What is gluten intolerance?
The medical name for gluten intolerance is Celiac. Celiac is a chronic disease, where gluten protein will start an inflammation in your small intestine’s lining. The inflammation causes illness when your body can’t fully absorb the nutrients in your food, such as vitamins and minerals.
Celiac disease is one of the most common genetic disorders, affecting approximately 1% of individuals worldwide.
What are the symptoms of celiac/gluten intolerance?
The signs and symptoms of celiac disease can vary greatly and differ in children and adults. Digestive signs and an upset stomach are typical and are something that most of us have in mind when we think of gluten intolerance. But as a matter of fact, there are other areas of your body that get affected. Fatigue, weight loss, anemia, loss of bone density, mouth ulcers, and things like joint pain and rashes, are all common signs and symptoms of celiac.
Sometimes celiac can lead to lactose intolerance. This is because the enzyme that is supposed to break down the lactose, decreases when the intestinal lining is damaged. When you stop eating gluten and the intestines begin to heal, the lactose problem usually disappears.
If you suspect that you or your child is suffering from celiac disease, contact your healthcare provider for an investigation.
Are grain allergies and celiac the same thing?
No, grain allergies and celiac are not the same thing. Gluten is found in wheat, rye, and barley and if you are allergic to any of these, the allergic reaction comes immediately; usually in the form of itching, swollen lips, swollen throat, or stuffy nose. Celiac disease is a chronic disease, where the symptoms of gluten build up over time and you can’t treat it with drugs for allergies.
What can I do to avoid discomfort?
The most effective treatment is to refrain from eating foods that contain gluten. When you eat gluten-free, the intestine begins to heal within a few months and usually, the symptoms decrease even before the intestine has finished healing. However, it is important that you continue to eat gluten-free throughout your life to stay healthy. Now, you do not have to give up the good things in life just because you are gluten intolerant or allergic. At Sanus Gluten Free, we bake everything without either gluten or allergens. This makes our products perfect both for you who have celiac disease or are allergic. We simply removed anything that could cause problems but kept all the good stuff.
Enjoy healthy eating!
If you want to read further about celiac, we recommend Celiac Disease Foundation; celiac.org
