brain Fog (finding it hard to concentrate)
Joint pain
Fatigue due to iron-deficiency anemia
Ataxia (bad balance)
Nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy)
Early Onset Osteoporosis
Depression
Anxiety
Low blood Sugar
Infertility or miscarriages
An itchy skin rash called Dermatitis Herpetiformis
Respiratory problems
Rocacea
Eczema
Psoriasis
Muscle cramping
Night Blindness
Nosebleeds
Hair loss (Alopecia)
Canker Sores (apthous ulcers)

How is Celiac Disease Diagnosed?

Blood Tests

A doctor will test blood for high levels of anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies or anti-endomysium antibodies.  This is not always the best way to test and you may come back with a negative result for Celiac if you have already removed gluten from your diet.

Intestinal Biopsy

The blood test may or may not suggest celiac disease. A biopsy of the small intestine is performed.

A tiny piece of tissue from the small intestine to check for damages to the villi.

Complications:

Malnutrition:

Untreated celiac disease can lead to malabsorption, which then leads to malnutrition. because vital nutrients are not absorbed into the bloodstream, malabsorption can cause a deficiency in vitamins and minerals (vitamin D, folate and iron), this resulting in anemia. Malnutrition can cause stunted growth and delayed development in children.

Osteoporosis:

The continued loss of vitamins may result in a softening of the bone in children which could lead to rickets and loss of bone density.

Depression:

Depression may be likned to the malabsorption of nutrients. A study suggested that the malabsorption could interfer with the neurotransmitters that determine our moods.

Irritability and Forgetfulness:

It is found that a deficiency in Folic Acid can cause increased irritability and forgetfulness.

Skin Conditions and Diseases:

Such as Dermatits Herpetiformis, Eczema and Psoriasis.

Lactose Intolerance:

When the small intestine is damaged from gluten some people won’t be able to tolerate lactose, which is found in dairy products. It is advised to avoid these products until your intestine has been healed by a strict gluten free diet allowing the intestine to heal. Once it has people may find that the dairy products no longer affect them in this way.

Lupus:

Multisystem disorder

Cancer:

People who go untreated for celiac disease are at a higher risk of getting several forms of cancer, including Bowel Cancer and Intestinal Lymphoma.

Dental Enamel Defects:

Usually occurs if celiac disease is present as the teeth are forming, the teeth may appear to have white or brown spots on the tooth or in some cases ridged and malformed teeth.

Raynaud’s Syndrome:

Caused by a constriction of the blood vessels in the body due to cold temperatures.

Neurological Complications:

This disease has also been linked with the disorders of the nervous system.

Autoimmune Disorders:

Celiac disease can lead to a number of disorders such as

Addison’s disease
Insulin Dependent Diabetes
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Fibromyalgia
Thyroid Disease (Such as Hashimoto and Graves)
Sjogren’s Syndrome
Psoriasis, Aphthous Stomatitis
Multiple Sclerosis
Alopecia areata, Virtigio
Autoimmune Liver Disease
Heart Disease
Cardiomyopathy 

What Can You Eat On A Gluten Free Diet?

If you have gone 100% gluten free and are still having issues; these products may be manufactured in a shared facility. 

FDA allow 20 ppm of gluten in a gluten free labeled product but sadly a lot of times it can be more. 

See the FDA reasoning here: FDA

Search for gluten free products that are in a separate facility. 

Let’s start with what you CANNOT EAT:

(Warning this is not medical advice) 

    • Wheat
    • Barley
    • Rye
    • Triticale

Education is key in monitoring your diet. Apart from gluten been in obvious foods like bread pasta and beer. Gluten can be hidden in any processed foods:

      • Imitation fish (e.g. crab meat)
      • Sauces
      • Soy Sauce
      • French Fries
      • Hot dogs
      • Cold Cuts
      • Potato Chips
      • Candy
      • Chocolate
      • Any Manufactured Foods, always check how products are processed and if the facility is shared with gluten containing products.

Ingredients that contain gluten:
Abyssinian Atta Flour  Barley  Barley Grass Barley Hordeum Vulgare Malt Beer Bleached Flour Bran Brewers Yeast Bromated Flour Brown Flour Bulgar Wheat Cereal Binding Chilton Club Wheat Couscous Cracked Wheat Crisped Rice Dinkel Durum Durum Flour Einkorn Emmer Farina Farro Filler Graham Flour Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Kamut Malt Malt Extract   Millet Oats   Phosphated   Flour Rusk   Rye   Semolina   Spelt Triticale

Now the good news, a few examples on what you CAN EAT and obviously in the non-processed form:

      • Fish
      • Meats
      • Rice
      • Potatoes
      • Corn
      • Nuts (watch for cross-contamination in production)
      • Quinoa
      • Sago
      • Seeds
      • Wine (WARNING some wines are not gluten free contact supplier).
      • Tequila (made from pure blue agave plant).
      • Potato Vodka
      • Gin (made from potato)
      • Rum (research brands)
      • Cognac (made from grapes)
      • Gluten Free Beer (Gluten Removed Is Not Safe For Celiacs)

Cheat Sheet for Food and their benefits.

