Coeliac Disease

• Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks gluten when it is ingested. This causes damage to the intestinal villi, tiny projections on the wall of the small intestine that are responsible for absorbing nutrients and transferring them to the bloodstream.
• When villi are damaged, they cannot absorb nutrients as effectively, which can lead to malnourishment, stunted growth and delayed puberty in children.
• The most effective diet to manage symptoms of coeliac disease is one where all products containing gluten are removed. This includes any products made with cereals containing gluten, such as wheat or rye.
• There are many gluten-free alternatives nowadays, but caution should be taken as they are often produced in the same place as products containing gluten, which can lead to cross contamination. Reading food labels carefully is very important.