Celiac Disease (also know as celiac sprue, nontropical sprue, and gluten-sensitive enteropathy) is a disorder of the digestive tract. People who suffer from celiac disease have damage to their small intestine which interference with the absorption of vital nutrients. The culprit is the protein glutein.

The glutein protein is found in all forms of wheat products and other grains like barley, rye and oats. Glutein damages the villi on the surface of the small intestine which prevents necessary nutrients from being absorbed into the blood stream.

The small intestents have tiny, hair-like fingers that greatly increases the area through which nutrients can pass into the blood stream. . These projections (fingers) are called villi. In a person with celiac disease these projection shrink and eventually disappear.

Shortened or absent villi reduces and can prevent the absorption of nutrients like vitamins, proteins, fats, carbohydrates and even water. Undiagnosed this damage can become life threatening.

It also poses an elevated risk for disorders like anemia, iron deficiency, vitamin K deficiency, and deficiencies of essential vitamins such as B6, folate, B12. Mineral deficiency is also likely. Additionally, people with celiac disease can be prone to other food related problems.

A few of the symptoms of celiac disease are abdominal cramping, gas, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, changes in weight(a loss or a gain), weakness, fatigue, lack of energy and all that's associated with that.

There is no cure for Celiac Disease-once you have it you always have it. The treatment is lifelong rigidly sticking to a glutein-free diet. When it, glutein, is eliminated from the diet, the small intestine can start to heal-resulting in improved general health. Some doctors recommend a vitamin supplement. You may want to consult your doctor about this.

The celiac sufferers must change their lifestyle in order survive. They become serious label readers. And, if they are not sure about a particular food or ingredient, they avoid it. Successful readers become very good at identifying hidden glutein. They have to be very diligent.

Gluten can be hiding in some very unsuspected foods-like deli meats, low or non-fat products, soups, salad dressings, soy sauce, even hard candies. Gluten is also be used as a binder in prescription medicines. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the possibility of gluten in medications.

Beer is a definitely no-no. A celiac sufferer may want to consider avoiding alcohol completely. This may seem to some to be drastic but, remember our/your health is at stake. Home made Wine, because you know there is no glutein, seems to be O.K-in moderation of course.

Sometimes gluten is added to alcohols and vinegars after they are distilled and should be avoided entirely, unless they are know to be glutein free. Malt vinegars are not glutein free.

This is a broad view of what celiac disease is. Not being a doctor, just a celiac sufferer, I don't know every thing about it. I know what people with celiac disease go through, however.

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