Dull, uninteresting & expensive - Is this your perception of a Gluten Free Diet?
Whether you have a new or long term diagnoses it can be difficult at meal times watching others eat foods that you love but that are rich in gluten. Perhaps you feel tempted to try out some of these foods because you haven’t experienced symptoms for a while or perhaps
you feel your’re “cured?”
Coeliac Disease - Which foods to avoid?
It is imperative for Coeliacs to avoid foods containing gluten. As you probably already know, gluten is the name given to a group of proteins found in the cereals: wheat, rye, barley and oats. In Coeliac individuals, gluten is seen by the body as foreign (an antigen) and triggers an inflammatory immune response in the lining (the mucosa) of the gut. This leads to the villi in the gut being worn away. Villi are finger like protrusions in the small intestine that provide an increased surface area for absorption of nutrients into the body. As the villi are destroyed the small intestine can no longer absorb nutrients efficiently, and the number of mucosal enzymes are also reduced leading to poor breakdown and digestion of food. A gluten free diet allows the villi to heal and is therefore essential for Coeliacs to enable optimal food digestion and nutrient absorption.
How gluten harms the body
By not adhering to a strict diet many symptoms will become apparent, most as a result of malabsorption of nutrients. Diarrhoea, weight loss, flatulence, abdominal bloating and a feeling of weakness/fatique to name but a few. Anaemia due to poor iron and vitamin B12 absorption, and osteoporosis due to lack of calcium and vitamin D absorption are common conditions coeliacs can suffer from. There is also an increased risk of certain malignant cancers and increased risk of type 1 diabetes, ulcerative colitis and thyroid disease.
The “Cure”? Permanent, lifelong removal from foods containing gluten.
You may believe you are ‘cured’ because you have introduced gluten back into your diet without any visible symptoms. In reality you will be experiencing on going malabsorption of critical nutrients and will be putting yourself at increased risk of anemia and osteoporosis. The only way to avoid malabsorption and other conditions is by the permenant, lifelong removal of food containing gluten from your diet.
Your next step ...
As a new Coeliac please request a free, fresh gluten free starter pack on our website or by calling your very own personal shopper on 0845 270 1400. Alternatively speak to your GP, all of our products maybe prescribed at their discretion.
