Celiac disease is a genetic disease and is currently incurable. 1 in 133 Americans currently suffer from this condition, also known as an auto-immune disease. For those that have an immediate family member that has been diagnosed, there is a 1 in 22 chance that you will also have it. The only known 'treatment' is to live a gluten free life.
Gluten affects those with celiac disease in a number of ways. When gluten is in the digestive tract, it causes the body's immune system to attack the small intestine, which will impede the body's ability to absorb any nutrients. This will cause malnutrition and starvation if not corrected. There are other symptoms as well, ranging in severity from person to person, such as abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, vomiting and constipation.
By living a gluten free diet, one can avoid these symptoms, sometimes for life. Since gluten exists in wheat, rye and barley eating any food made from these will have sever consequences for anyone suffering from celiac disease. This can include most grains, breads, pasta, cereal, and many processed foods. Because of this, the afflicted has to be very careful about what foods to eat which can prove to be difficult when eating out.
Fortunately there are many foods that do not contain gluten like eggs, plain meat, fish, rice and fruit. Also, many foods can be made without ingredients containing gluten. This way, a person with celiac disease can still enjoy certain breads and pastas. There are entire cookbooks revolving around gluten free ingredients.
So there is still hope for someone with celiac disease. But there is also hope in continuing research. New treatments and diagnostic techniques are currently being researched as you read this. There are even certain grains that are being genetically engineered to not contain gluten. As medicine and science make advances we get ever closer to finding a real cure.
Find more information about gluten free living. Love to eat bread but hate the store bought brand? Make your own bread at home with a gluten free bread machine. |
