What is Celiac?
Celiac is no silly act.Celiac is an autoimmune disorder that damages the small intestine when gluten is consumed and ingested.
It’s typically genetically predisposed in people and affects about 1 in 100 people worldwide.
America alone has two and a half million people who are undiagnosed and at risk for longer term health complications.
WHEAT, RYE AND BARLEY, OH MY!
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley.
While these are usually less consumed, gluten is also found in bulgur, couscous, spelt, farina, kamut matzo, graham flour, triticale and semolina.
Although it can be easy to find gluten-free alternatives for most wheat and rye products, gluten can also be found in some of your favorite foods, sauces, dressings and more.
Some obvious gluten-filled foods include cereal, trail mix, breaded foods and fried vegetables or tempura.
It’s even found in foods you’d never think twice about, such as soups, cold cuts, ice cream, canned beans, roasted nuts and even hot dogs or bacon.
Gluten is also found in most gravy, ketchup, mayonnaise, soy and teriyaki sauces, salad dressings, syrup and so much more.
It’s important for those affected by celiac to know which foods are friends and which are foes.
CELIAC SIBLINGS
Those who have a parent, child or sibling affected by celiac have a 1 in 10 chance of developing this disease.
When those affected by it eat gluten, their body supports an immune response to attack the small intestine.
These attacks can lead to damage on the villi, which are small projections that line your small intestine and help promote nutrient absorption.
When the villi get damaged, nutrients are not able to absorb into the body properly, which can lead to longer term health problems.
Even ingesting small amounts of gluten, like crumbs from a toaster, can trigger small intestine damage.
TREATMENT
While there is currently no real treatment for celiac disease, the best thing to do is stay loyal to a strict gluten-free diet.
Luckily, there are tons of gluten-free food alternatives that make this disease much easier to deal with.
Germinal Organic products are all certified gluten-free, making it the perfect treat for anyone to enjoy.
You can even use Germinal Organic products as other food alternatives, such as gluten-free breading and more.
SOURCES
David Perlmutter, MD, FACN, ABIHM – Board-Certified Neurologist
