According to pubmedhealth.com, Celiac disease is defined as, “A condition that damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing parts of food that are important for staying healthy. The damage is due to a reaction to eating gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats.The lining of the intestines contains areas called villi, a projection that absorbs nutrients from the food and is found in the small intestine. When people with celiac disease eat foods or use products that contain gluten, their immune system reacts by damaging these villi.”
This ultimately results in malnourishment. This condition mostly occurs in children who are sensitive to gluten, they can’t eat the protein, which is found in wheat, rye, and barley and other grains derived from them. Celiac disease is also called as celiac sprue.
How bad is celiac disease?
With time, the malabsorption of nutrients affects your brain, nerves, bones, liver and other organs. This may lead to weakness, joint pains, anemia, osteoporosis, seizures, and cancer of the small intestine.
Treatment of celiac disease
The best remedy for Celiac disease is a gluten-free diet. Gluten-free diet is based on fresh fruits and vegetables, plain meats, fish, rice, potatoes, dairy products, and gluten-free grains, such as corn, ragi, jowar, bajra, and amaranth (rajgeera).
If such a gluten free meal plan is not planned carefully, then a person could suffer from many nutritional deficiencies. Thus, it is important to plan a gluten free diet in such a way that the maximum number of variety enters one’s menu. For instance, one must make sure to eat a lot of fruits and salads as these keep the intestines healthy and functioning. And do remember that even after following such a diet one can live a healthy and carefree life and enjoy it to the fullest.
Gluten is also present in many cosmetic products such as lipstick, so if you have celiac disease, avoid using these products on your lips or around your mouth. So always check your cosmetics if you are suffering from celiac disease.