Diet in patients with Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder of small intestine that occurs in genetically predisposed individuals. It is an immune reaction to eating gluten.

Gluten is the protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye.

Gluten is the substance which gives doughy consistency to the dough. As it is found in wheat, barley, and rye, all the breads, pizzas, pastas should be avoided by such patients. This means they must take gluten free diet.

Prevalence of Celiac Disease

According to a rough estimate, celiac disease is observed in infants, males, females, and children. About 1% people in US and UK suffer from this disease.

Symptoms of Celiac Disease:

General symptoms of celiac disease in children include

• Diarrhea
• constipation
• Weak digestion
• Swollen belly
• Failure to thrive
• Stunted growth.
• Delayed puberty

In adults following symptoms are seen:

• Anemia commonly seen iron deficiency anemia
• Dermatitis or skin rash
• Joint pains
• Osteoporosis
• Osteomalacia
• Acid reflux and heart burn

Observing the diet in Celiac Disease :

The role of diet in celiac disease is very important. Patient must take a gluten free diet otherwise his condition will worsen.

Here is the list of other food items which are allowed to be taken by patients of celiac disease.

• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Most dairy products
• Potatoes
• Wine and distilled liquors

Grains which are allowed

• Corn
• Cornmeal
• Arrowroot
• Amaranth
• Rice flour, soy flour,
• Pure corn tortillas
• Quinoa

Foods to avoid in Celiac Disease

Always avoid food and drinks containing malt, rye, semolina, wheat and barley.

Always read labels: One should avoid eating packaged food unless they are labeled as gluten-free. Apart from pizzas, pastas and breads other food items like

• Beer
• Cookies
• Cakes
• Soups
• Candies
• Salad dressings and sauces
• Soy sauce
• Sea foods may contain gluten. So they should be best avoided.

Fortunately, now many new outlets are coming forward to offer the gluten free items. So lovers of pizzas, pastas and breads should not be disappointed.

Complications of Celiac Disease

If the diet restrictions are not followed and celiac disease is ignored then it can give rise to many complications as follows.

• Loss of calcium from the bone
• Softening and weakening of the bone
• Malnutrition
• Anemia
• Infertility
• Miscarriages
• cancer

Treatment of Celiac Disease:

A strict lifelong restriction of gluten and eating complete gluten- free stuffs allows the small bowel to heal.  Within weeks of starting the gluten free diet, patients start feeling improvement in the symptoms.

Role of homeopathic medicines in Celiac Disease

Dr Rajesh Shah, at Life Force homeopathic clinic has treated many cases of celiac disease over a period of 30 years. He firmly believes that homeopathic treatment with diet regulations patients can be free of any symptoms and live a happy and healthy life.

Homeopathic treatment is given after a complete case analysis and individual case study and constitutional case study. Some of the commonly used homeopathic medicines are silicea, calcarea phos, kali carb, lycopodium, calcarea carb. etc.