Celiac Disease: 4 Tips to Go Gluten-Free
Digestive health problems are something we all experience at some point in our lives.
Be it mild diarrhea or chronic constipation, we know that if our gut health is compromised nothing feels good.
These problems are there in everyone. Even children or older adults, everyone suffers from these digestive health challenges. Celiac disease is one such problem.
What is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease is an immune disorder that damages your intestinal health. This digestive condition is chronic and is generally triggered by consuming gluten-rich food. Gluten, as we know, is a protein found in most of your foods these days. Be it pasta or wheat, nothing is free from gluten.
The problem with celiac disease is that it can be difficult to rule out the possibility of celiac disease as the symptoms overlap with common digestive issues. The symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and constipation keep coming and leaving which makes it difficult to diagnose the condition in time. The diagnosis is even more difficult in the case of adults.
This happened with my colleague who experienced all these symptoms occasionally. Her doctor recommended going for a blood test known as the Tissue Transglutaminase Antibody test (TTG). After getting all the information about the ttg test price she went for the test and it was found that she was struggling with celiac disease.
This was a life-changing experience for her. Living with a condition like celiac disease can be a life-changing experience for anyone. It took her a lot to understand how she was going to live with this. If you are struggling with the same, then read more to know about the celiac disease management tips.
How to Live Well with Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease causes damage to your intestine and the worse part is that there is no permanent treatment available. The condition not only takes a toll on physical but psychological health. Several studies investigated the impact of celiac disease on the psychological well-being of patients.
All you have to do is to manage it with lifestyle modifications and avoid gluten-containing foods. This sounds easier than done. Here are some of the tips that might help you to go on a gluten-free diet.
1- Develop the habit of reading the labels
We are living in a time when the labels on food packaging contain all the information about the ingredients in the food. Whenever you are buying food items, you must read the label and always go for gluten-free dietary products. You can also go for the naturally gluten-free options. This will help you to minimize your exposure to the gluten that triggers the immune response in your body.
2- Sort out things well
The problem with celiac disease is that even the minute amount of gluten in your food can trigger the immune response. So, when you are looking for gluten-free products, there are chances that you can mess it up if you share your living space with others. So, make sure to place your raw and cooked food items separate from others.
When you are placing the food containers in the pantry, try to ensure the coloured jars for the differentiation of gluten-free food items from the rest of other foods. When placing items in the fridge don’t forget to add coloured labels on them.
3- Be careful while eating outside
Yes, eating out can be difficult for people suffering from celiac disease. There are maximum chances of cross-contamination when you are eating outside. Make sure to order foods that have little or no chance of being contaminated. Further, you can also talk to the waiters and chefs at the restaurant about your condition and make sure that your hangout with friends or family doesn’t result in any severe consequences afterward.
4- Prevent cross-contamination while cooking
Celiac disease is a rare condition but do you know that the immune response triggering requires a minute amount of gluten?
Even if you are keeping things separate there are chances that you can fall prey to cross-contamination while cooking. So, you also need to be considerate about cross-contamination. If possible you can have your bread or sandwich maker to reduce these chances. This can help you to ensure food safety and will result in better management of celiac disease.
Bottom Line!
Celiac disease is a troubling condition that can affect your intestinal health to a greater extent. The condition is not very common and comes with no proper cure. The only way to manage the condition is to go gluten-free and manage your disease effectively.
While doing all of these make sure that you also limit the psychological impact of the condition on your health. Don’t stress out about your health and make sure to practice stress management techniques alongside proper physical activity to live healthy through the condition.