Should you follow a gluten-free diet?

After eating pasta, bread, pizza crust or cookies, do you often experience abdominal pain, diarrhea or bloating? While these symptoms could indicate various illnesses, you may have celiac disease if you have a close relative who also experiences these symptoms.  This autoimmune disorder is defined by an intolerance of the protein in wheat and grain products: gluten.  In celiac sufferers, gluten damages the lining of the small intestine and can severely limit the absorption of vitamins, minerals and protein, essential nutrients for health.

Because celiac disease symptoms mimic other illnesses, such as irritable bowel syndrome or food intolerance, a doctor will generally want to rule these out first.  Then blood tests for two types of antibodies can be ordered, usually followed by a biopsy of the small intestine, to confirm the celiac diagnoses.

There is no cure for celiac disease, but the symptoms can be managed well by changing your diet. People with celiac disease should avoid foods made with gluten, including many grains: wheat (farina, semolina, durum), bulgur, barley and rye, as well other items that may be surprising:
• Bread
• Cereal
• Pasta
• Pizza
• Cookies, cakes, pies
• Salad dressings
• Beer (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
• Food additives (modified food starch, malt flavoring)
• Medications or vitamins that use gluten as a binding agent

The good news is that there are gluten-free specialty bakeries in metro Detroit and many gluten-free products in supermarkets and online now, including pastas, cereals and baked goods that can replace the traditional wheat or grain versions.  Most celiac sufferers can alleviate symptoms within 3 months, by following a strict gluten-free diet. But before you change your diet or your child’s diet, see your doctor.  In rare cases, where intestinal damage is severe, medications are used to control inflammation and aid nutrient absorption.

The cause of celiac disease is unknown, but seems to be genetic and more prevalent in people with type 1 diabetes, down syndrome, osteoporosis or thyroid disease. But people with celiac disease may have symptoms rarely or not at all, making it even harder to diagnose.  If you are losing weight without trying, have diarrhea, fatigue or mood changes for more than 1-2 weeks, while on a diet including wheat products, you should see your doctor.  Celiac disease can also cause a severe itchy skin rash and child sufferers may not grow as normal and need medical attention.