Celiac Disease
There’s a lot of nihilism towards this condition, and I think it’s got a lot to do with the treatment being a gluten-free diet. Even the medical fraternity can have quite derogatory views of diet-based treatments - David Sanders, University of Sheffield
image by: Beyond Celiac
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A Personal Journey
I remember the day distinctly. I just picked the boys up from school and was heading home when I received the call. It was my gastroenterologist informing I had tested positive for both Celiac and Lactose Intolerance. It was a five minute conversation … but one that would change my life forever. He told me to browse the internet and educate myself about the disease. I questioned if there were any associated complications and he matter-of-factly answered, yes, untreated Celiac could lead to among others, osteoporosis and cancer. That was all I had to hear – an increased risk of the dreaded “C”. No way was I going there. Within the next minute, I became gluten-free and I knew it would be for…
Resources
The Celiac Surge
A rapid increase in the global incidence of the condition has researchers scrambling to understand the causes of the trend, and cope with the consequences.
Celiac Disease: The Underfunded, Invisible, Deadly Disease
Having been at the helm of a leading celiac disease patient advocacy organization –Beyond Celiac – for the last 15 years, now, more than ever, I wonder: What do we have to do to demonstrate that our lives are worth saving? How long will we suffer before there are better treatments, and ultimately, a cure? Celiac disease consistently received the lowest amount of federal research funding over a five-year period compared to other gastrointestinal conditions, a review of National Institutes of Health data found.
Celiacs Beware: New Study Shows Restaurants Serving 'Gluten-Free' Might Actually Have Some Gluten
If you have celiac disease or have a friend who has it — and at this point, most of us do — you know what a minefield eating can become when trying to avoid any trace of gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. For those with celiac disease, accidentally getting “glutened” can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and ultimately, long-term intestinal damage. So any restaurants using the label “gluten-free” must be pretty sure they know what they’re doing, right? Alas, many don’t.
Her Searing Gut Pain Suggested Celiac. Why Didn’t Cutting Out Gluten Help?
The pain came on whenever she ate, but it was worse when she ate bread or pasta. Celiac disease seemed to fit: In this disorder, gluten, a protein found in grains like wheat and rye, triggers the body’s immune system to attack the absorptive lining of the gastrointestinal tract. Consuming gluten-containing foods destroys the gut’s ability to absorb nutrients, causing pain, diarrhea and malnutrition. And yet, when she tried to avoid gluten — not easy, because it seemed to be in just about everything — the pain still didn’t go away.
Note from Alice:
Those of us with celiac disease have to think about everything we put in our mouths from the time we wake up to the time we go to sleep. For me, as CEO of Beyond Celiac, despite the fact that I am extremely careful, I still get glutened.
There's a Virus That Appears to Cause Celiac Disease
The authors certainly aren't suggesting that everyone with celiac got the disease from a virus—others are just genetically predisposed—but it's just more evidence that viruses can cause autoimmune diseases, including celiac and type 1 diabetes. This may mean that in the future vaccines could help prevent some cases of such chronic illnesses.
Everything you need to know about coeliac disease (and whether you really have it)
It’s likely that alternative health practitioners, disease advocacy groups, proliferating internet blogs and forums, and the gluten-free food industry are directly or indirectly fuelling the mounting public perception that a gluten-free diet is intrinsically “healthy” or suitable to treat a variety of symptoms and illnesses. But medical evidence to support undertaking a strict gluten-free diet outside of coeliac disease is minimal.
The Rise of Celiac Disease Still Stumps Scientists
What is it about gluten that causes so many people to double over in pain? How could the innocent, ancient act of breaking bread be so problematic for some?
Attention celiac sufferers! Scientists are working on a pill that will let you eat bread and pasta
Time for some real talk. Gluten is delicious. Beer, pasta, pizza—people with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder which prevents them from eating these things, are missing out on some of life’s great gustatory pleasures. Scientists at the University of Alberta may have found a solution.
Celiac Disease Strikes Some Late In Life
There's been an increase in people with celiac disease '' particularly in the elderly, says a study published online by the Annals of Medicine. The finding surprised researchers, who didn't expect to see a change associated with age.
Celiac Disease: When to Avoid Wheat
There’s one very good reason to avoid wheat: if you have celiac disease, also known as gluten-sensitive enteropathy or nontropical sprue. Gluten is a protein in wheat that makes dough elastic and smooth; it’s also in rye, barley and certain other grains. In people with this genetic disorder, gluten provokes an autoimmune response that damages the small intestine and may cause symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, cramps, abdominal pain, weight loss, fatigue and loss of appetite.
Diagnosis: Celiac Disease
If this disease is so common, how come you’ve never heard of it? The pharmaceutical companies don’t touch it because there is no drug to cure it. Since it can be managed by diet alone, there is no profit in it for them. Since tests have only very recently become available, most doctors (who went to medical school before it was known that Celiac is so common) don’t think to diagnose it. There is a huge knowledge gap with Celiac, which means people suffer needlessly.
