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- What is coeliac disease?
- Symptoms of coeliac disease
- Causes of coeliac disease
- Prevention of coeliac disease
- Risk factors for coeliac disease
- Complications of coeliac disease
- When to see a doctor about coeliac disease
- Diagnosis of coeliac disease
- Conventional treatment of coeliac disease
- Alternative/complementary treatment of coeliac disease
- Living with coeliac disease
- Caring for someone with coeliac disease
Coeliac disease requires some diligence in maintaining a specific gluten-free diet, together with some supplementation to help heal the digestive system and reduce severity and duration of symptoms. The following are the strategies most recommended to achieve this:
- Antioxidants - there are a number of antioxidant supplements that are especially recommended for helping reduce symptoms and increase healing capacity (carnitine, glutamine and lipoic acid)
- Avoid cigarette smoke - people who smoke have to give up. This is just another reason to help with the decision to stop smoking. Cigarette smoke causes a number of problems with digestion and should be avoided. People who do not smoke should avoid exposure to second hand smoke from people who smoke around them
- Avoid foods containing gluten - this is probably the most important strategy for avoiding flare-up and worsening of symptoms. If foods are prepared fresh, from scratch, then it is unlikely to find any gluten. When processed foods are purchased, it is very important to read labels as they will have information about the gluten (or not) content in the food. The foods most likely to contain gluten are: wheat, rye, oats, barley, beer, biscuits, crackers, baked goods, some packaged herbs/spices, packaged meals, ice cream, salad dressing, deli meats, chips, packaged soups and sauces
- Dietician - current medical advice recommends that a person who has been diagnosed with coeliac disease should be monitored by a registered dietician who can advise on best foods to eat to prevent worsening of symptoms and help improve quality of life
- Digestive and pancreatic enzymes - the digestive and pancreatic enzymes are released by the digestive to help digest foods that are eaten so that their nutrients can be absorbed through the bloodstream. Digestions starts mainly in the stomach and ends in the small intestine. The digestive and pancreatic enzymes help to increase the amount of food digested by reducing the load on the digestive system and this reduces the amount of undigested foods that may escape into the bloodstream and cause the immune system to respond with an allergic reaction
- Essential fatty acids - the essential fatty acids, especially the omega 3 (DHA/EPA) and omega 6 (GLA) are vital for a properly functioning gastrointestinal system as they reduce inflammation that may be associated with this digestive disorder and this reduces severity and duration of symptoms. The best way to get adequate levels of the essential fatty acids is to eat 3-4 servings of oily fish each week and ensure it is deep ocean, wild fish (not farmed). The fish with the highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids are: mackerel, salmon, sardines, trout, tuna. People who cannot eat fish should try a supplement with balanced levels of each of the essential fatty acids and ensure it has been tested for mercury
- Exercise regularly - physical activity is a must for anyone with a digestive disorder as it helps to increase blood and lymphatic circulation. This helps to eliminate any toxins or unwanted substances more quickly out of the body. Exercise also increases the endorphins released and reduces stress
- Fibre - increasing the amount of fibre in the diet is vital for ensuring healthy digestion. The best types of soluble fibres is psyllium, which helps the intestinal flora digest food properly. The best ways to add psyllium or slippery elm to the diet are in: smoothies, milkshakes, sauces, yoghurt, breakfast cereal, muesli, dips. Suggested dosage is up to 2-3 teaspoons per day, but add it gradually if fibre hasn't been an integral part of the diet previously, start with 1/2 teaspoon for a few days and add another 1/2 teaspoon every 4 days until at the 2-3 teaspoons a day level
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- Gluten free diet - a strict gluten free diet needs to be followed for life (probably) to reduce the allergic reaction to the gluten protein when it is ingested. Many processed foods contain gluten, so nutrition labels need to be read very carefully to ensure that there is no hidden gluten in the food bought. Recent research suggests oats should also be avoided on a gluten-free diet as it causes inflammation to the intestines, which may further exacerbate symptoms. Alternatives to gluten are: rice, corn, millet, quinoa, buckwheat, chickpeas, legumes
- Limit alcohol - it may be necessary to reduce drinking any alcohol while the intestines and the rest of the digestive system are in the process of healing and this is because alcohol is known to irritate the intestines
- Organic - another strategy to reduce the stress on the gastrointestinal system is to avoid foods which are not grown organically (without the use of pesticides and other chemicals and antibiotics). This helps the digestive system because it does not have to also try to detoxify the chemicals in the food in addition to trying to digest foods normally (which is not occurring in this condition). Not only this, but studies show that organic food has higher levels of all their nutrients than food not grown organically
- Probiotics - the "good" bacteria may be in short supply in the digestive system which could be contributing to the symptoms. Acidophilus and other probiotic bacteria are required to help re-populate the intestines with "good" bacteria, which help to properly digest foods and reduce the amount of undigested food that escapes the gut. People who are not lactose intolerant should also include yoghurt that has live cultures
- Reduce stress and relax - prolonged and unrelenting stress is not good for healthy digestion. While stress is not known to cause leaky gut syndrome, it certainly can make symptoms worse because it causes the parasympathetic nervous system to remain in stress mode, which means digestion and absorption is not effective as the nerve that controls it prevents it from happening properly
- Slippery elm - the herb slippery elm is necessary for intestinal health as it is required to heal the intestinal mucosa by providing a mucilaginous layer over the intestinal wall, which reduces the stress on the intestines and helps to heal the intestines more quickly
- Smaller meals - eat smaller meals to help reduce the load on the digestive system, which is not working properly and cannot handle larger meals, which can cause worsening of symptoms when the stomach and intestines struggles to handle the large amount of food eaten. Aim to have around 6 smaller meals each day
- Supplements - certain supplements may be required to help in the healing process by reducing the load on the intestines and reduce symptoms. The fat-soluble vitamins may especially be required because this digestive disorder causes a problem with fat digestion, magnesium to help relax the strong muscles that surround the intestines and also the B vitamins which are needed for healthy nervous tissue and nerve impulses
- Support group - it is advisable to join a support group for people who have coeliac disease, which can provide diet tips, lifestyle tips, information about supplements and a lot of useful information to help improve quality of life
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< 10: alternative treatment 12: caregiving > Last reviewed: 15 August 2008 || Last updated: 26 February 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
