| Do you experience fatigue, gas and bloating after | | | | still contain grains that have gluten in them. Even |
| meals? A diet of Celiac foods may solve that | | | | those few grains can cause a reaction. |
| problem for you! | | | | Foods that CAN BE EATEN on the celiac diet |
| Celiac Disease, better known as gluten intolerance, | | | | include: |
| is a disorder that causes a toxic allergic reaction | | | | - Fish, Chicken |
| to gluten when eaten. "Gluten" is the term | | | | - Eggs |
| commonly used for a group of proteins found in | | | | - Cheese (except blue cheese), Milk |
| wheat, barley, rye, and other grains. Celiac food is | | | | - Legumes |
| a term used for any food that contains no gluten | | | | - Seeds, Nuts |
| at all. | | | | - Fruits, Vegetables |
| When people who have Celiac Disease eat gluten, | | | | - and... |
| the immune system reacts to the protein, | | | | Foods made with these grains or flours: |
| damaging the "villi" in the small intestine. Villi are | | | | Amaranth, Buckwheat, Corn, Millet, Rice, Quinoa, |
| the millions of microscopic, finger like projections, | | | | Sorghum, Soy, Arrowroot, Tapioca, Teff, |
| that help the body absorb nutrients from the | | | | Garbanzo beans, Tapioca, and Potato Flour. |
| intestines. If the villi are damaged, the body no | | | | Oats may be safe in moderate quantities, but |
| longer has the ability to absorb the necessary | | | | because many oat products are contaminated |
| nutrients it must have to stay healthy. This leaves | | | | with gluten at the packaging plant, it must be |
| the body at risk of malnutrition. Malnutrition can | | | | eaten with care. |
| then lead to anemia, osteoporosis or other serious | | | | It is safe to drink wine, rum, tequila and sake. |
| conditions. | | | | A few common foods to AVOID are: |
| Gluten-intolerant people may show any one of a | | | | - Blue cheese |
| number of gastrointestinal symptoms. They may | | | | - Breads, Crackers |
| have medical complaints that don't seem related, | | | | - Candy |
| or perhaps they have no noticeable symptoms. | | | | - Cereals |
| Common SYMPTOMS of Celiac Disease include: | | | | - Cold Cut Meats |
| - Weight loss, with great hunger | | | | - Imitation Bacon and Seafoods |
| - Weight gain | | | | - A few herbal teas and flavored coffees |
| - Fatigue | | | | - Cake flour |
| - Bloated Abdomen | | | | - Luncheon and processed meats |
| - Chronic Diarrhea | | | | - French fries |
| - Constipation | | | | - Gravies, marinades and sauces including tomato |
| - Irritability | | | | sauce |
| - Depression | | | | - Pastas |
| - Migraines | | | | - Salad dressings |
| - Infertility | | | | - Soup mixes and canned soups |
| - Rheumatoid Conditions | | | | - Stuffings |
| Common DISEASES that are associated with | | | | - Yogurts with wheat starch |
| Celiac Disease: | | | | - Fried chicken |
| - Osteoporosis | | | | - Oils with gluten additives |
| - Anemia | | | | - Vinegar - clear and white |
| - Gastrointestinal Cancer or Lymphoma | | | | It is not safe to drink grain alcohol (ale, beer, |
| - Thyroid Disease | | | | bourbon, gin, rye, scotch, whiskey). |
| - Lupus | | | | Lipsticks and toothpastes also contain gluten, so |
| - Type 1 Diabetes | | | | they should be avoided. |
| Because the symptoms mimic those of other | | | | This is just a short list. All food labels should be |
| diseases, celiac disease can be difficult to diagnose. | | | | read to check for wheat, barley, rye, and other |
| Blood tests plus a small bowel biopsy are required | | | | food allergens. Most supermarkets carry a |
| to make a sure diagnosis. Once diagnosed, it | | | | selection of gluten-free foods but you might find a |
| needs to be treated by starting on a gluten-free | | | | better selection at the health food stores. |
| diet. Within a few days of eliminating gluten from | | | | Celiac disease is a growing concern. Our |
| the diet, most people start to feel better. This | | | | knowledge of it grows daily. The only known cure |
| does not mean you are out of the woods, | | | | is a lifelong Celiac Food diet. This disease is only a |
| though. The genes are still present that cause the | | | | problem if you ignore it, and do nothing to treat it. |
| disease, so eating gluten again can easily cause | | | | Treat it properly, and you are likely to feel much |
| the symptoms to return. | | | | better. After a year on the diet, you may very |
| A Celiac food diet consists of only foods that are | | | | well feel back to normal health! Starting a |
| entirely free of gluten. Products marked "wheat | | | | gluten-free diet and making the commitment to |
| free" do not necessarily qualify, because they can | | | | stay on it, is well worth the effort. |