How to manage coeliac disease naturally

What is coeliac disease?

Coeliac disease is a malabsorption disease due to mucosal damage that is produced by a genetically abnormal immune response to gluten.

How does continuous gluten consumption affect the digestive system of the coeliac patient?

It will result in destruction of the villi that can lead to malabsorption of nutrients and the flowing symptoms:

Digestive symptoms are more common in infants and young children and may include the following:

• Abdominal bloating and pain
• Chronic diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Pale, foul-smelling, or fatty stools
• Weight loss and slow growth
• Irritability
• Delayed puberty
• Weak teeth

Symptoms in adults:

• Digestive symptoms are seldom present
• Unexplained iron-deficiency anaemia
• Fatigue
• Bone or joint pain
• Arthritis
• Bone loss or osteoporosis
• Tingling numbness in the hands and feet
• Seizures
• Missed menstrual periods
• Infertility or recurrent miscarriage
• Cancer sores inside the mouth
• An itchy skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis
• Liver disease
• Cancer of the intestines

Other health problems that coeliac disease patients can have

Autoimmune disease that can affect the coeliac patients includes the following:

• Type 1 diabetes
• Autoimmune thyroid disease
• Autoimmune liver disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Addison’s disease ( the glands that produce critical hormones are damaged)
• Sjögren’s syndrome ( the glands that produce tears and saliva are destroyed)

How is coeliac disease diagnosed?

• Blood Tests – eat gluten contain grains before the test
• Intestinal Biopsy – a biopsy of the small intestine is performed to confirm the diagnosis
• Dermatitis Herpetiformis – is an intensely itchy and the rash usually occurs on the elbows, knees, and buttocks. Normally there are no digestive symptoms of coeliac disease.Diagnoses are made through blood tests and a skin biopsy
• Stool tests

How is coeliac disease treated?

The patient has to follow gluten-free diet for life.

• Fresh fruit (if on anti-yeast diet, eat only fruits that can be peeled, no more than 2 per day)
• Fresh vegetables
• Dried fruit (without sulfites)
• Coconut (without sulfites)
• Potato chips (read labels – some have wheat and starch)
• Potato sticks (same as above)
• Popcorn (not buttered)
• Rice cakes (read ingredients, some are not GF)
• Rice crackers
• Fresh meat, poultry, fish, shellfish and game
• Corn
• Millet
• Teff
• Rice and rice products (rice pasta, rice four bread, etc.)
• Quinoa, noodles and flour
• Amaranth
• Potato (fresh)
• Buckwheat flour and groats (kasha)
• Soy (unless intolerant)
• Corn flakes (if GF)
• Yams, sweet potatoes
• Sorghum flour
• Corn meal and polenta
• Most nuts (if not allergic)
• Eggs (if not allergic)
• Beans
• Lentils
• Tapioca

ALWAYS AVOID

• Wheat
• Bulgar
• Durum
• Spelt
• Triticale
• Oats, oat flour
• Barley, barley flour
• Rye
• Semolina
• Couscous
• Wheat pasta
• Baking powder (unless GF)
• Soy sauce (unless GF)
• Bouillon cubes or powder
• Starch, vegetable starch
• Sauce mixes (read labels carefully, often contains wheat)
• Malt, barley malt
• Modified food starch
• Rice syrup (unless GF, it contains barley enzymes)
• Spices and herbs (buy only those specified free of wheat fillers)
• Artificial colours

Items made from wheat or flour

• Bread
• Crackers
• Pasta
• Pizza
• Pretzels
• Cake
• Cookies

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms please contact your Integrative Healthcare Professional.