Coeliac Disease

Coeliac disease is not an allergy or simply a food intolerance. It is an auto-immune disease which means that the body produces antibodies that attack its own tissues. Gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye, is the trigger in people with coeliac disease. Unfortunately those people with this disease have to have a gluten-free diet out of necessity rather than choice for the rest of their lives. There are already 150,000 people diagnosed with this disease and that amount is growing by 7% every year.

Some symptoms can include:

bloating

abdominal pain

nausea

diarrhoea

indigestion

heartburn

constipation

possible weight loss

tiredness

headaches and

depression

The difference between food allergy, intolerance and coeliac disease

Even though symptoms can be very similar there is a big difference between allergies, intolerances and coeliac disease.

Food allergies are generated by the immune system and usually occur within seconds or minutes of eating the food in question. Tiny amounts can cause potentially life threatening allergic reactions so its important to know about ingredients and the preparation of the food.

A food intolerance may affect the digestive system but is not life threatening and the way to deal with it is to cut out or down on the offending foods in question.