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Celiac.com - Celiac Disease & Gluten-Free Diet Support Since 1995
What is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease (aka coeliac disease) is a genetic autoimmune disorder where ingesting gluten (a protein in wheat, barley, and rye) triggers an immune response that damages the small intestine's lining. This damage leads to inflammation and atrophy of the villi, tiny finger-like projections in the intestine responsible for nutrient absorption. As a result, individuals with celiac disease may experience symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, fatigue, and malnutrition. Over time, untreated celiac disease can lead to more severe health problems, including anemia, osteoporosis, weight loss, and increased risk of certain cancers. A strict gluten-free diet is the only effective treatment. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease, not a wheat allergy. It's also different from non-celiac gluten sensitivity, gluten intolerance, or sensitivity to gluten.
My Long Journey to Celiac Disease Diagnosis
Like many people, I spent a lot of years, a lot of dollars, and endured many tests and misdiagnoses, before doctors finally discovered that I had celiac disease (also known as coeliac disease or celiac sprue), and needed to eliminate gluten and all gluten-containing ingredients from my diet. Gluten is a protein found in the three main gluten-containing grains: wheat, rye, and barley; and is often hidden in processed foods, and things like soy sauce and beer...[READ MORE about my long and winding road to a celiac disease diagnosis and recovery.]
Gluten-Free Diet
To treat my celiac disease I had to go on a gluten-free diet for life. That meant learning to read food labels to avoid gluten ingredients, and eating a diet of mostly naturally gluten-free foods like meats, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and packaged foods only if they are certified gluten-free or labeled gluten-free, for example gluten-free breads made using gluten-free grains.
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Recent Activity
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- trents replied to lmemsm's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications3
Finding gluten free ingredients
@dmallbee, about 8% of celiacs react to the oat protein avenin like they do to the wheat protein gluten. In addition, there are some cultivars of oats that apparently do actually contain gluten. -
- dmallbee replied to lmemsm's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications3
Finding gluten free ingredients
I was diagnosed at 18 months old with celiac and lived without wheat, rye, oats, and barley as instructed by my doctor, Dr. Katz at Boston Children's Hospital in the 60's and 70's. I don't agree nor recommend doctors removing oats from restriction, certified gluten-free or not. I have eaten certified gluten free oats and have had the usual reactions to gluten... -
- bold-95 replied to Mrs Wolfe's topic in Related Issues & Disorders10
Cartilage and rib pain.
You are SO right!! -
- Scott Adams replied to CJF's topic in Traveling with Celiac Disease5
European travel with Celiac Disease
It's great to hear that the trip went well, and the general consensus I hear about gluten-free travel in Europe, including my own experiences, is that it is much easier done in comparison to traveling and eating gluten-free in the USA. -
- CJF replied to CJF's topic in Traveling with Celiac Disease5
European travel with Celiac Disease
Safely home from my recent trip to the UK. I had zero gut issues while traveling around this pretty country. Our tour leader was very good at making sure the 2 of us with gluten issues on our tour were well taken care of. We often got our meals before the rest of the group and adaptations to the menu for us were well thought out and very tasty...
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