Around 1 in 100 people have celiac disease worldwide (1). The only known treatment is a strict gluten-free diet, which is not easy to do. This article takes a detailed look at managing celiac disease and how to do a gluten-free diet. What is Celiac Disease? Celiac disease (also called coeliac disease) is an autoimmune condition that can damage the small intestine. Specifically, the small intestine has many small projections (villi) along it, which help absorb nutrients from food. In celiac disease these are damaged and nutrients can’t be absorbed properly. Normal villi vs. celiac disease villi in the small intestine. Image source. Click to enlarge. Celiac disease causes the immune system to see gluten as a threat, attacking both the gluten and the villi of the small intestine. Therefore, people with celiac disease need to avoid foods containing gluten. Gluten is a … Continue reading Celiac Disease and Celiac Disease Diet: The Beginner’s Guide