What Exactly is Celiac Disease?

So what is Celiac Disease?  Of course, by now you know that it means a gluten free diet, but why?  The easiest way to describe it (without scientific terms) is to say that your small intestines have "fingers" on them that grab the nutrients in food as it is digested and then sends these nutrients to your body.  Unfortunately, gluten has worn down these "fingers" in people with untreated Celiac Disease and there is nothing left to grab the nutrients.  So essentially, no matter how much a person with untreated Celiac Disease eats, they are still malnourished.  When you don't get the nutrients, then other parts of your body begin to be effected.  For example, people with Celiac Disease often also have issues with infertility, migraine headaches, osteoporosis, type 1 diabetes, thyroid disease, and lose of tooth enamel.  My dad, for example, was extremely anemic and his skin was a gray color when he was diagnosed.  The crazy thing is that some people can feel perfectly fine while eating gluten and still not know that they actually have Celiac Disease until these other health issues start to clue the doctors into the fact that something is wrong.

So how do you cure Celiac Disease?  Well, the easiest answer to that is a life long diet without gluten. As a person with Celiac Disease stops eating gluten, gradually their small intestines begin to heal and the "fingers" grow back.  It is amazing how many comments my dad and I started to receive about our outward appearances after we went on a gluten free diet.  People told us both how our skin was glowing and looked healthier.  I have also noticed over the last year that my teeth are much better.  This week for the first time in years, I was told that my teeth and gum looked great and I had no cavities at my 6 month dentist check-up.  (This was a big accomplishment because I always have to come back for a filling.  One time, in high school, the dentist told me I had 9 cavities!). Celiac Disease can do a lot of damage to your body before you even realize that you have it...

Some interesting facts from the National Foundation of Celiac Awareness:

• Celiac disease is a genetic autoimmune disease that damages the villi of the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food.
• An estimated 1 in 133 Americans, or about 1% of the population, has celiac disease.
• Celiac disease can affect men and women across all ages and races.
• It is estimated that 83% of Americans who have celiac disease are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions.
• 6-10 years is the average time a person waits to be correctly diagnosed. (Source: Daniel Leffler, MD, MS, The Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center)
• 5-22% of celiac patients have an immediate family member (1st degree relative) who also has celiac.
• Celiac disease can lead to a number of other disorders including infertility, reduced bone density, neurological disorders, some cancers, and other autoimmune diseases.
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• Over a four-year period, people with undiagnosed celiac disease cost an average of $3,964 more than healthy individuals.  (Source: Long et al, 2010)
• There are NO pharmaceutical cures for celiac disease.
• A 100% gluten-free diet is the only existing treatment for celiac today.
• A positive attitude, 100% of the time, helps celiacs create a gluten-free lifestyle for themselves and their affected family members.
• The celiac disease diagnosis rate may reach 50-60% by 2019, thanks to efforts to raise public awareness of celiac disease. (Source: Datamonitor Group, 2009)
• Gluten-free sales reached more than $2.6 billion by the end of 2010 and are now expected to exceed more than $5 billion by 2015. (Source: Packaged Facts, 2011)