A Functional Nutrition Approach to Celiac Disease
What is celiac disease?
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks its own gut tissue.
When the gut lining is compromised or inflamed, gluten becomes a trigger for immune cells.
They mistakenly attack it as a pathogen (and the gut tissue along with it).
This further damages the small intestine lining, leading to more inflammation, impaired digestion, allergies, and nutrient deficiencies.
SYMPTOMS OF CELIAC DISEASE
diarrhea
gas & bloating
stomach pain
anemia
anxiety/depression
lack of focus
*if you experience these symptoms, you can try eliminating gluten to see if anything changes
CELIAC & GUT HEALING
Eliminating gluten is the obvious first step, but gut healing should also be a priority. Gluten is the trigger, but not the root cause.
It is common for those with Celiac to also have intestinal hyperpermeability (aka leaky gut), food allergies, and gut dysbiosis.
Stress, an infection, or dysbiosis are known to initiate (and perpetuate) gut inflammation.
Even though there is no cure for autoimmune disorders, symptoms can be managed through proper diet and gut healing.
SUPPORT GUT HEALTH
ELIMINATE DAIRY & SUGAR
beyond gluten, dairy & sugar can be very aggravating to an inflamed gut
NURTURE YOUR MICROBIOME
promote a healthy microbiome by nurturing with probiotic & prebiotic foods & supplements
SEAL THE GUT
gut hyperpermeability is a hallmark of Celiac disease, so support healing with aloe vera, L-glutamine, bone broth, & healthy fats
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRIENTS
vitamin D, vitamin C, B vitamins, iron, zinc, calcium, ginger, turmeric
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References
Ballantyne, S. (2013). The Paleo Approach: Reverse Autoimmune Disease and Heal your Body. Victory Belt Publishing Inc.Celiac Disease. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14240-celiac-disease
Autoimmune Wellness. https://autoimmunewellness.com
Celiac Disease Foundation Professional Resources. https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/resources-for-professionals/.
Jones, D. S., Bland, J. S., & Quinn, S. (2010). Textbook of Functional Medicine. Institute for Functional Medicine.
Gaby, A. R. (2017). Nutritional Medicine (2nd ed.). Fritz Perlberg Publishing.