Positive Health Online

In this health-conscious society, an ever-increasing number of people are discovering that they are gluten intolerant. Yet with research predicting that only a mere 24% of people are aware they are affected by coeliac disease, the number of those diagnosed is set to rise even further. If you feel that you may be gluten intolerant, read on to discover the typical symptoms of coeliac disease, as well as the diagnosis procedure and what to eat after you have been diagnosed.

What is Coeliac Disease?

Those with the autoimmune condition, coeliac disease, are prone to problems with their digestion, due to an intolerance to gluten. Gluten is found in foods containing wheat, barley or rye, and when consumed, the body refuses to absorb it, thinking it is a dangerous substance rather than a product of food. Going untreated may cause problems with food digestion, which could increase the likelihood of osteoporosis, anaemia and bowel cancer.

Symptoms of Coeliac Disease

If you experience any of the following frequently, no matter how mild or strong, there could be a chance that you are gluten intolerant:

• Diarrhoea;
• Bloating;
• Abdominal pain;
• Weight loss;
• Flatulence;
• Tiredness or fatigue.

And in some cases:

• Swollen hands, arms, feet or legs;
• Numb hands of feets;
• Vomiting.

Diagnosing Coeliac Disease

To find out whether or not you suffer from gluten intolerance or coeliac disease, a blood test will be conducted by your doctor. The test will look for antibodies that are often found in those who suffer from gluten intolerance or coeliac disease, therefore it is imperative that you continue to eat foods containing gluten, at this stage of the diagnosis.

If antibodies are found in your blood, you may be referred for a biopsy, the second stage of diagnosis. You may have to undergo a procedure, where local anaesthetic will introduced, and an endoscope will be used alongside a miniature instrument, to test for for any signs of coeliac disease in the intestine. There could potentially be other tests required, after you are diagnosed, either to discover how you have been affected, or to check your vitamin and mineral levels.

 A Gluten Free Diet

Treating coeliac disease is usually very simple, by removing any foods containing gluten from your diet. It can be a little overwhelming at first, but once you are familiar with the foods you can and cannot eat, your symptoms will slowly be eradicated and you should start to feel like your fabulous self again.

To help you get started, the guide from MOMA Foods can help you begin to understand which foods are gluten free:

Be Aware of Contamination

While the foods in the guide are all gluten-free, when ordering food from restaurants or buying products from the supermarket, it’s important to ensure that the food you are about to eat has not come into contact with gluten.

Be sure to let your waiter or the restaurant manager know that you cannot eat gluten, to avoid any upset. There are more and more cafes and restaurants meeting the needs of those with coeliac disease, by offering gluten free alternatives, however it is always better to be safe than sorry, by letting them know about your intolerance.

Plenty of brands are also ensuring that the ingredients they use do not come into contact with wheat, barley or rye during, including MOMA Foods, so look out for brands that express this, so you can rest assure that the food you are eating is safe for you.