Celiac Awareness

In honour of Celiac Awareness Month, we'd like to share with you the exciting news that you CAN live a normal life even if you have been diagnosed with Gluten Intolerance or Celiac Disease.

What is 'Celiac Disease':

Most people who have been diagnosed as Celiac's first noticed an issue when they experienced stomach problems including, bloating, cramps and diarrhea - especially after eating certain foods. As they search for a diagnosis they will generally be told they are Gluten Intolerant. They will be told how Gluten interferes with the body's ability to absorb protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals thereby leading to moderate to severe digestive issues and ultimately, compromised general health.

Diagnosis can be a challenge as the symptoms can be vague and are very similar to many other digestive issues; a correct diagnosis can take several years for some people. In the meantime, you continue to suffer from cramps and diarrhea, you're extremely fatigued, and your overall health is getting worse as more time passes.

How to live with Celiac Disease:

Once diagnosed, people with Celiac Disease are directed to avoid Gluten for the rest of their lives. In the beginning you avoid the obvious foods like Wheat, Barley and Rye Breads; but as you soon discover, Gluten is also hidden in many other, not so obvious food items like soup, sauces and packaged foods. It's also found in processed meats, Ice Cream, Ketchup, Salad Dressings, French Fries, Seasoned Chips and even Beer! You'll need to learn about Wheat products such as Bulgur, Durum, Farina, Kamut, Semolina and Spelt.

Of course once you have educated yourself on all the foods you cannot eat, and faithfully follow a 'Celiac Diet', you will now likely not be getting enough nutrients in your diet. Now you'll also have to look for supplemental sources of Iron, Calcium, Niacin, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Folate, and of course, Fiber. "Gluten Free" has become big business in North America in the past decade.

Does a diagnosis of Celiac Disease have to be a life sentence?

The great news is No - you can choose to do something about your body's reaction to gluten.

Our intestinal lining houses the majority of our immune system, which protects the body against a host of threats that lead to disease.  Diet and stress can destroy the intestinal lining and the immune defences that guard that lining; the damaged intestine or imbalanced immune system can result in virtually every type health concern.

A healthy intestine starts with removing foods in the diet that may be causing damage. The most effective strategy is to start with a two week elimination diet (avoiding the most common allergic foods) under the care and direction of a professional Naturopathic Doctor [ND].  Removing these foods from the diet will allow the intestinal lining to repair and weaken unwanted bacteria and yeast that may be living in your guts causing symptoms such as bloating, gas and nausea.

Using a variety of select herbs to flavour your foods will help to clear out unwanted guests from the gut.  Once you have sufficiently taken back control of your intestines, your ND will guide you how to safely reintroduce functional foods to regain a healthy gut. To get your life back and take control of virtually any health condition – call Dr. Brian Davies at Westcoast Integrative Health today.  

Excerpts from:

http://www.celiac.ca

http://www.mayoclinic.com

http://westcoastintegrativehealth.com