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
August 27, 2015 at 1:49 pmUg, 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
August 27, 2015 at 2:37 pmFor while I thought I couldn’t either! But thankfully, little doses and I’m fine!
Christine says
August 25, 2015 at 4:16 pmGreat info. Thanks!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
August 25, 2015 at 4:21 pmThanks for reading!
Dawn @ overboard Creations says
August 23, 2015 at 11:26 amThis is a really good article, and I am a very avid ribbon awareness fan. Thanks for the share.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
August 23, 2015 at 11:36 amSure?
Sandy Sandmeyer says
August 22, 2015 at 10:35 pmGreat post and it’s wonderful education for those of us that don’t know much about celiac disease.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
August 23, 2015 at 7:19 amThank you!
Lisa says
August 22, 2015 at 7:23 amWhat a great way to explain Celiac! Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
August 22, 2015 at 7:42 amThanks Lisa!
Deborah says
August 21, 2015 at 9:28 pmCeliac 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
August 21, 2015 at 10:55 pmI 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
August 21, 2015 at 12:02 pmwow seriously educational. Celiac is tough, but obviously it can be done with some preparation and knowledge. thanks for this!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
August 21, 2015 at 12:07 pmSure!
Life Breath Present says
August 21, 2015 at 8:51 amI love how you were able to sum up so much about Celiac disease through the alphabet! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
August 21, 2015 at 8:53 amA fun little challenge 😉
Sonali- The Foodie Physician says
August 18, 2015 at 11:32 pmThanks for sharing such a creative and informative post! Great job!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
August 18, 2015 at 11:34 pmSure, thanks!
Autumn says
August 18, 2015 at 8:39 pmA very educational post!! I think this could really help a lot of people who read it.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
August 18, 2015 at 11:19 pmHow so?
Brandi Clevinger says
August 18, 2015 at 8:14 pmEven 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
August 18, 2015 at 8:18 pmThanks Brandi!
Evolve with Mary says
August 18, 2015 at 4:38 pmGreat 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
August 18, 2015 at 5:05 pmThanks Mary.
Linda @ Veganosity says
August 18, 2015 at 3:56 pmGreat 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
August 18, 2015 at 4:23 pmHaha, I was the shy girl my whole life, but also the best student….except for knowing my ABCs apparently 😉
Tiffany says
August 18, 2015 at 12:05 pmPerfect 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
August 18, 2015 at 12:40 pmSure!
Heather@hungryforbalance says
August 18, 2015 at 11:19 amI 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
August 18, 2015 at 12:40 pmThey don’t! Thanks Heather!
Daria says
August 18, 2015 at 10:23 amCute 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
August 18, 2015 at 11:15 amThat’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
August 18, 2015 at 9:27 amI love this, Rebecca! And way to get creative with some of those letters! 😉
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
August 18, 2015 at 11:16 amHahaha, I happily took the challenge 😉
Christine - The Choosy Mommy says
August 18, 2015 at 8:54 amThis 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
August 18, 2015 at 8:57 amJust a lighthearted post!
Emily @ My Healthyish Life says
August 18, 2015 at 7:53 amCute 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
August 18, 2015 at 7:56 amZ was easy 😉 Hahahaha! Omg! You’re so good with all that stuff! Teach me!!
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
August 18, 2015 at 7:46 amA great primer… but can you sing it?
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
August 18, 2015 at 7:51 amHaha 😛
Marci says
August 18, 2015 at 7:21 amGreat post. I hear from a lot of readers who have Celiac and are looking for recipe options.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
August 18, 2015 at 7:51 amThis post has nothing to do with that, but okay.