What is Coeliac (Celiac) Disease?
Coeliac / Celiac Disease
Coeliac is an autoimmune disease which is triggered by consuming gluten. Coeliac / celiac (the spelling differs depending on where you’re from) is at the core of Coeliapp’s story and the reason our app was created, so I felt it was essential to talk about it here.
As with many autoimmune diseases, the origins and the cause of coeliac / celiac isn’t fully known but what we do know is that it’s a genetic condition passed down from one generation to the next. As with other autoimmune illnesses, it can remain dormant in some people (meaning they have they gene but it isn’t “active”) and for others, it can be switched on. The activation of this gene can also happen at any stage of life, with diagnosis ranging from young children through to people in their 60’s and older! It’s a condition which impacts both males and females although statistically more women have the condition.
Its main symptoms are gut related, including bloating, irregular or more frequent visits to the bathroom, cramps and wind. It can cause headaches and brain-fog, with one of the biggest issues being malnutrition (including low iron and vitamin levels). The reason for all these symptoms? Essentially, if you have coeliac disease and you consume gluten, your body goes into an immune response which damages the villi in your intestine. This results in physical damage to your gut lining which in tern impacts how you digest food and absorb nutrients.
How do you get diagnosed? A blood test with your healthcare practitioner is generally the first step in the process, following which is a more in-depth screening (a colonoscopy). With the screening, healthcare professionals take a biopsy of your gut which is then examined under a microscope. From here, they can assess if the villi have been flattened and damaged, the tell tell sign of coeliac disease. With similar symptoms to IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), colitis, bacterial imbalances and other gut related issues, it’s essential to seek medical advice in order to get a proper diagnosis of your symptoms.
What’s to be expected after diagnosis? The only way to manage coeliac disease currently, is to eat a strict gluten free diet. This switches off your immune response and allows your gut lining to heal so you can start absorbing nutrients again (yay!). Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as it may seem to completely cut out gluten from your diet (boo!). It might be a bit of an overhaul initially but give it some time and it soon becomes second nature – below are some pointers for getting started;
Food labels – gluten can be hidden in loads of processed and shop bought foods, often listed as a thickener, so it’s essential to learn how to read labels and figure out which additives are safe vs. which are not! Every country has its own food manufacturing standards, and some have to strict guidelines with gluten being listed as an allergen. Other countries are not so thorough, so make sure you read up on any countries you plan to travel to!
Eating at home – it’s estimated that even a 100th of a standard slice of glutenous bread can trigger an immune response in us coeliacs, so storing and preparing food at home needs to be considered. If you share your home, consider buying separate appliances (a big one is to have a separate toaster, for example). It would also be wise to store all your gluten free items (such as flour, cereal, crackers and biscuits) in a separate area from any products your family / household might have which do contain gluten. Cleaning utensils thoroughly and making sure surfaces are clear of any gluten remnants too!
Eating out – possibly the toughest part of being coeliac. Not only figuring out where can cater for gluten free but also coeliac safe food, is time consuming and tough! Ask the staff if they understand the requirements (preparing food away from anything that contains gluten, using new utensils to prepare your gluten free food, and that anything that may be deep fried is cooked in an exclusively gluten free frier, for example), build a network of places you know and trust – download our app to find and review gluten free eateries near you!
It’s not just what you eat – gluten can be found in lots of drinks too, from beer to hot chocolate, the cheeky ingredient could be in there, so make sure labels are read through thoroughly! Some alternative milks may also contain gluten (such as oat milk) so familiarise yourself with the products and brands you can trust. Our app also has a marketplace which lists a variety of gluten free products, brands and services!
This blog only scratches the surface of the world of coeliac disease. For more information, research and statistics, there are a number of reliable sources out there. Coeliac Australia are a not for profit organisation based in Australia which focus on coeliac disease and have a wealth of knowledge all things coeliac, including a self-assessment tool for those who think they may have the condition. This blog isn’t here to provide any recommendations for our readers health and / or diet and we strongly suggest that any readers seek professional help from a healthcare provider.
