Have you ever heard of celiac disease? Celiac disease, also spelled coeliac disease, is a common autoimmune disease that attacks the small intestine. Anytime someone with celiac consumes gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, the small intestine gets damaged. When the small intestine is damaged, people with celiac can’t absorb nutrients from food the way they are supposed to.
Celiac disease has many different symptoms, and not everybody shows the same symptoms. Some symptoms are stomach aches, cramping, nausea, vomiting, headaches, body aches, rashes, brain fog, and others.
Eating gluten-free can be a bit tricky, but with a little help and some research, you can find so many options for food without gluten, and so many foods are naturally gluten free (fruit, vegetables, and meat!). It’s also important to make sure you don’t accidentally consume products that may have been contaminated by gluten, such as butter, peanut butter, jam. Make sure all utensils and pots and pans have been thoroughly cleaned and separated to keep you safe from gluten.
If you think you might have celiac disease, it is important to talk to your doctor. Remember, with a little help and some healthy gluten-free eating, you can still have a happy and healthy tummy even with celiac disease!