If you or a loved one has been recently diagnosed with Coeliac Disease, you probably have a lot of questions about what this means for your health.
The great news is that you can live comfortably with Coeliac. The best way to do this is to educate yourself by understanding what Coeliac Disease truly is and learning which foods are safe for you to eat.
Symptoms of Coeliac Disease
For many people, it can take years for a medical professional to diagnose them with Coeliac Disease. The symptoms that people suffer from often vary widely, as can the severity of those symptoms. Common symptoms include infertility, mood swings, feeling tired and run down, bloating, low iron levels, and even joint and bone pain. These symptoms don’t necessarily point to Coeliac Disease. If someone experiences all of these symptoms at the same time, however, Coeliac Disease may be the cause.
Children who have Coeliac Disease often suffer from other symptoms such as trouble gaining weight, vomiting and diarrhoea, and pale stools. It can be difficult for children to verbalise how they feel, so it’s especially important for parents and other adults to keep an eye on their children and consult a medical professional if any symptoms arise.
Gluten-Free Diet
Removing gluten from your diet is the only way to help with many of the symptoms of Coeliac Disease. There are many foods that are naturally gluten-free, including meat, potatoes, fruit, and vegetables. Nuts, oils, and most dairy products are naturally gluten-free as well. Bread products made from wheat generally have gluten, but some bread products made from rice and quinoa flours are safe to eat. Food companies like Juvela have worked hard to make sure that people with Coeliac Disease have excellent, gluten-free food options to choose from so they can still enjoy their favourite foods.
It’s important that you carefully check all food labels before eating when you are cutting gluten from your diet. Gluten can be present in unexpected foods such as soy sauce, processed meats, and cheeses. Some prescription medications have gluten in them, so check with your pharmacist before taking any medication. Common foods that have gluten include breads, beer, and other malted drinks.
If you suspect that you may have Coeliac Disease, it’s important that you go to the doctor to have a test done. This disease is tricky, as you can’t self-diagnose. You need to undergo a specific test to be sure that you have Coeliac Disease. The test does not take a long time and you’ll find out results relatively quickly, but the changing your diet and lifestyle can be hard, understandably, for a lot of patients. Surround yourself with supportive family members and friends so that you can more easily change your diet and improve your health.