Chronic abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea could be an indication that you are suffering from celiac disease, a lifelong inherited digestive condition that is aggravated by consuming a protein called gluten. The disease ravages your small intestine lining and interferes with the absorption of nutrients. Even the smallest amount of gluten can cause health problems, so doctors recommend adopting a gluten-free diet that avoids bread and other wheat, barley and rye products.
Significance of a Gluten-free Diet
If someone with celiac disease continues to eat gluten, their risk increases for developing osteoporosis, intestinal lymphoma, cancer and other illnesses, according to the Celiac Disease Foundation. Abstaining from food and beverages containing gluten helps reverse the disease's symptoms; some feel relief in a few days or within a few weeks. Over several months or years, the damaged portion of the small intestine will grow back. Compliance with a gluten-free diet is the best way to treat the disease and improve one's quality of life, according to the CDF.
Reading Labels
A crucial part to adopting a gluten-free diet is learning how to read nutrition labels to identify a product's ingredients. The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act in the United States requires manufacturers to inform the consumer of any wheat or wheat derivatives used in making the product or if the product was made with machinery that processes wheat. This information can be helpful in identifying foods that sometimes contain wheat but are usually not considered to be wheat products such as licorice, imitation crab meat, soy sauce, certain pharmaceuticals, processed cheese, barbecue sauce, processed meat, ketchup, lipstick and toothpaste.
Helpful Substitutions
Gluten-free diets have risen in popularity due to an increasing number of people testing positive for celiac disease and people discovering they are allergic to gluten. According to a USA Today report, marketers estimate that 15 to 25 percent of consumers want gluten-free products. Many manufactures have developed foods that have similar tastes and textures as bread products but they are made with alternative ingredients such as corn, rice, nuts, potatoes, soy and garbanzo beans. Grocers often carry these goods in the health food section.
Considerations
The gluten-free diet has become popular with people testing negative for celiac disease, as some claim it offers other health benefits. Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston point out that anyone participating in a gluten-free diet should be aware that the diet may be lacking in certain vitamins, fiber, iron, calcium and other minerals and nutrients. Because of this, diet followers should consult with a doctor or dietitian to develop a balanced meal plan and determine if supplements are necessary.
Getting Tested
There are three common methods of testing for celiac disease, according to MayoClinic.com. Blood tests look for antibodies that develop to fight gluten. Doctors can also collect a sample of your small intestine by inserting a tube in your mouth that travels down the esophagus, through the stomach, and into the small intestine to look for damage. Finally, some doctors recommend swallowing a camera pill in order to examine your small intestine. The camera pill sends thousands of pictures to a recorder that is worn on your belt.
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