Disease Awareness #4 - Celiac Disease

Living with Celiac Disease has changed my life.  Celiac Awareness Day is September 13.  Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disease and is not an allergy to gluten.  When we eat gluten, our immune systems responds by creating antibodies that attack the small intestine, which will damage the villi and the nutrients can not be absorbed into the body.  Celiac disease is hereditary.

Statistics: 

1 in 22 people with a first-degree relative with celiac disease (parent, child, sibling) have celiac disease. 

1 in 39 people with a second-degree relative with celiac disease (aunt, uncle, cousin) have it too.

{Information from HERE}

Children's Symptoms:

-abdominal bloating and pain

-chronic diarrhea

-vomiting

-constipation

-pale, foul-smelling, or fatty stool

-weight loss

-fatigue

-irritability and behavioral issues

-dental enamel defects of the permanent teeth

-delayed growth and puberty

-short stature

-failure to thrive

-Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

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Adult's Symptoms:

-Adults are less likely to have digestive symptoms, with only one-third experiencing diarrhea.  Adults are more likely to have:

-unexplained iron-deficiency anemia

-fatigue

-bone or joint pain

-arthritis

-bone loss or osteoporosis

-depression or anxiety

-tingling numbness in the hands and feet

-seizures or migraines

-missed menstrual periods

-infertility or recurrent miscarriage

-canker sores inside the mouth

-itchy skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis

{Symptoms Information from HERE}

Katie Couric talked about Celiac Disease on her show.  Check out the video HERE and HERE.  Dr Oz did a show on Gluten and the video for that is HERE- there is another part that plays automatically.

My dietitian told me to get back to baking and cooking like I used to and to buy some cookbooks.  I did buy 2 cookbooks. 

My favorite Celiac/Gluten Free books:

1. Against All Grains

2. Deliciously G-Free: Food So Flavorful They'll Never Believe It's Gluten-Free

3.  The G-Free Diet: A Gluten-Free Survival Guide

4. Gluten-Free Diet- A Comprehensice Resource Guide Revised and Expanded Edition

My favorite Celiac Disease blogs:
1. Raising Jack with Celiac
2. Celiac Disease

Books I want to get:

1. 201 Gluten-Free Recipes for Kids: Chicken Nuggets! Pizza! Birthday Cake! All Your Kids' Favorites - All Gluten-Free!

2. Gluten-Free on a Shoestring

3. The Best Gluten-Free Family Cookbook

4. The Healthy Gluten-Free Life: 200 Delicious Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free and Egg-Free Recipes!

Thanks for reading!
Melissa

If you think you have any symptoms of Celiac Disease, remember I am not a doctor.  Please see your doctor.