Happy first day of Celiac Awareness Month! Here's a rare picture of me not a complete bloated mess (although lately it's been mostly under control)! There is no cure for celiac and the only treatment is a strict gluten-free diet. When a person with celiac disease ingests gluten (can be as small as a breadcrumb, or food sharing the same cooking surface) the body responds by attacking itself causing intestinal damage. Over time the villi in the lining of the gut gets broken down (while undiagnosed/if still ingesting gluten) and is unable to absorb nutrients. This is why cross contamination is such a big deal and needs to be taken seriously. There are so many side effects that come with celiac and some that I personally suffer from include; anxiety, brain fog, depression, bloating, gas, fatigue, mood swings, mouth ulcers, short temper, joint pain and so much more. I do not eat gluten free to be trendy or hip I do it because I have to. Half the products on the market that are "gluten free" either 1. Taste like 💩 and/or 2. Are processed in a facility that also processes gluten; so its safest for us to stick to whole food sources. Gluten can be found in makeup, tooth paste, bath products and even deodorant but does not need to be marked gluten free because it's not food... I hope this post raises some awareness to how serious the disease is and also educated those who do not understand or have been misinformed. #celiacawareness #celiacawarenessmonth #celiacdisease #celiacsucks
