Aside of the intestinal damage that celiac disease causes, other symptoms of
celiac disease include extreme fatigue and irritability, weight loss and fluid
retention, and depression and anxiety. Other symptoms include muscle weakness
due to lack of potassium and magnesium, and anemia (iron deficiency), and nerve
damage due to B12 deficiency. Many people with celiac disease struggle with
infertility, depending on how long the disease has gone untreated, and some
patients have experienced symptoms similar to epilepsy and have had frequent seizures
due to the severe nerve damage brought along by celiac disease.
All of these very serious symptoms can be reduced and even eliminated when a
person is able to absorb the vitamins and minerals in healthy food. It may take
a while for the body to heal itself after being diagnosed, but there is a
‘cure’ for celiac disease.
How to treat celiac disease
Currently, the only treatment for celiac disease is to follow a gluten-free
diet. This can be very demanding and limiting, since so many foods contain wheat
or wheat by-products. However, there are a number of health food stores and
specialty food markets that sell gluten-free products. Fruit, vegetables, and
most dairy products are completely safe for celiacs, although some individuals
are lactose intolerant in addition to celiac disease. In this case, soy-based
milk, yogurt, and cheeses can be used for snacks and recipes.
Taking food enzymes are also a good way to reduce the symptoms of celiac
disease and restore the body’s natural balance. Enzymes will help to absorb the
nutrients in food, and intestinal villi can be restored after following a
gluten-free diet for anywhere from a few months to a couple of years.
Because gluten-free foods may be difficult to find and prepare, many celiacs
look for meals to prepare that are ‘safe’ to eat. Many people with celiac
disease also have a hard time eating out or having dinner with friends due to
the strict diet, so telling friends and family about the disease as soon as you
find out you’re diagnosed is helpful. In order to prepare meals at home, here
are some gluten-free recipe suggestions that the whole family may enjoy. For
more information on celiac disease, treatment and symptoms, progressive
research, and recipe ideas, visit www.csaceliacs.org, www.glutenfree.com, and
www.medicinenet.com.