Celiac

I have celiac disease (CD). I cannot eat wheat, oats, or barley. This means no beer, no pasta, no bread.....NO PIZZA. Yikes. These three grains have a glycoprotein called Gluten that induces an autoimmune response in a celiac's intestines. The worst hidden gluten in foods is "modified food starch." It is OK if it is made from soy or corn, but if a food label does not specifically mention those two, the chances are that the Modified Food Starch is made from wheat and it will cause a gluten reaction. Only these three grains effect those with CD. I can still eat rice, soy, corn, potatoes, quinoa, amaranth, and any kind of grain not genetically related to wheat (some of these wheat-related grains are triticale, spelt, rye).

It is simplist to describe CD as an allergy. But its not like a food allergy to peanuts or shell fish, where you go into anaphylactic shock, can't breathe etc. No CD is more insidious. Your own gut attacks the lining of your intestine. You get diarrhea. It wears away the lining of your intestine, destroying the villi there, making you sensitive to milk products if you do not watch your diet. But as long as you avoid gluten containing foods your villi grow back and then you can eat dairy products. Gluten sensitivity and CD last your whole life. There is no cure other than to avoid wheat, oats and barley.

for more info about Celiac check out : www.celiac.com

 www.celiac.org/  also particularly helpful is Don Wiss's website

Celiac list serve this discussion group by email helped me understand Celiac and how to live with it.

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