Nutrition has always been a concern to a lot of individuals. Just so you know, many as 1 in every 133 Americans (or 2 million in the continental United States) is suffering from a unique disease known as Celiac Disease? It was unusual before, but now very common.
If you have never heard of celiac disease, here it is. Simply put, celiac disease refers to a disorder of the digestive system that incurs damage to the small intestine and makes the proper absorption of nutrients harder. People suffering from this disease have a hard time digesting gluten, which is a protein in wheat, rye, and barley. To be specific, celiac disease destroys the villi, or protrusions of the small intestine lining that help in absorption. This makes the sufferer malnourished, regardless of how much he or she eats.
Celiac disease is hereditary and a lot of factors can be triggers. It can be active if it is genetic, but will not be noticeable right away. Adults and children alike can show symptoms of this disease in varied ways. In little children, there are red flags:
* Chronic diarrhea* Vomiting* Constipation* Excessive weight loss* Abdominal bloating* Abnormalities in stool, such as fattiness, unusually foul odors, or discoloration
Adults may exhibit some of these, albeit less common. Typically, celiac disease shows itself in these ways:
* Fatigue* Arthritis* Depression or anxiety* Seizures* Sores inside of mouth* Skin rashes* Numbness of the feet and hands* Osteoporosis * Pain in bones or joints* Unexplained iron deficiencies in blood (or anemia)
You must realize that celiac disease is a condition, and this could end up in more harmful long-term consequences. When you know the limits of your body, and the right nutritional knowledge regarding celiac disease, you will be faced with less risk. When you have more understanding regarding this disease, you will know how every gluten-laden food will affect you, how you can fight back, what exactly to expect.
