What is coeliac disease?
Coeliac Disease (pronounced see-liac) is a lifelong autoimmune condition which is triggered by an intolerance to gluten. Gluten is a protein found in grains wheat, rye and barley. You may coeliac disease as someone in your family has you have gained the same genetics.
It is estimated that 1 in 100 people in the UK have coeliac disease, however it is underdiagnosed and only 10-15% of individuals with coeliac disease are thought to be diagnosed.Coeliac disease was considered a childhood disease but Coeliac UK reported in 2010 that 86% of newly diagnosed coeliacs were adults, many of them pensioners.
If you have coeliac disease then when you eat foods that contain gluten this results in damage to the lining of the gut. Some people are also sensitive to oats as well as gluten. Gluten damages villi, the finger-like projections in the small intestine is responsible for absorbing nutrients from food. When the villi are damaged, the body cannot absorb all the nutrients the body needs to thrive.
What's happening inside?
The lining of your small intestine is covered in finger-like projections called villi. These increase the surface area of the intestine for the absorption of food.
When you have coeliac disease, eating something that contains gluten causes the lining of your small intestine to become inflamed. This causes the villi to flatten and reduces the body's ability to properly absorb nutrients from food.
If you have any further questions about coeliac disease why not ask our dietitian?
To find out in more detail on how to manage your coeliac condition and to discover whether you need a follow up with your GP or dietician, then you can find this information by joining Love Food for free today
