From A to Z, the ABCs of Celiac Disease. An autoimmune disease that means more than just being gluten-free. A Celiac must learn so many terms, so many new habits, precautions, and facts, but they are not alone. 1 in 133. A Celiac is strong, we can learn how to handle our disease and we can do it with a smile on our face and a positive outlook on the healthy life we can have once we are diagnosed.
Autoimmune disease – It’s not an allergy.
Bloating – The all too real “Celiac Baby” that forms when you get glutened.
Celiac Disease – This is self-explanatory.
Dermatitis Herpetiformis – The skin manifestation of Celiac Disease.
Eating out – It can be done…with some preparation and major precautions.
Food fears – Those foods you got sick from will be ingrained in your head as forever evil.
Gluten-free – It’s a lifestyle, not a fad.
Heredity – Celiac Disease is a genetic condition.
Invisible illness – Most of the time Celiac Disease can’t be seen, or diagnosed by a look. The suffering is inside.
Just pick the croutons off – An all too familiar phrase Celiacs hear. Two words. Cross-contamination.
Kindness – The most important thing for a newly diagnosed Celiac is kindness.
Life-long – Celiac Disease never go away. The is no cure.
Mal-absorption – While still ingesting gluten, the body can not absorb necessary nutrients to thrive.
New products – You will never see a happier person than a Celiac finding a new gluten-free product.
Oats – That tricky grain that IS gluten-free by nature, but must be certified for no common processing cross-contamination.
Protein – Gluten is the protein that is triggers the body to wage war on itself by attacking the small intestine, creating a false immune response to the “invader”.
Quinoa – Quinoa is a life saver.
Regular cleaning – To keep gluten from getting into your body, a Celiac must constantly be cleaning the kitchen and areas of contamination.
Symptoms – Celiac Disease can manifest in many symptoms or no symptoms at all. That’s what makes it so tricky to diagnose
Testing – Not always reliable, but there are a host of options including: genetic tests for HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8, blood tests for Total IgA, IgA-tTG, IgA-EMA, IgG/IgA-DGP, IgG-AGA, or of course an endoscopy and biopsy of the small intestine.
Undiagnosed – The average time a Celiac goes undiagnosed is 6-10 years. That’s a whole host of suffering and damage to an untreated body which may be extremely detrimental to ones health in the future.
Villi – The little hair-like structures of the small intestine that get destroyed while still ingesting gluten.
Wheat – The gluten-filled king, however NOT the only gluten-filled grain. Nor is a wheat allergy the same as Celiac Disease.
Xanthan gum – Since gluten can’t be used to thicken and hold things together, xanthan gum is a safe gluten-free replacement for baking.
You can do this – Another important thing a Celiac must keep in mine is they CAN do this. They are strong warriors and with some practice and kindness, they will prevail!
Zillions of delicious foods and recipes – Contrary to popular belief, eating a strict gluten-free diet is delicious and nutritious and you don’t have to be deprived of old favorites (just eat the, reinvented)!
So tell me:
+ Can you recite the ABCs backward? No…I can not. Funny story too. When we were learning the ABCs together in Kindergarten, I was so shy and wouldn’t speak in the class, so my teacher thought I just didn’t know the ABCs (even though I did, I was just saying them in my head). She then required me to take a note to my mom instructing her to have me check out alphabet books at the library to practice. Hahahaha!
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Raia says
Ug, yeah… My grandmother, aunt, dad, and myself all have it; my dad can eat oats, I can’t – not even certified gluten-free ones. It’s a crazy life! Thank goodness for gf bloggers! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
For while I thought I couldn’t either! But thankfully, little doses and I’m fine!
Christine says
Great info. Thanks!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Thanks for reading!
Dawn @ overboard Creations says
This is a really good article, and I am a very avid ribbon awareness fan. Thanks for the share.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Sure?
Sandy Sandmeyer says
Great post and it’s wonderful education for those of us that don’t know much about celiac disease.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Thank you!
Lisa says
What a great way to explain Celiac! Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Thanks Lisa!
Deborah says
Celiac Disease is tricky to the newly diagnosed, but with your enthusiasm it can be managed! I often find that those with Celiac are much more knowledgeable about food in general, as well. Like you–Exhibit A! 🙂 . Thank you for informing us.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
I totally agree that when you have a food allergy or autoimmune disease and food/health becomes paramount in your life, the knowledge you must gain about food is so great. But it’s all for good reason!
Tianna says
wow seriously educational. Celiac is tough, but obviously it can be done with some preparation and knowledge. thanks for this!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Sure!
Life Breath Present says
I love how you were able to sum up so much about Celiac disease through the alphabet! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
A fun little challenge 😉
Sonali- The Foodie Physician says
Thanks for sharing such a creative and informative post! Great job!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Sure, thanks!
Autumn says
A very educational post!! I think this could really help a lot of people who read it.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
How so?
Brandi Clevinger says
Even if a person doesn’t have Celiac Disease, this is a great list to be aware of! I would love it if you would share it at my Chronic Friday Linkup.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Thanks Brandi!
Evolve with Mary says
Great post Rebecca, what a creative way to share and remember facts about Celiac Disease, I’m going to share this with a few of my friends. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Thanks Mary.
Linda @ Veganosity says
Great post, Rebecca! Ugh! Why do teachers feel the need to humiliate shy children? There should be a mandatory class that teaches teachers how to handle shy kids. I was so shy in grade school, so I know what it felt like to be embarrassed by the teacher.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Haha, I was the shy girl my whole life, but also the best student….except for knowing my ABCs apparently 😉
Tiffany says
Perfect way to present the information! Plus I learned something about oats. I’ve often wonderful if I have celiac disease and I have been a little fearful of wheat and oats. This helped clear some things up. Thank you!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Sure!
Heather@hungryforbalance says
I love this Rebecca. You have taken a serious topic and made it easy to read and informative at the same time. I think that too many people do not understand the seriousness that is Celiac’s disease.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
They don’t! Thanks Heather!
Daria says
Cute post and very informative! I didn’t realize it goes undiagnosed 6-10 years. That is a lot of time left untreated. I found out I had Lupus about 9 1/2 years ago. I remember I would complained about my joints hurting in my kness when I was in my twenties. I sometimes wonder if I had it all along and didn’t know it. Thanks for sharing…
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
That’s how I feel about my Celiac! I can so strongly and clearly remember many times feeling so so sick after eating, but since I was young, I wouldn’t say anything and just thought I ate too much!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
I love this, Rebecca! And way to get creative with some of those letters! 😉
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Hahaha, I happily took the challenge 😉
Christine - The Choosy Mommy says
This is a fab list! I have a friend who has Celiac disease so I most def. will be sharing this with her enjoyment 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Just a lighthearted post!
Emily @ My Healthyish Life says
Cute post! I was wondering what you were going to put for “Z” 🙂 I actually can say the ABC’s backward.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Z was easy 😉 Hahahaha! Omg! You’re so good with all that stuff! Teach me!!
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
A great primer… but can you sing it?
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Haha 😛
Marci says
Great post. I hear from a lot of readers who have Celiac and are looking for recipe options.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
This post has nothing to do with that, but okay.