•7:57 PM
You've probably been seeing a lot more food products labeled Gluten Free lately. Until few years ago I'd never heard of gluten, that is until I had a friend diagnosed with Celiac Disease and another with a gluten allergy. I thought diabetes was bad in counting carbs but how would you like to be looking for foods with no wheat, rye, barley or some food additives.
The problem doesn't start and stop with food. Medication and some makeup can also contain gluten. Yes, that lipstick you use may cause permanent damage if you have celiac disease or a slight discomfort if you have a gluten allergy.
For those that have never heard of gluten it's a protein in specific grains. If a person with celiac disease ingests foods with gluten their small intestines are unable to effective absorb basic nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and even water and bile salts. This may sound like the dream cure for obesity not being able to absorb carbohydrates and fats but your body does need those in order to function properly as well as the other things mentioned. If a person has a gluten allergy the effects of eating foods containing gluten aren't as damaging but they can make you very uncomfortable. Celiac disease does not discriminate based on age, it affects infants as well as adults.
What happens when your body can't absorb the things mentioned above? A lot of things you don't want to even think about:
Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder which can lead to other autoimmune disorders if left untreated such as:
There are also some conditions or diseases that are uncommon but can occur with celiac disease:
The only treatment for Celiac Disease is a gluten free diet. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease please educate yourself. Learn to read food labels and to shop and cook differently. A search on the internet will bring up a lot of information and recipes for a gluten free diet.
This may seem ironic but in my search for more foods containing whole wheat rather than white flour I reviewed a book written by 2 doctors called Healthy Breads in Five Minutes a Day: 100 New Recipes Featuring Whole Grains, Fruits, Vegetables, and Gluten Free Ingredients. The section on Gluten Free Breads and Pastries has recipes such as:
As I'm learning to live and eat with diabetes while still enjoying the flavors I enjoy a person with celiac disease can still enjoy the foods they love, with a little research and modification.
The problem doesn't start and stop with food. Medication and some makeup can also contain gluten. Yes, that lipstick you use may cause permanent damage if you have celiac disease or a slight discomfort if you have a gluten allergy.
For those that have never heard of gluten it's a protein in specific grains. If a person with celiac disease ingests foods with gluten their small intestines are unable to effective absorb basic nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and even water and bile salts. This may sound like the dream cure for obesity not being able to absorb carbohydrates and fats but your body does need those in order to function properly as well as the other things mentioned. If a person has a gluten allergy the effects of eating foods containing gluten aren't as damaging but they can make you very uncomfortable. Celiac disease does not discriminate based on age, it affects infants as well as adults.
What happens when your body can't absorb the things mentioned above? A lot of things you don't want to even think about:
- Early onset osteoporosis or osteopenia
- Vitamin K deficiency that can increase your risk of hemorrhaging. Yes Vitamin K is necessary for the blood to clot properly
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- Central and peripheral nervous system disorders most likely due to nutrient deficiencies
- Pancreatic insufficiency
- Intestinal lymphomas and various other cancers of the GI tract
- Neurological problems
- Gall bladder problems
Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder which can lead to other autoimmune disorders if left untreated such as:
- Dermatitis Herpetiformis
- Insulin dependent Type I Diabetes
- Thyroid Disease
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Liver Disease
There are also some conditions or diseases that are uncommon but can occur with celiac disease:
- Addison's Disease
- Chronic Active Hepatitis
- Down Syndrome
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Turner Sundrome
- Williams Sundrome
- Sjogren's Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Alopecia Areata
- Scleroderma
The only treatment for Celiac Disease is a gluten free diet. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease please educate yourself. Learn to read food labels and to shop and cook differently. A search on the internet will bring up a lot of information and recipes for a gluten free diet.
This may seem ironic but in my search for more foods containing whole wheat rather than white flour I reviewed a book written by 2 doctors called Healthy Breads in Five Minutes a Day: 100 New Recipes Featuring Whole Grains, Fruits, Vegetables, and Gluten Free Ingredients. The section on Gluten Free Breads and Pastries has recipes such as:
- Gluten-Free Pizza with Fresh Mozzarella, Olives, Basil and Anaheim Peppers
- Gluten-Free Cheddar and Sesame Bread
- Gluten-Free Parmesan Bread Sticks
- "Super Sam" Gluten-Free Cinnamon Buns
As I'm learning to live and eat with diabetes while still enjoying the flavors I enjoy a person with celiac disease can still enjoy the foods they love, with a little research and modification.
3 comments:
I know what you mean. We found out last August that my Sister in Law has this and it's been a big change for ALL of us (we live with her) and it's helped us be on the look out for things that she CAN have as opposed to what she CAN'T. This is a really great post.
My husband was diagnosed with gluten intolerance last summer at the age of 66! He had been complaining of inability to maintain his weight & at 5'3"/130 lrs. was up to eating 4000 calories per day! I finally read online about someone whose symptoms were identical to his & he started improving as soon as we changed his diet.
We do have to read ALL ingredients & now we eat less processed foods. I found a great bread machine recipe that he LOVES-he now brings out the machine when he's about out, so I know he enjoys it. Thre are a lot of good cookbooks & website with lots of easy to make recipes.
BeckyJo
Hi, I am one of your fellow writers over at MomGadget. I have Celiac disease and did not find out about it until I was 55 years old. Not eating gluten has made a very big positive change in my life. Although it was difficult at first, I have learned how to read labels, intrepret menus, and ask the right questions so that I can keep myself healthy.
Thanks for helping get the word out.
Karen