Does your mouth water too when you think of bread, cereals, processed food, and more but you can hear your stomach grumbling? Do you think you have gluten sensitivity? Could it be something else too? Celiac disease is very similar to gluten sensitivity as in this disease the small intestine is attacked by gluten. Celiac Disease affects 0.7% of the world’s population.  About one-third of Indians are genetically predisposed to celiac disease. It is indeed a global disease, which is known to be a hereditary illness. This disease has become a cycle now and you can be the first one to break this cycle. It can end with you using functional nutrition and Ithrive. This blog sheds light on what it is and how you can get through this not as a survivor but as a winner. Let’s get into it. 

What is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is a persistent autoimmune disorder in which the small intestine is hypersensitive to gluten (a protein found in barley, rye, and wheat), which leads to indigestion. In this disease, gluten triggers an immune response that damages the intestine. Due to these attacks, Villi (small finger-like projections that lie in the small intestine) get damaged. When it gets damaged the body is not able to soak in the nutrients properly. That usually leads to malnourishment and weakened bones miscarriage and hormonal imbalance.  

This disease usually runs in the family; it also means that a person’s chance of getting this disease is one in ten if they have parents, siblings, or other first-degree relatives who have this condition. other than that some of the causes for it are immune system dysregulation, environmental toxins and pollutants, gut microbiota imbalance, and moreIt can turn into a big health concern if not treated on time and anyone can inculcate it at any age. 

What is the Difference Between Gluten Sensitivity and Celiac Disease?

Gluten intolerance (Non-Celiac gluten sensitivity) and Celiac disease are both responses to gluten, although they both differ in their seriousness and basic cause. In this disease, the body is attacked by gluten which leads to damage of the small intestine and it also leads to the body not being able to absorb nutrients whereas in gluten sensitivity, the body is unable to digest gluten but it doesn’t lead to any damage.

What are the Symptoms of Celiac Disease?

The symptoms of this disease are over two hundred but it depends from person to person. People at times do not even notice the symptoms until their intestine is damaged or their bones start to weaken. You might notice digestive symptoms right after eating or drinking something that has gluten, it is your wake-up call. If you do have these symptoms that means that it is time for you to get your root cause analysis done today. Here are some of the symptoms:

1. Digestive health symptoms:

• Constipation
• Heartburn
• Nauseous
• Gas 
• Constipation
• Bloating
• Abdominal Pain 
• Diarrhea
• Foul-smelling/ Floating stool

2. Symptoms of Malnutrition:

• Unintended Weight loss
• Low muscle tone or muscle wasting
• Mood changes
• Abnormal periods
• Denta enamel defects
• Delayed growth

3. Celiac disease symptoms in women:

• Early menopause
• Infertility 
• Miscarriage 
• Irregular periods 

4. Celiac disease symptoms in children:

• Constipation
• Weight loss
• Anemia
• Diarrhea
• Bloating
• Upset stomach
• Pale, foul-smelling stools
• Damaged tooth enamel
• Delayed puberty
• Neurological problems
• Crankiness
• Slow growth 

What Happens When Celiac Disease is Undiagnosed or Untreated?

When Celiac disease goes unnoticed and untreated it can lead to long-term health conditions like:

• Heart disease
• Liver failure
• Malnutrition
• Pancreatic insufficiency 
• Lactose intolerance 
• Gall bladder malfunction
• Mineral deficiencies
• Small intestine cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma 
• Neurological symptoms- ADHD, seizures. Ataxia. Dementia
• Iron deficiency anemia 
• Infertility and miscarriage 
• Gall bladder malfunction

What is Functional Nutrition and Why is it a Great Solution for Celiac Disease?

Functional nutrition is a holistic approach that binds diet and lifestyle together and provides an individual with a better way to live. It addresses the root cause of health issues by going deep into 55+ blood parameters and working on them through supplementation, food changes, and lifestyle interventions. It aims to repair and rebuild the body that is damaged due to ailment. 

It is a personalized approach that is science-based weaves functional medicine to autoimmune disease and conventional nutrients together. Here are the reasons why it is a great solution for this disease- 

1. Focusing on Gut Health: An individual is provided with a list of things to eat and not to eat according to your reports by your personalized nutritionist.