Who Has the Guts for Gluten?
WE know that the proteins called gluten, found in wheat and other grains, provoke celiac disease. And we know how to treat the illness: a gluten-free diet. But the rapidly increasing prevalence of celiac disease, which has quadrupled in the United States in just 50 years, is still mystifying.
Why gluten-free food is not the healthy option and could increase your risk of diabetes
It’s hard not to notice that the range of gluten-free foods available in supermarkets has increased massively in recent years. This is partly because the rise in the number of people diagnosed with coeliac disease and gluten sensitivity, and partly because celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Miley Cyrus and Victoria Beckham have praised gluten-free diets. What used to be prescription-only food is now a global health fad. But for how much longer? New research from Harvard University has found a link between gluten-free diets and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
A Personal Journey
Ultimately, my diagnosis of Celiac has proven to be a serendipitous blessing! Does it come with challenges, absolutely.
13 Signs You Might Have Celiac Disease
Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that makes it tough for the body to process gluten, has gotten a lot of attention in recent years. A slew of products beyond food has even sprung up to meet the corresponding demand for gluten-free goods. But while a growing number of people are self-diagnosing themselves with celiac disease, how do you know if you legitimately have cause for concern?
Go Beyond Celiac
Welcome to Go Beyond Celiac, an online community created by people with celiac disease, for people with celiac disease. Join today to help advance celiac disease research by sharing your stories and experiences.
Beyond Celiac
unites with patients and partners to drive diagnosis, advance research and accelerate the discovery of new treatments and a cure.
Celiac Chicks
The guide to a hip and healthy gluten-free lifestyle.
Celiac Corner
Helping people navigate a world without gluten.
Celiac Disease Center
We’re at the forefront of research, focused on finding a cure.
Celiac Disease Foundation
Celiac Disease Foundation informs, assists, and supports people with information about Celiac Disease (CD) and Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH). We distribute reliable, up-to-date materials about the disease and the gluten-free lifestyle to assist individuals with CD/DH and those yet to be diagnosed.
Celiac Teen
Hi there! My name is Lauren, and I’ve been creating in this space for the past five years. I am a student, lover of light, and gluten-free baker. I’ve been writing Celiac Teen since my fifteenth birthday, and baking since I was three. In the past five years, I’ve opened and explored the world of gluten-free flours. I love their flexibility and the flavour they impart, as each one is unique. I’m currently studying engineering in University, but through this site, you’ll find many glimpses into where my life has led. Through high school, abroad as I learned French in France, and back to Canada where I’m currently studying. You’ll find battles with my array of illnesses and photographs of food and places I’ve found myself.
Celiac.com
Celiac.com was founded in 1995 by Scott Adams, who had a single goal for the site: To help as many people as possible with celiac disease get diagnosed and living a happy, healthy gluten-free life. In that regard the site has proven to be an overwhelming success, and has become an invaluable resource to people worldwide who seek information about celiac disease and related disorders.
Gluten Intolerance Group
The mission of the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America'' is to provide support to persons with gluten intolerances, including celiac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, and other gluten sensitivities, in order to live healthy lives.
Celiac Disease Info
Do you need lots of information about celiac disease and simple recipes to aid you in getting started on those first VERY scarey days, weeks, and months after diagnosis? Do you need assistance with what to eat on the gluten free & wheat free diet, how to find the correct gluten free ingredients and then to be able to prepare your special gluten free foods? Where do you begin?
Celiac Family
Resources, recipes and random thoughts on living gluten-free.
National Celiac Association
The National Celiac Association is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to educating and advocating for individuals with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivities, their families, and communities throughout the country.
The Savvy Celiac
Welcome to The Savvy Celiac. Where we help smart people become savvy gluten free consumers. Every day news is made regarding celiac disease and its only treatment: a gluten free diet. Whether it is information about gluten free foods, recipes, scientific research, school tips, eating out, or the basics about the disease symptoms that come with having celiac, we talk about and report on it here using reliable sources and key experts to create great content. If you have celiac disease, a non-celiac gluten sensitivity or are eating gluten free for other reasons, our one goal is to empower you with information to live a healthy gluten free life.
Guts UK
Over the past few years, it has become clear that coeliac disease is much more common than we used to think. Recent research has shown that approximately one in 100 people in the UK have this condition. It is known to occur more frequently in Caucasian populations in Europe and also in developing countries where wheat is a staple diet (the west of Ireland has the highest rate of the disease in the world).
MedicineNet
In celiac disease, there is an immunological (allergic) reaction within the inner lining of the small intestine to proteins (gluten) that are present in wheat, rye, barley and, to a lesser extent, in oats.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten is found mainly in foods but may also be found in everyday products such as medicines, vitamins, and lip balms.
TeensHealth
Birthday cake. Pizza. Chocolate chip cookies. For people with celiac disease, a lifelong disorder of the digestive system, these foods aren't always the treats that most people think they are. Why? Because they usually contain a type of protein called gluten, which causes problems for people with celiac disease.
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