Vitamin A

Romaine Lettuce     Squash    Apricots   Bell peppers (green best)   Broccoli   Cabbage Cantaloupe   Green Beans   Asparagus    Plums

 

Vitamin B

Sunflower Seeds (B1)   Watermelon (B6 B1)   Avocado (B6)   Bananas (B6)   Bell Peppers (B6 B1)   Black Beans (B1)   Cabbage (B6)   Cantaloupe (B6)   Carrots (B6 B1 B3)   Cauliflower (B6)   Halibut (B3)   Mushrooms Plums (B2)   Potatoes (B6)    Raspberries (B2)   Salmon (B12 B3)   Sardines (B12)   Scallops (B12)   Shrimp (B12)   Strawberries (B5)   Squash Yams (B6)

 

Vitamin C

Spinach   Strawberries   Yams   Sweet Potatoes   Turnip Greens   Watermelon   Celery   Cherries   Asparagus   Bell Peppers   Blueberries   Broccoli   Cabbage   Cantaloupe   Cauliflower   Green Beans   Lemons   Mangoes   Oranges   Papaya    Potatoes   Raspberries Romaine Lettuce

 

Vitamin D

Sardines   Shrimp

 

Vitamin E

Apricot   Asparagus   Sunflower Seeds   Turnip Greens

 

Vitamin K

Romaine Lettuce   Spinach   Soybeans   Avocado   Broccoli   Carrots   Cauliflower   Bell Peppers   Green Peas   Asparagus   Pumpkin Seeds

 

Iron and Absorption

Green Beans   Garlic   Kidney Beans   Leeks   Lentils   Plums   Quinoa   Sesame Seeds   Spinach   Asparagus   Soy Flour

 

Protein

Greek Yogurt   Lentils   Peanuts   Shrimp   Soy Flour   Soy Beans   Tofu   Tuna

 

Calcium

Cabbage   Milk   Cheese   Figs   Flaxseeds   Greek yogurt   Romaine Lettuce

 

Potassium

Bananas Bell   Peppers   Broccoli   Cabbage   Cantaloupe   Green Beans   Kiwifruit   Onions Papaya

 

Folate

Onions   Papaya   Peanuts   Pinto Beans   Raspberries   Spinach   Strawberries   Turnip Greens   Chick Peas

 

Fiber

Apples   Figs   Kiwifruit   Acocado   Beets   Black beans   Cherries   Kidney Beans   Lentils   Lima Beans    Navy Beans   Peas   Pinto Beans   Raspberries   Strawberries   Soybeans Chick Peas

 

Healthy Digestion

Caraway Seeds helps to fight the bad bacteria in the intestine and allow the good bacteria to digest food. Also good for digestion Apples Bananas Black Beans Brussels Sprouts Papaya Pineapple

 

Immune System

Grapefruit   Celery   Mushrooms

 

Energy Food

Almonds   Asparagus   Avocado   Beef   Venison   Cod Fish   Corn   Green Peas   Tomatoes

 

Muscle

Millet   Bananas   Eggs   Almonds   Salmon   Yogurt   Beef   Olive Oil

 

Osteoporosis Strong Bones and Joints

Onions   Tomatoes   Rasins   Spinach   Figs

 

Good Heart

Leeks Apricot   Buckwheat   Cherries   Green Beans   Halibut   Navy Beans   Olives   Onions   Oranges   Pinto Beans   Potatoes   Romaine Lettuce   Scallops   Sesame Seeds   Tuna Walnuts

Help Blood Sugar

Buckwheat (Make sure GF facility)  Avocado   Cauliflower   Cherries   Figs   Flaxseeds   Navy Beans   Squash   Yams

 

Brain Foods

Blueberries   Eggplant   Flaxseeds   Red Grapes   Halibut   Salmon

 

Healthy Eyes

Carrots   Plums   Raisins

 

Blood Pressure Health

Potatoes   Soybeans   Tuna

 

Minimize Hunger

Almonds   Apples   Apricots   Lentils   Sunflower Seeds

 

Low Cholesterol

Brussels   Sprouts   Navy Beans   Soybeans

 

Healthy Fats

Almonds   Avocado   Halibut   Olives   Salmon   Sardines   Scallops   Walnuts

 

Anti-Inflammatory Support

Beets Mushrooms   Strawberries   Spinach   Squash

 

Fend Off Free Radical Damage

Plums   Raisins   Walnuts   Apricots   Bell Peppers   Blackberries   Cantaloupe   Cashews   Cherries   Corn   Green Beans   Celery   Lemons

 

Cancer Fighters

Watermelon   Broccoli   Carrots   Kale   Mushrooms   Seaweed   Avocado   Grapefruit   Grapes   Lemons (also acts as an antibiotic)   Raspberries   Tomatoes   Figs   Soy

 

Speed up Your Metabolism

Hot Peppers   Brown Rice   Apples   Pears   Cayenne   Garlic   Cinnamon  Grapefruit   Green Tea

 

PMS Help

Low-fat and Non-fat Dairy Products  Broccoli and Kale to Increase your Calcium intake. For Magnesium Pumpkin Seeds or Sunflower seeds   Spinach Swiss Chard Wild Salmon Cashews Quinoa Potato with the skin Soybeans Beans Peanuts Brown Rice Increase B6 intake of Chickpeas Wild Salmon Lean Beef  Chicken Breast White Potatoes with skin Banana Pistachio nuts and Lentils For Manganese Pineapple  Spinach Collard Greens Pecans Lima Beans Pumpkin Seeds Walnuts and Raspberries Drink Chamomile tea as it helps relieve muscle spasms. It also relieves tension.

 

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