Page 30 - Megan Reichman

Celiac Disease

The Unknown Enemy
Photos by Lisa K. Miller

It’s not a sexy disease, and it therefore gets little recognition. is that it is not always easy to determine what foods con-
Most people have never heard of it, and those who have are tain Gluten. Gluten is found in all forms of wheat (including
generally unsure what the symptoms are or how to tell if they durum, semolina, spelt, kamut, einkorn and faro.) It is also
might be suffering from it. Those who have it (and know they found in grains such as rye, barley and triticale. Unfortu-
have it) are finally relieved to know that there is a cure for the nately, one of the problems is that food manufacturers don’t
years of suffering they have endured. always provide the necessary information on their ingredient
Only lately has Celiac Disease received any real recogni- labels and Gluten can easily hide among “safe” foods.
tion, thanks primarily to Elizabeth Hasselback of ABC’s “The
View,” who has mentioned on several shows that she is a So why isn’t this disease better known, and better under-
sufferer of this disease. It is estimated that currently one in stood? Primarily because many of the symptoms are similar
one hundred thirty-three to other diseases, so
people in the United States those struck with Ce-
know they have Celiac Dis- liac disease may blame
ease. However, there are other reasons for their
approximately two million suffering. Some symp-
Americans who have the toms include recurring
disease and do not even abdominal pain, chronic
know it. It is also believed diarrhea or constipa-
that if a family member tion, unexplained weight
suffers from this disease loss or weight gain, or
the likelihood of being unexplained joint pain or
struck with the disease at fatigue. (See the sidebar
30 some point in your life is for a more thorough list-
ing of symptoms)
one in twenty-two.
So what is Celiac Disease Can you live a normal
and how do you know if life with Celiac Disease?
you have it? Celiac Yes, as long as you avoid
Disease is a lifelong the intake of Gluten
digestive disorder that products. Luckily life has
affects both adults and become easier for Celiac
children. The main culprit sufferers thanks to those
in this disease is Gluten. who have realized the
When foods are eaten need and created Gluten
containing Gluten a toxic free products. Deanna
reaction occurs that affects Smith of Gluten Not In-
the small intestine. It is the cluded Bakery in Escon-
villi, or tiny hair like dido is one of these in-
projections in the small dividuals. Ironically, she
intestine that are responsi- came upon her desire to
ble for absorbing nutrients help Celiac sufferers for
from our food that become a very personal reason,
damaged in those “My cousin’s four year
suffering from Celiac old daughter Karlie was
Disease. When villi are diagnosed with Celiac
damaged they cannot disease and life suddenly
effectively absorb basic became miserable for
nutrients. If left untreated, her. She didn’t under-
Celiac Disease can be stand why she couldn’t
chronic and life threatening join her friends for a
causing a large number of possible nutritional and immune peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or why she couldn’t enjoy
related ailments. the cupcakes or cookies that all of her friends were eating at
Many people don’t even know what Gluten is or what foods birthday celebrations.” Karlie’s mom had purchased some
contain it. Gluten is the common name for proteins found in Gluten free bread and cakes for her, but they were tasteless
specific grains. The tough part about regulating this disease and Karlie wouldn’t eat them.
September/October 2010