A gluten-free diet may be a choice for some people, but if you have celiac disease, it’s a necessary step to protecting your intestinal health and feeling your best day-to-day. At his practice in Boca Raton, Florida, board-certified gastroenterologist Dr. Prosper Abitbol provides dietary and lifestyle guidance for managing the symptoms of celiac disease. To get treatment for celiac disease, call or use the online booking tool today.

Celiac Disease Q & A

What is celiac disease?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects the way your body responds to gluten, a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley, and rye that makes bread chewy and elastic. When you have celiac disease, consuming gluten causes your immune system to attack your small intestine. Digestive symptoms of celiac disease include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Weight loss
  • Nausea
  • Bloating
  • Constipation
  • Abdominal pain
  • Vomiting

Over time, the autoimmune response from gluten can cause lasting damage to the small intestine, so it can’t properly absorb nutrients, which can lead to a range of non-digestive symptoms. These symptoms include iron-deficiency anemia, bone conditions, mouth ulcers, infertility, and fatigue. Many of the symptoms of celiac disease aren’t specific to the condition, so many cases are undiagnosed or only discovered long after it develops.

The severity of celiac disease symptoms usually depends on how much gluten you’ve eaten and the extent of damage in your small intestine. However, by following a gluten-free diet, you can minimize your symptoms and allow intestinal healing.

Research suggests celiac disease has a genetic component, though not everyone who has a family member with celiac disease develops it themselves.

People who are predisposed to celiac disease develop it after they start eating gluten, which usually happens in childhood. Theoretically, a person could avoid celiac disease by never eating gluten, but given how many foods contain gluten, this is unlikely to happen.

There are no medications that treat celiac disease, but eliminating gluten from your diet minimizes your symptoms. Dr. Abitbol helps you plan a gluten-free diet, which means avoiding bread and baked goods, along with pasta, cereals, and beer, and finding substitutes to fill gaps in your diet. There are also certain products containing gluten that may surprise you, including certain cosmetics and supplements.

With Dr. Abitbol’s help, you’ll learn how to read labels to determine if a product contains gluten, even if it’s labeled “wheat-free.” He also gives you advice on avoiding cross-contact, when food comes into contact with gluten through cooking equipment and utensils.

To get help managing celiac disease, call Dr. Prosper Abitbol or use the online booking tool today.

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