Living with Celiac disease doesn’t have to be a pain in the gut.
When a person develops Celiac disease, gluten can become their
worst nightmare, from flattened intestinal villi and nutrient deficiencies to a
compromised immune system, no energy, and loss of serotonin. The damage that gluten causes our bodies is down
right scary and, in most cases, painful.
Celiac disease can develop at any age after people start consuming
anything that contains gluten. Once you have been diagnosed with Celiac, taking
the right precautions, in addition to changing your diet, can help you maintain
a healthy lifestyle.
#1. Using your phone or table, visit the app store to
download gluten-free apps. These apps
will help you research foods that are verified gluten-free and the stores that
specialize in gluten-free products. They
will also supply you with menu options. Most
restaurants offer gluten-free meals so don’t feel like you can never go out to
eat again.
#2. Celiac disease is genetic so have your children
tested. Let other people in your
immediate family know as well. If any of
them have Hashimoto’s disease or type 1 diabetes, they have an increased risk
of developing Celiac disease. The
earlier it is detected the better the chances for totally healing the
intestines.
#3. Get a bone scan to check for osteoporosis. If your Celiac disease has gone undiagnosed
for any length of time there is a good chance that your body has not been
getting the calcium to keep your bones strong.
If the scan reveals no sign of breakdown or thinning of the bones, it
will be one less thing for you to think about.
It will also give you a baseline measurement for future scans. If the
scan does show signs of osteoporosis your doctor and you can begin a treatment
plan.
#4. Most doctors will recommend that people with celiac
disease get annual blood screenings. The
screenings will show levels for folate, TSH (a hormone that stimulates your thyroid),
ferritin (to show the amount of iron stored in the body) and vitamin B12. Another test administered is the 24-hour
urine catch. This test will show how
much calcium is being absorbed and it is precisely what it sounds like. You pee into a container during a 24 hour
time table. These tests will determine
how well your intestines are healing.
#5. To help heal your intestines you might want to start
taking supplements, including digestive enzymes, L-glutamine, betaine HCl and
probiotics.
