Celiac Disease

According to Mayoclinic.com:

"Celiac (SEE-lee-ak) disease is a digestive condition triggered by consumption of the protein gluten, which is primarily found in bread, pasta, cookies, pizza crust and many other foods containing wheat, barley or rye. People with celiac disease who eat foods containing gluten experience an immune reaction in their small intestines, causing damage to the inner surface of the small intestine and an inability to absorb certain nutrients.

Celiac disease can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea. Eventually, the decreased absorption of nutrients (malabsorption) that occurs with celiac disease can cause vitamin deficiencies that deprive your brain, peripheral nervous system, bones, liver and other organs of vital nourishment.

No treatment can cure celiac disease. However, you can effectively manage celiac disease by changing your diet."

My mother recently looked into some symptoms my sister and I have suffered from since we were very young symptoms like: 

♥ Random bouts of body purging (diarrhea...)
♥ Stomach cramping
♥ Bloating

There are no definite symptoms to diagnose Celiac disease but these are the general complaints of people who suffer from it. 

Celiac disease may also present itself in less obvious ways, including:

♥ Irritability or depression

♥ Anemia

♥ Stomach upset

♥ Joint pain

♥ Muscle cramps

♥ Skin rash

♥ Mouth sores

♥ Dental and bone disorders (such as osteoporosis)

♥ Tingling in the legs and feet (neuropathy)

Some indications of malabsorption of nutrients that may result from celiac disease include:

♥ Weight loss (this can be fluctuating)

♥ Diarrhea

♥ Abdominal cramps, gas and bloating

♥ General weakness and fatigue

♥ Foul-smelling or grayish stools that may be fatty or oily

♥ Stunted growth (in children)

♥ Osteoporosis

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What foods to avoid? (Celiac forces you to)

♥ Barley

♥ Bulgur

♥ Durum

♥ Farina

♥ Graham flour

♥ Rye

♥ Semolina

♥ Spelt (a form of wheat)

♥ Triticale

♥ Wheat

Foods to avoid unless labeled "Gluten Free" (which are less fattening)

♥ Beers

♥ Breads (this includes Pizza)

♥ Cakes and pies

♥ Candies

♥ Cereals

♥ Cookies

♥ Crackers

♥ Croutons

♥ Gravies

♥ Imitation meats or seafood

♥ Oats

♥ Pastas

♥ Processed luncheon meats

♥ Salad dressings

♥ Sauces (including soy sauce)

♥ Self-basting poultry

♥ Soups

And a bonus 

♥ Lactose intolerance 

Because of damage to your small intestine from gluten, foods that don't contain gluten also may cause abdominal pain and diarrhea. Some people with celiac disease aren't able to tolerate milk sugar (lactose) found in dairy products, a condition called lactose intolerance. If this is the case, you need to limit food and beverages containing lactose as well as those containing gluten. Once your intestine has healed, you may be able to tolerate dairy products again. However, some people may continue to experience lactose intolerance despite successful management of celiac disease.

Allowed Foods:

Grains and starches allowed in a gluten-free diet include:

♥ Amaranth

♥ Arrowroot

♥ Buckwheat

♥ Corn

♥ Cornmeal

♥ Gluten-free flours (rice, soy, corn, potato, bean)

♥ Pure corn tortillas

♥ Quinoa

♥ Rice

♥ Tapioca

Other gluten-free foods include:

♥ Fresh meats, fish and poultry (not breaded, batter-coated or marinated)

♥ Fruits

♥ Most dairy products

♥ Potatoes

♥ Rice

♥ Vegetables

♥ Wine and distilled liquors, ciders and spirits

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So why am I talking about this?

Because! It is the perfect excuse to get out of eating at social gatherings, friends houses, school or even at home (granted you won't need to say "Celiac Disease" just these general symptoms, or when you are out just say you have 'this weird digestion problem that prevents you from eating most foods).

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