You have probably heard of someone who is intolerant to gluten. This is not an uncommon condition nowadays; we are talking, of course, about celiac disease, which generally affects children between 1 and 3 years old and is more common in women than in men.

Cause of the Disease

The cause of the disease is the body’s inability to process gluten, which can cause reactions throughout the body, especially in the intestines. Celiac disease usually affects people who are genetically predisposed to this type of intolerance, meaning you cannot catch this disease from someone or transmit it to anyone else. It is an autoimmune disease and not a form of allergy, and this is an important detail because many people end up confusing the two and trying to find a cure through other types of treatments.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of the disease is only made through blood tests, since there are many different types of symptoms that may indicate conditions other than celiac disease. This condition appears much more commonly in children up to the age of one, but in some cases may only appear in adulthood, usually with a lower level of intolerance than in children. Although it occurs mostly in women, men can still have this disease, even in adulthood.

What Is Gluten?

Before we get into the disease itself, it’s important to know exactly what we’re talking about. Gluten is a protein found in various foods, mainly in dough-based foods. Its role is to make the dough more elastic and resistant, and it also helps with the rising of foods like cakes and breads.

Main Foods That Contain Gluten

Gluten is present in several very common foods for us. Despite this, there are companies that manage to modify and adapt their recipes to remove this protein from their products. The main foods that contain gluten are:

  • Bread, cakes, toast, and cookies
  • Sauces such as ketchup, mayonnaise, and soy sauce
  • Snacks like hot dogs and hamburgers
  • Pizza
  • Beer
  • Snack foods
  • Wheat
  • Processed cheeses
  • Industrialized foods

The list can be much longer, with many details about other types of foods, but it is important to have an idea of what someone with this condition can or cannot eat in their daily life. In Brazil, there is a law that requires manufacturers to state on their packaging whether the product contains gluten or not.

Symptoms of Celiac Disease

Now that we understand what this protein is and where it is found, it is also important to know how celiac disease manifests in the body. When eating foods with gluten, the body of someone with this disease has difficulty processing them, causing a range of discomforts. Symptoms can vary from person to person, but there are some that are most common, for example:

  • Diarrhea
  • Bloated abdomen
  • Nausea
  • Gas
  • Abdominal pain
  • Constipation
  • Mood changes (tiredness or irritability)
  • Excessive weight loss or gain
  • In women, it may cause infertility or changes in the menstrual cycle
  • Hair loss

    • </ul It is important to remember that the disease does not always present with these symptoms and may even be asymptomatic in some cases. Likewise, only uncommon symptoms, such as anemia, for example, can sometimes appear intensely. There are also cases where the person has no symptoms at all, but the consequences of being unable to process gluten still affect their body. In such cases, the condition is discovered through tests. Even if symptoms do not appear, or appear only mildly, it is important to take care so that the disease does not lead to worse consequences in the future, such as intestinal cancer or osteoporosis.

    Treatment for Celiac Disease

    There is no cure for the disease, only a management treatment done through medication to control celiac disease. This means the only way to avoid suffering from the disease is to remove gluten-containing foods from your diet. Of course, there are varying degrees of gluten intolerance, which means some people can ingest small amounts, while others need to completely eliminate any foods with this protein. It is advisable that someone with celiac disease consult a nutritionist who can help create the most appropriate diet for their situation. It may seem difficult, but nowadays there are many people who do not have celiac disease and still follow this kind of diet for a healthier life. Combined with how communication has advanced on the internet, various gluten-free diets and recipes have appeared online. Nowadays, there are many gluten-free options for almost every type of food and, although there is a difference in prices, it is a way for people with celiac disease to live normally, eating foods that everyone else eats. For example, rice flour replaces wheat flour in almost every recipe where it’s needed. Cocoa powder can be used instead of conventional chocolate mixes for making drinks or recipes. Celiac people should also maintain a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and greens, since these foods, as well as being gluten-free, are healthy. There are also some alternatives for those who do not want to give up the foods they love; gluten-free pizza recipes are a great example. Additionally, there is an industry paying attention to those who do not eat gluten, whether by choice or necessity. According to studies, one in every 600 Brazilians suffers from celiac disease. Knowing this, it is important to understand how the disease manifests, what its symptoms are, and how to avoid complications caused by it. No matter what age the disease appears at, it is very important to know that you can rely on professionals like nutritionists and on many recipes and foods that serve as alternatives to traditional recipes. So, if you experience any of the symptoms mentioned here frequently, seek a doctor and get tested—it is the only way to know if you have celiac disease and if you need to change your diet. See also: Children with Brittle Bones – Diagnosis and Treatment Photo: theimpulsivebuy