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Celiac disease also called "celiac sprue"
is a chronic digestive problem that is normally caused by a hereditary intolerance
to gluten. Gluten is a component of barley, oats, wheat, durum, semolina,
spelt,
rye, and also other grain hybrids such as kamut or triticale. The exact cause of celiac disease is
not known, although the disease is known to affect mainly Caucasians of European descent. When a person with celiac disease
eats gluten, damage to the small intestine can occurr. It is believed that the
body responds to gluten as if it were an antigen, and triggers an immune
system attack when it is absorbed by the intestine. This, in turn,
causes the lining of the small intestine to swell. As a result, tiny hair
like projections called villi suffer damage and even destruction, which
impairs the body's ability to absorb important nutrients. Malabsorption
then becomes a serious problem, and the loss of vitamins, minerals, and
calories results in malnutrition even when the person is eating well. Diarrhea
compounds the problem. Because celiac disease impacts digestion, food
allergies may also appear. Celiac disease can affect both children and
adults, however it can occur at any age. It often appears when a child
is first introduced to cereal foods, at around 3 - 4 months of age. In
other people, the disease may be triggered by emotional stress or
physical trauma, such as occurs with surgery or even pregnancy. The
first signs are usually diarrhea, weight loss, and nutritional
deficiencies. Other symptoms may include: abdominal swelling, bone pain,
large bad smelling stools that float; depression; fatigue, irritability,
joint pain, muscle cramps, muscular wasting, and nausea.
|
Nutrient
/ Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful
notes |
|
Folic
acid |
10 |
It very important
for creating red blood cells and often people who suffer celiac
disease and anemia maybe deficient in folic acid. The amount of folic acid believed needed for
health has increased and it may even be more important than iron for
people with anemia. |
| Multi-vitamin and
Mineral
supplement |
10 |
contains vitamin B
complex especially B6 & B12, folic acid, vitamin E,
vitamin A, vitamin C, manganese, vitamin B complex, calcium, copper, and zinc.
These help in both the treatment and the prevention of anemia as well as good general
balanced health. |
|
vitamin
B12 |
10 |
also known as cyanocobalamin, It aids folic acid in regulating the formation of red blood cells,
and helps in the utilization of iron.
Malabsorption of B12 is one problem of celiac disease. |
|
Olive
leaf extract |
9 |
useful against infection |
|
Licorice |
9 |
aids with pain relief |
|
Alfalfa |
9 |
supplies vitamin K |
|
Pyridoxine |
9 |
is also known as vitamin B6,
It is required for cell reproduction and it also helps with the
absorption of vitamin B12 in the body. |
|
Omega
fatty acids |
9 |
Required for the villi in the
intestines. |
|
Vitamin C |
8 |
C vitamins are essential in increasing
the body's immunity and they help to prevent
inflammation. Vitamin C also is needed for iron absorption in the body. |
|
Vitamin A |
8 |
vitamin A is an important
antioxidant that helps boost the immune system and
aids in tissue repair. It also works well
with vitamin C in a vitamin and mineral supplement. |
|
Copper |
7 |
this mineral is required for
good red blood cell production in the body. |
|
Zinc |
7 |
enhances healing and works
with copper. (See multi-vitamin supplement) |
| Bioflavonoids |
7 |
has anti-viral properties and helps to increase the body's energy |
Infants or children with celiac may have stunted growth, vomiting, an intense burning sensation in the
skin, and a red, itchy skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis.
A baby with celiac disease may gain weight more slowly than normal
or may even lose some weight. The infant can have a poor appetite, gas, and
bad smelling bowel movements. The child most likely will have an
anemic and undernourished look. Ulcers may develop in their
mouth. A child who gets blisters or sores all over their body
should be checked for celiac disease. If left untreated, celiac disease can be
very serious, and even life threatening. Bone disease, such as osteoporosis, central
and peripheral nervous system impairment, seizures caused by
inadequate absorption of folic acid, internal hemorrhaging,
pancreatic disease, infertility,
miscarriages and birth defects, and gynecological disorders are
just some of the long term health problems that may affect those
persons with
celiac disease. There is also a higher risk of developing intestinal
lymphoma and other intestinal malignancies. Certain autoimmune
disorders also can be associated with celiac disease, including kidney
disease or nephrosis, sarcoidosis which involves the formation of lesions in
the lungs, bones, skin, and other places, insulin dependent
diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus
erythematosus, thyroid disease, and, rarely, chronic active
hepatitis, scleroderma, Myasthenia gravis, Addison's disease, rheumatoid
arthritis, and Sjogren's syndrome.
Celiac disease is many times difficult to diagnose because the symptoms
are very similar to those of other diseases, such as anemia,
irritable
bowel syndrome and gastric ulcers.
Advances in blood testing have made it somewhat easier to detect celiac
disease. A diagnosis based on a blood test should normally be followed up
with a biopsy of the intestinal tissue, which is often an outpatient
type procedure. However, because the symptoms vary in range,
and that some persons with celiac disease do not have obvious
symptoms, many people can go a long period of time before being diagnosed
correctly. Because celiac disease is hereditary, if one family
member is diagnosed with it, other people in the family should also be
checked. Good nutritional supplementation, diet changes, and other
suggestions on this webpage can help treat or prevent celiac disease
and related health issues.
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
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