Do you bloat? Do you suffer from constant diarrhea or flatulence?
Do you notice, post eating, that you are fatigued…
Could be you need to be tested for Coeliac Disease.
Did you know:
- 1 in 100 Australians have Coeliac Disease?
- 3 in 4 don’t actually know they have it?
…are you one of them?
What is Coeliac Disease?
Coeliac Disease, pronounced “seel-ee-ak”, is a disease which affects the small intestine. Those with Coeliac Disease will have an intolerance to gluten occurring in wheat, rye, barley, triticale and sometimes oats. This response will cause the lining of the small intestine to be damaged. Normally, the lining of the small intestine is not a smooth surface, but more like the appearance of shag pile carpets - covered with tiny finger-like villi. These villi, in a person of full health, will create a larger surface area for goodness from our food (the vitamins and minerals) to be absorbed into the body. When the lining of the small intestine (the villi) are damaged, there is less surface area for the body to absorb all the nutrients, which in turn will mean that those with untreated Coeliac Disease will suffer from vitamin and mineral deficiencies, among other aliments.
Common Symptoms Include:
- Anaemia
- Bloated Stomach
- Diarrhea and/or Constipation
- Fatigue
- Flatulence
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Stomach cramps
- Stomach Pains
- Weight loss
Other Less Common Symptoms include:
- Failure to grow
- Difficulty in concentrating
- Early onset osteoporosis
- Impaired liver function
- Infertility or recurrent miscarriages
Symptoms alone will not lead to a direct diagnosis of Coeliacs Disease. Symptoms can vary from person to person, and the symptoms can also begin at an late age. If you have any or all of these symptoms, you should get tested. Speak to your Medical Practitioner about a test on your next visit. Remember to speak to your doctor first BEFORE cutting gluten out of your diet to ensure any tests return the most accurate results.
How do you get diagnosed?
According to The Coeliac Research Fund, the current best methods to get a diagnosis are:
Blood Tests
Blood or serology (blood serum) tests are often the first tests conducted. Positive results will then lead to a referral to a gastroenterologist who will be able to confirm that the lining of the small intestine has been damaged.
At the Gastroenterologist
The Gastroenterologist will talk about conducting a “gastroscopy”. A procedure where an endoscope is passed through the mouth into the small intestine to take small biopsies (samples) which will show if gluten has caused damage to the small intestinal wall (villi). The straight forward day-procedure will usually take place in the hospital under general anesthetic. This is an important step in the diagnoses of Coeliac Disease as the blood test alone is not sufficient for true diagnoses.
Should the biopsy have a positive result to Coeliac Disease, your doctor will work with you on a gluten free eating during follow up appointments with your gastroenterologist to monitor your condition.
Gene Test
In the last few years, it has been discovered that there are two genes, HLA DQ2 and HLA DQ8 which are associated with Coeliac Disease. You can undergo a test for these genes, commonly referred to as the “HLA Gene Test”. It is a very simple, non-invasive test where by your doctor will take a sample of blood or a light scrapping from the inside of your mouth.
Not everyone with Coeliac Disease will have the gene, but the majority will. It is thought approximately 99.6% of those with Coeliac Disease have one of these genes. If you do have one of these genes, there is a 1 in 30 chance that you will develop Coeliac Disease. If the test returns a negative result, then it is very unlikely that you have the condition.
This test is suitable for those who are unable to eat gluten leading up to the test, unlike the above mentioned tests where you MUST eat gluten.
Self Diagnosis
Self diagnosis is not a method we recommend. Should you suspect you have Coeliac Disease, we encourage you to see your doctor. The main issue with removing gluten from your diet before seeing your doctor if you feel you may have Coeliac Disease is because when you eventually go to your doctor to be tested for the disease, your results may not be accurate.
Also, and perhaps more importantly, you may be suffering from another condition with similar symptoms.
Managing Coeliac Disease – We can help!
Once diagnosed, it is not all doom and gloom!
Many studies show by following a strict Gluten Free diet, you can really get your body back on track!
Now-a-days there are more and more emerging great-tasting products which are suitable for you. Wonder down the Health Food section of your local supermarket and gluten free products are usually labeled on the front of the pack. If in doubt however - read through the ingredients list on the packet. Question ingredients like; modified starch, maltodextrin, malt, graham flour, semolina, spelt, soy sauce, vinegar and vegetable extract to name a few.
At Freedom Foods we try our best to make your life easier. We’ve been producing gluten free breakfast cereals, biscuits, snacks, spreads, soy milks and more for over 20 years! We understand that people with Coeliac Disease find it hard to get their full range of vitamins and minerals, as well as enough fibre and protein, so we ensure a majority of our products include the extra goodness you need without the nasties you don’t!
Our products are made with love and care. We are not only gluten free either. Many of our products are nut free, dairy free, egg free more – we’ve kept everyone in mind! There are even products suitable for little kids, big kids, teenagers, adults, ladies and gentlemen.
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Do quick and easy searches of our product range to see what suits you – click here now!
To write this article we used the following organisations as our sources