CELIAC DISEASE: A Step-by-Step Guide to Dealing with It

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, around 1 in every 141 Americans suffer from celiac disease. It's also known as celiac sprue, gluten-sensitive enteropathy or non-tropical sprue.

Some of the common symptoms of this disease include weight loss, bloating, loss of appetite, and chronic diarrhea. Furthermore, some sufferers also exhibit other symptoms such as anemia, headaches, skin rashes, loss of bone density, joint pain, fatigue, infertility, and acid reflux. The symptoms can vary from person to person depending on several factors, such as how long one was breastfed as a child, the age at which one started eating gluten, the amount of gluten that one consumes, and the severity of intestinal damage.

Genetic predisposition is a common risk factor for this disease. Other diseases that can increase your risk of developing this disease include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Type 1 diabetes, autoimmune liver disease, thyroid disease, Down syndrome, Turner's syndrome, and intestinal cancer.

There is no cure for celiac disease, but this does not mean that it has to have a huge impact on your life. If you monitor what you eat, you can easily manage the symptoms as well as promote intestinal healing.

Here are 10 great ways to deal with celiac disease.

1. Eliminate Gluten from Your Diet

A lifelong gluten-free diet is one of the most important things you need to follow when dealing with celiac disease. Once you have completely removed gluten from your diet, the inflammation in the small intestine will gradually decrease. This, in turn, reduces the severity of the symptoms and helps you feel better.

Therefore, it's important to know that it's not only wheat and all of its forms that contain gluten. There are many types of grains that have gluten and this includes barley, bulgar, durum, farina, malta, rye, graham flour, semolina, and tritcale. When you are eating out, always ask for a gluten-free menu.

2. Opt for Gluten-Free Grains

Thankfully, there are many grains and foods that are gluten-free.

Some of the best gluten-free grains are amaranth, arrowroot, buckwheat, cassava, millet, corn, quinoa, brown rice, sorghum, soy, and tapioca, to name but a few. To add to this, you can easily find gluten-free breads, pasta, cereals, and crackers.

It's also essential that you eat plenty of fruit, vegetables beans, seeds, nuts, potatoes, legumes, eggs, dairy products, fish, lean beef, and chicken in order to get all the essential nutrients that you need.

3. Be Aware of Hidden Gluten

Once you have substituted gluten-rich grains for gluten-free grains, it's time to become knowledgeable about products that contain hidden gluten. 

Hidden gluten can be present in medications, food, and nonfood products. Such products include:

• Modified food starch, preservatives and food stabilizers
• Chicken broth
• Malt vinegar
• Salad dressings
• Common seasonings and spice mixes
• Prescription and over-the-counter medications
• Vitamin and mineral supplements
• Nutritional supplements
• Lipstick products
• Oral hygiene products like toothpaste and mouthwash
• Envelope and stamp glue

Aloe Vera is very beneficial for people who suffer from celiac disease. The reason for this is that it helps to heal any inflammation in the small intestine, facilitates tissue repair, and promotes proper digestion.

However, aloe vera isn't an instant medical cure. Nothing is going to happen if you just drink one glass of it - you need to consume a glass each day over a period of several days, even weeks to notice any improvement in your condition.

To make this juice, blend together 2 tablespoons of fresh aloe vera gel and any citrus juice or water in a blender.

5. Enjoy Sunshine

Vitamin D deficiency is common among those who suffer from celiac disease. In fact, vitamin D deficiency is responsible for the high percentage of bone disorders present in people with celiac disease. To fight this deficiency, exposure to early morning sunlight for just 10-15 minutes will help a lot. You can also take a vitamin D supplement after consulting your doctor.

6. Eat Probiotics

Thanks to the presence of good bacteria, probiotics help to reestablish the beneficial bacterial environment in the gut as well as promoting healing of the digestive tracts.

To add more probiotics to your diet, be sure to consume yogurt with live cultures, acidophilus milk, kefir, tempeh, miso, and sauerkraut. You can even take probiotic supplements, after having consulted your doctor.

 7. Get Adequate Fish Oil