Coeliac Disease, Gluten Free and Wheat Free Eating - Understanding the Disease

o Do you suffer from Coeliac Disease?o Willdamage to the lining of the small intestine in
eating gluten free improve your health and yourpeople with Coeliac Disease causing mal-digestion
quality of life?o What is gluten?and mal-absorption of nutrients.
We intend to answer these questions and moreAnyone can develop Coeliac Disease at any age,
by providing a series of articles aimed atincluding babies, children and the elderly, although it
de-mystifying Coeliac Disease through informationis most common among those between 40-50
and education.years of age.
Let's start by explaining gluten.Symptoms can range from:o Chronic diarrhea,o
Gluten is a protein present in many cereals suchVomiting,o Irritability,o Lack of appetite,o Lack of
as wheat and their derivatives such as wheatgrowth in children,o Abdominal distension.o
flour and all the preparations that contain wheatFatigueo Irritabilityo Headacheso Unexplained
or wheat starch (100 ppm gluten), such as smallanemiao Irritable bowel type symptomso
goods, hamburgers, pasta, pastry, pizza, batter,Osteoporosiso Infertility and recurrent
shortbread, cake, bread, biscuits, toast, rusks andmiscarriageso Skin rash - typically itchy and
which may include various forms of confectionaryblistering
and medications.Diagnosing and Treating Coeliac Disease.
Other cereals including rye (secalin), barleyThe diagnosis of the disease can be done through
(ordein), oats (avein), corn (zein), triticale, andseeking evidence for verification of the function
spelt and their derivatives also contain gluten.of intestinal digestion and absorption. This evidence
Some sources of gluten are obvious whereasis most often found via a D-xylose examination
others may be hidden or not so obvious. Forand determination of fat in the stools. There are
example, consider the following basic foods.also examinations with blood tests and
Malt and malt vinegars derived from wheat andgastroscopy.
or barley should be avoided. Caramel colouringFor treatment, there must be a change in eating
derived from or containing wheat may containhabits, removing forever, foods that contain
gluten and should be avoided if the source isgluten. The good news is that removing gluten
unknown. "Strongbow" Ciders are not acceptablefrom your daily meals allows the intestinal lining to
in a gluten free diet for this reason whereasreturn to normal for most people.
"Mercury" Ciders are.It is important for those with the problem, their
Some Soy, Tamari and other Sauces may containrelatives and close friends, to clearly understand
wheat and gluten.which foods are permitted and how to make
Boiled glucose lollies are often coated in wheatpreparations without any risk to health. The
starch to prevent them from sticking togetherattitude that "a small amount will not hurt you" is
and converting them from gluten free to a nonnot acceptable under any circumstances.
acceptable dietary inclusion.There are numerous allowed foods in a
Substances present in the gluten - prolamine andGluten-free diet, including (among others) cider
gliadin- are responsible for the reaction in the bodyvinegar, rice, vegetables, fruit, eggs, milk, meat
that causes poor intestinal absorption of alland legumes (not canned). Cereals allowed include:
nutrients from food intake.amaranth, arrowroot, buckwheat, chickpeas
Upon exposure to these proteins the enzymegarbanzo beans/besan, corn, maize starch,
tissue transglutaminase modifies the protein, andcornmeal, polenta, faba beans, lentils and other
the immune system cross-reacts with the bowellegumes, quinoa, rice, rice flour, potato starch,
tissue, causing an inflammatory reaction.sorghum, soybeans, soy flour and cassava flour
The intolerance to gluten, commonly known asor tapioca starch. Fruits including canned, juice and
Coeliac (Celiac) Disease, affects more thanfrozen (not sauced), can be digested with no
250,000 Australians, and possibly as high as 1problems unless there are issues with fructose
person in every ten people per head of populationmal-absorption.
plus many millions more around the world.Persons with the disease can identify foods
The exact number of sufferers is hard to confirmcontaining gluten through the label on the
as it is expected many people with the conditionpackaging. If something goes wrong ALWAYS
may have few, or vague, symptoms and may beconsult a doctor or nutritionist.
unaware of their condition.Unfortunately, people often remain undiagnosed
Many people are latent or potential coeliacs, theirand continue to suffer without knowing they can
condition often only becoming apparent due tobe helped.
some major form of stress or illness in their livesTo help create information and awareness we
or, perhaps, deterioration in their digestive systemhave created a blog, with information about
due to aging.coeliac disease where we hope we can assist
The disease is thought to have two influentialindividuals, families and friends of those with
aspects:Coeliac Disease. We welcome you to visit the blog
- Geneticand to contribute to this online community with
- Environmentalany information, stories, or questions.
The way gluten affects sufferers of CoeliacAt FG Roberts and Soy Products we are proud
Disease is not yet fully understood, but it seemsof our more than 50 years in business including
to enter the intestinal cells, binding to an intestinalnearly 20 years active involvement with the
receptor and releasing a substance that damagesCoeliac community. We trust you will find this
the defence cells. While the specifics are notseries of articles and our blog interesting and
entirely clear it is understood that Gluten causeseducational.