If you have recently been diagnosed with celiac disease, you probably have some questions about this condition.
Receiving a celiac disease diagnosis is a significant moment in a person’s life and can often create panic and confusion. This brief guide aims to help clarify some of the most common doubts.
A small note: always consult your doctor before making any changes to your diet.
We are not medical professionals, but here at La Veronese® we live with celiac disease every day and offer a wide range of flours and rice to make life easier for people, giving them the freedom of choice.
When we discovered we were celiac, the first question we asked ourselves was: what is celiac disease? What does it mean to be celiac?
This guide begins by answering that first question.
Guide to Reading
1. Celiac Disease and Gluten
To understand the link between gluten and celiac disease, it is important first to understand what gluten is.
Gluten is a protein complex found in several grains (wheat, rye, spelt, etc.) and present in many foods consumed daily.
For people with celiac disease, consuming gluten triggers an inflammatory reaction in the small intestine. This immune system response causes chronic inflammation that damages the intestinal tissue and leads to the loss of intestinal villi.
In simple terms, when a celiac person eats gluten, their immune system reacts strongly, which over time can cause irreversible damage.
2. Can Celiac Disease Be Cured?
A common misconception is that celiac disease can be cured or that it exists in different severity levels.
However, this condition is not reversible. As mentioned above, it is a chronic and permanent disease. There are no “levels” of celiac disease—the condition affects genetically predisposed individuals in the same way.
The solution to managing celiac disease is a strict gluten-free diet. The disease remains present, but it will not manifest symptoms if the diet is followed correctly.
The next obvious question is: “Does this mean I can’t eat anything? What can a celiac eat?”
3. What Can a Celiac Eat?
Let’s dispel the myth that if you are celiac, you can’t eat anything. There are many foods you can enjoy. To start, it is useful to rely on the ABC of the celiac diet to get a general overview.
To ensure a wide range of choices, here at La Veronese® we work every day to provide different flours for preparing your favorite dishes. If you want to explore our products, click here.
