THE SOMETIMES BAFFLING SYMPTOMS OF CELIAC DISEASE CAN EASILY BE DIAGNOSED

Few may have heard about this strange celiac disease, but millions suffer from it and there may be many more millions to be diagnosed. It can begin with diarrhea, bloating and abdominal cramping and usually have symptoms of anemia, osteoporosis and “general failure to thrive”. In children there is strong evidence of poor nutrient absorption.  It was a veterinarian who first suggested and helped diagnose this physical puzzle in 1994 that dogs sometimes have trouble digesting grains. That is exactly what happens in us humans as well. This strange ailment is considered one of the auto-immune diseases and is usually genetic in nature. It is vastly under-diagnosed by physicians. When food enters the small intestine, critical nutrients are absorbed into the blood stream. But in celiac sufferers their immune system mounts an all-out battle against gluten as well as some of the small intestine parts that try to absorb it.

In 2003 Alice Bast, who suffered from this problem, formed the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. The Foundation also has helped to conduct extensive studies through the University of Maryland that showed as many as 1 in 134 Americans are victims of it. But the good news is that it can usually be detected with a simple blood test and is readily cured. All they have to do is eliminate wheat, rye and barley from their diets. That may sometimes be tough as these grains, in even minute amounts, can cause symptoms. You’ll see them even in beer, chicken nuggets, bread, peanut butter, cheeses, cereals, desserts of many kinds.

Living gluten-free is easier than ever though as the number of gluten-free products has doubled in the last seven years and will continue to do so at an even faster rate. There’s even a beer made from sorghum on the market. Many restaurant menus have sections that feature gluten-free sections too. If you want to learn more, search for “celiaccenter.org” and for gluten-free recipes that you can make yourself at home type in “glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com”. Any one of your children or relatives and friends could be unknowingly suffering.