"But I Love Bread..." Dr. Arshiya Seth Shares What Everyone Must Know for Gluten Free Living for Celiac Disease Awareness Month
“But I love bread, pizza, and beer…” For this week’s Women’s Health Wednesday, today’s woman dreamer, Dr Arshiya Seth, shares her expertise on gluten free and Celiac’s disease, as May is Celiac Awareness Month. Celiac disease is one of the most underdiagnosed medical conditions. From proper testing to adjusting life style habits and how to talk to your doctor, Dr. Seth shares addresses our burning questions about the condition. Inspired by her newborn’s struggle with dairy allergy, Dr. Seth seeks to learn more and empathize with those struggling from Celiac’s. An informative piece, enjoy her article below!
What's the deal with Celiac Disease?
When my newborn was diagnosed with dairy allergy, I was asked by doctors to stop consumption of all dairy or give up breastfeeding. I started my dairy free journey motivated and ready but boy oh boy, it was not an easy path. I had to train my eyes to catch ingredients that looked harmless but had dairy hidden in them. Some days I failed because I forgot or misread the ingredients, other times I got tricked by friends who wanted to feed me and did not believe that my diet restriction was real. Although dairy and gluten are two different things, I understand and can relate with the struggles of those with Celiac disease.
Celiac disease is one of the most underdiagnosed medical conditions. It is estimated that about 3 million people in our country are living with celiac disease, 97% of which are underdiagnosed.
It is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system considers gluten a serious threat to its well being. Celiac disease is more likely in patients who have a first and second degree relative with celiac disease, patients with history of Type 1 Diabetes, Down and Turner syndromes, Pulmonary hemosiderosis and those with autoimmune thyroiditis.
“I have seen a few doctors, still not sure what is wrong with me!”
Patients can become symptomatic at any age and it can take several years to get a confirmed diagnosis of Celiac disease. Many symptoms of Celiac disease can fit in the spectrum of other conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Food Allergies, Thyroid disorders etc. Symptoms of gas, bloating and fullness after eating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, irregular periods, numbness, tingling, joint pains, and rash may appear slowly over several years. Because the architecture of the colon changes, patients are unable to absorb important nutrients leading to iron deficiency anemia and other vitamin deficiencies.
A simple blood test measures antibodies tTG -IgA(Tissue Transglutaminase IgA antibody) and an IgA antibody. This test is typically the first step in diagnosing this condition. Since the blood test measures antibodies to gluten, the test is dependent on the patient's intake of gluten. It can be falsely negative in patients who are no longer consuming gluten. If the tTG -IgA test is positive, then the patient is referred to a gastroenterologist for a duodenal biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. If tTG -IgA and IgA antibody blood tests are negative then celiac disease is unlikely.
In rare situations, tTG -IgA test is negative with a low IgA level, this is indicative of IgA deficiency and needs further investigation by a follow up blood test to measure Deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP IgA and IgG).
“You can’t eat Gluten. For how long?”
“Forever!”
“ But I love Bread, Pizza and Beer!”
Once diagnosed or suspected, patients are instructed to start following a GFD(Gluten Free Diet) eliminating wheat, barley, rye, beer, fries, pasta, pizza, processed meats, cereals, cake, pie and more. Most people may notice improvement in their symptoms within 3- 6 months. A gluten free diet is not straightforward, patients may still be exposed to gluten unexpectedly in foods such as sauces, candy bars, chips and dressing. Patients have to overcome challenges of reading food labels while grocery shopping, ordering take out, reading menu carefully in restaurants and even plan their meal before an event. Joining support groups and learning from other’s experience improves success and prevents isolation. Guidance from an excellent nutritionist on food substitution can be life changing and make this into a journey of enjoyable discovery rather than painful restriction.
The good news is that the medical community is gaining awareness of Celiac disease and there is tremendous research happening to further understand it. Today, celebrities, bloggers and influencers are staying authentic by sharing their journey of Celiac disease, creating delicious gluten free recipes, wonderful cook books and life hacks! As we celebrate the Celiac disease awareness month, remember to show empathy, love and accommodation to those dealing with this disease. For more information visit The Celiac Disease Foundation at www.celiac.org
Thank You Arshiya for sharing your insights with us! We are excited to have you in our global women’s network!
Disclaimer: The content in this article should not be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor.
Bio: Dr. Arshiya Seth is the Medical Director of Ambulatory Risk and Patient Safety, and a Performance Improvement Coach. She works at Cambridge Health Alliance
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