• Gut Microbiome: It is a compound ecosystem of bacteria and other microbes that differently trouble the digestive system and immune response. Your food gets broken, including gluten by a healthy gut microbiome that decreases inflammation and increases tolerance. 
• Probiotics and Prebiotics: Beneficial bacteria and food for beneficial bacteria probiotics and prebiotics are included in the diet can help in restoring healthy gut microbiome. Probiotics can be found in fermented foods like kimchi, yogurt, and many more. While prebiotics are present in foods like garlic, onions, and bananas. 
• Reducing Inflammation: Inflammation can be reduced through a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grain and meat.

2. Functional Nutrition Approach: Functional nutrition provides an individualized and comprehensive approach to managing Celiac disease helping to make your gut healthy again. 

• Polyphenol-Rich Foods: The compound found in fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods has shown a prominent reduction in inflammation in this disease patients.⁴ 
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids: People going through this disease often experience gut inflammation, which makes Omega- 3 participation important. In India, meat, fish, and plant-based options are excellent choices. 
• Micronutrient Deficiencies: It is a common thing to discover in people with Celiac disease. It is often prevalent in the absence of overt malabsorption symptoms. There is often ferritin, vitamin D, Zinc, and Vitamin B12 deficiency common in Celiac disease patients. 
• Gluten-Free Products: Gluten-free diets and gluten-free products often lack essential nutrients found in gluten. In India, Gluten-free products are limited which leads to a gap in nutrition. It is essential to choose fortified gluten-free products when available. 
• Nutrient-Dense Foods: Incorporating a variety of nutrient-dense, naturally gluten-free foods is vital for patients facing this disease. This kind of diet not only meets nutritional needs but also helps in the betterment of overall health

How iThrive Helps with Celiac Disease?

iThrive believes in turning your life around three sixty degrees with the right approach. Through booking a free consultation for Alive 2.0 an individual can get a better idea about how to improve his/ her digestive system and heal their gut with the help of functional nutrition. iThrive’s Alive 2.0 program helps in reviving the balance of your gut and improves it. Ithrive has been a part of more than 6000 people’s journeys and has helped reverse more than 174 diseases. Ithrive offers several facilities that others don't like- 

Holistic approach with the help of root cause analysis

• Personalized functional nutritionists are provided to track your progress, they provide a balanced and personalized diet like Low-FODMAP Diet, Digestive Enzyme Support, and more. 
• In-time support with experts and weekly checkups through calls.
• Health improvement is done through temporary fixes which leads to sustainable results 
• Decreased reliance on medicines through personalized dietary protocols, holistic healing practices, and lifestyle modification.
• Daily guidance on establishing a healthy lifestyle, optimizing sleep, and scheduling meals.

Conclusion

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which indigestion of gluten becomes difficult and that leads to hampering of intestine lining. It gives birth to other medical problems that if remained undiagnosed and untreated can become harmful. In India, there are very limited options to maintain a gluten-free diet with a lack of gluten labeling on packaged foods, etc. Traditional Indian diet contains wheat-based staples making it hard for individuals to look for substitutes. By adopting functional nutrition strategies, individuals can focus on their condition more effectively which helps them have a better quality of life and makes their progress sustainable. It is important to work with dietitians and nutritionists to get a personalized plan to fill the nutrition gaps. 

References-

1. Debnath, B. (2017b, September 10). About Six to Eight Million Indians Suffer from Celiac Disease. Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/news/about-six-to-eight-million-indians-suffer-from-celiac-disease-172924-1.htm

2. Urszula Krupa-Kozak, Pathologic bone alterations in celiac disease: Etiology, epidemiology, and treatment,Nutrition, Volume 30, Issue 1, 2014, Pages 16-24, ISSN 0899-9007, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2013.05.027.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S089990071300289X)

3. What is Celiac Disease? | Celiac Disease Foundation. (n.d.). Celiac Disease Foundation. https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/what-is-celiac-disease/

4. Calabriso, N., Scoditti, E., Massaro, M., Maffia, M., Chieppa, M., Laddomada, B., & Carluccio, M. A. (2022). Non-Celiac gluten sensitivity and protective role of dietary polyphenols. Nutrients, 14(13), 2679. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14132679