Celiac disease, an autoimmune disease affecting millions of Americans, is becoming more and more common, yet many people know little or nothing about the disease. I have celiac disease and I talk about it a lot. It is a huge part of my life -- it controls everything I eat, where I eat it, the medication I can take, and even what lipgloss I can wear. In my many discussions about celiac disease with friends, family, servers, colleagues, grocery store clerks, and others I find that people are usually very interested in knowing more about the disease. Because celiac disease affects crucial parts of living -- like eating and taking medication -- it is important that everyone understand a few basic things about celiac disease. Here are 10 things everyone should know about celiac disease.
- Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease. When people with celiac disease eat gluten it causes an immune response in which their immune system attacks and damages the lining of the intestines. This damage stops the body from absorbing nutrients properly. Celiac disease is not an allergy or intolerance to gluten.
For more by Whitney Caudill, click here.
For more on personal health, click here.