Eating gluten free is becoming a more common factor in people seeking natural healthylifestyles, but it is essential for people diagnosed with Celiac Sprue…

Celiac Sprue is a genetic disease known to impact 1 of every 133 people in the US.  Because it is genetic, each generation seems to have a much higher risk and should be tested early on so that proper health care can be initiated at an early age.

Celiac disease presents itself in people who eat foods containing gluten,

Celiac Sprue

setting off an autoimmune response that causes damage to the small intestine.  The damage later causes the small intestine to lose its ability to absorb the nutrients found in food… leading ultimately to potential malnutrition and various other complications.

The symptoms vary from chronic diarrhea to chronic constipation, and may include depression, anemia, inability to gain weight and the early onset of osteoporosis.  Some patients present with anxiety, Attention Deficit Disorder, diabetes or Autism.  For more information about this disease, please visit www.celiac.com or www.celiac.org.

Unfortunately, everything that is known about Celiac indicates it is incurable, but is manageable by strict adherence to a gluten free diet.  When the body experiences gluten in the digestive tract, it engages in serious battle with the gluten – - damaging the tiny hair like projections known as villi which are found in the small intestines.  The normal job of these villi is to absorb nutrients from the food that passes through the digestive tract.

Over the course of time, the intestines can become damaged so badly they simply fail to absorb any nutrients; the person eats and eats and eats… yet are actually starving to death because the food nutrients pass right through them.  Because the nutrients the body fails to absorb differ from patient to patient, some doctors fail to properly diagnose a patient who may happen to present with extra body weight.

If you are concerned you may be experiencing a gluten intolerance, what is your next best step?  Research the disease and become personally knowledgeable about it so that when you take your next step – that all important visit to the physician, you can talk openly about your concerns and participate in your own well-care at the highest possible level. If your test results come back negative, but you still have some concern, don’t hesitate discussing a gluten free diet with your doctor and try it for a while to see what changes you experience in your health.   Continue reading… for more information, resources and subscription to Gluten Free!

Jan Vitale,
Your Nutrition Nanny