10 Things You Should Know About Gluten Intolerance & Celiac Disease

1) Gluten intolerance/celiac disease occurs when a person is extremely sensitive to gluten proteins, which cause damage to the villi that allow absorption of water and other nutrients like calcium, folic acid, iron and vitamins into the body. Their destruction results in poor absorption of nutrients by the body and a variety of related health problems.

2) Gluten intolerance is not a food allergy! It is a genetic disease that can be triggered by several factors including prolonged stress, shock, or a virus.

3) Affects of this disease can begin at any time during your life span from infancy to adulthood. You may also grow out of it in adulthood if you experienced it in adolescence.

4) It can be a serious disease with life-threatening consequences for some sufferers if left undiagnosed. Different people are affected differently, and the reactions can be quite severe for some. This means that even small doses of gluten can be harmful to your health if you are affected.

5) Not all gluten proteins cause celiac disease. Some just irritate the small intestines preventing the walls of the small intestines from producing digestive enzymes necessary for breaking down food. The nutrients from these foods are then not absorbed into the body and is useless to the body’s functioning.

6) Not only foods contain glutens, some lipsticks and postage stamps contain them and can be harmful to anyone with extreme sensitivity.

7) Gluten intolerance/celiac disease can increase your risk of diabetes, thyroid diseases, lupus, or cancer.

8) Women with Gluten intolerance/celiac disease may have difficulty getting pregnant or may be prone to recurrent miscarriages.

9) Sufferers may also experience emotional or psychological problems such as depression, due mainly to the emotional strain caused by gluten intolerance.

10) Some people may experience several symptoms of the disease, and some may exhibit none, but the only way to be certain if you have it is through diagnostic tests by a health care professional.