February 2022 Warrior Post

Page 18

Gluten not-friendly

A day in the life of someone with Celiac disease Amanda Kohutek •News Editor

What is Celiac disease?

Celiac disease, also called Celiac, is an autoimmune disease that causes those with it to be unable to digest gluten. But what exactly is gluten? Gluten is a protein specifically found in wheat, barley, and rye, most typically known in foods with wheat flour, like bread, cookies, cakes, and more. The disease is hereditary, so those with it have the gene passed on from one of their parents, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that their parents have Celiac. Many people can have the gene for Celiac disease, but it is typically triggered by an event or anomaly in the body, often in the form of a severe illness. Celiac affects each person differently, but the most common symptoms are stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea, and fatigue – all from eating gluten. The logistics of a Celiac reaction to gluten involve the immune system attacking gluten proteins that enter the small intestine, but also damaging itself along with it. Some patients who are diagnosed find extensive damage to their small intestine, which can take months to fully heal. Furthermore, this kind of autoimmune disease puts Celiac patients at extreme risk for other autoimmune diseases and disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and more. The only solution for those with Celiac is a complete gluten free diet for the rest of their lives. Some diets need to be stricter than others due to varying degrees of sensitivity. Because of eating with extreme restrictions on gluten cross-contamination, sometimes people think that Celiac is an allergy to gluten. This is false. Although there are such things as wheat allergies, Celiac is an autoimmune disease that simply has similar restrictions to an allergy.

18 • opinions

My diagnosis:

I was diagnosed with Celiac disease in August 2015, after having both bloodwork and a small intestinal biopsy. I had been sick for the majority of the few years prior to that time – being constantly nauseated, having a bloated stomach, and barely eating. The blood test and extreme damage to my small intestine indicated that I have a very serious case of the disease and would have to go on a full gluten free diet, taking into consideration cross-contamination as well. I have been living on that diet ever since.


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