What is Coeliac disease?

Taken from 'Go" magazine by Margaret Sherry a naturopath.

Coeliac disease, barley, rye and oats, as well as many of the ingredients derived from these grains. CD damages the villi - tiny, hair-like projections that line the small intestine - and leads to inadequate absorption of nutrients from food. Eventually, this malabsorption can result in nutritional deficiencies. Since the immune system causes the damage, CD is therefore considered an autoimmune disorder. However, it is also classified as a disease of malabsorption because nutrients are not absorbed.

If left untreated, CD can increase the risk of malnutrition and other associated complications, especially in children.
- Stunted Growth
- Unexplained Anaemia
- Skin rashes such as dermatitis herpetiformis
- Osteoporosis
- Nutritional deficiencies.
- Behavioural changes
- Muscle cramps
- Seizures
- Missed menstrual periods ( due to excessive weight loss)
- Infertility and recurrent miscarriage
- Recurrent mouth ulcers
- Tooth discoloration or loss of enamel

CD can occur at any age, but symptoms won't appear until gluten is introduced into the diet. The length of time a baby is breastfed, the age when gluten-containing foods were introduced into the diet and the amount of gluten eaten are also thought to influence when and how CD appears.

Mannatech Inc in their early research on glyconutrients suggests that by adding glyconutrients to the diet human diet there is an increase for optimal health and wellbeing.