Gluten Free / Celiac Disease
Celiac Disease is a chronic, genetically inherited, lifelong autoimmune disorder that affects both children and adults. However it is elusive to diagnose due to the vast array of symptoms that occur throughout the body, often appearing to be a host of other discomforts, issues, diseases and is commonly misdiagnosed.
Celiac Disease begins wreaking havoc in the small intestine. When a person with Celiac ingests even the smallest amount of food, drink, medication, supplements, or even toothpaste/mouthwash containing Gluten, the body reacts with an auto-immune response that damages the villi in the small intestine. Even the most microscopic trace amounts of consumed Gluten cause damage to the small intestine, even when the person does not report experiencing intestinal symptoms.
In layman’s terms, the body’s natural defenses are inadvertently switched on by the Glutens in an effort to fight off bacteria and other infection, but instead the body’s own intestinal lining gets in the way of our own white blood cells (or killer lymphocytes). Over time the villi, or fingers in the intestine start to die off and cease to do their job of absorbing nutrients that a healthy body needs to thrive.
Once the intestines are damaged, they cannot absorb certain nutrients which are required for the body to function normally. Some symptoms may be absent, or exist in other organ system. Thus, a whole host of various symptoms occur from the malabsorbtion, including (but not limited to) … diarrhea, constipation, infertility, chronic fatigue, acne, skin lesions (some known as dermatitis herpetiformis), hair loss, anemia, visual disturbances, weight gain, weight loss, muscle wasting, bone pain, joint pain, muscle aches, chronic swelling, paresthesia, intestinal lymphoma.
Gluten is found in wheat, rye, oats, and barley … and anything made with byproducts of these grains. There is large debate over whether or not oats contain gluten, but the fact remains, oats and wheat often share the same growing fields and the farming equipment that is used to harvest and process these grain. Cross contamination is very serious for a Celiac sufferer. For someone with Celiac Disease NO amount of Gluten is safe to consume, whether on purpose or accidentally through cross-contamination, or due to hidden ingredients.
The only known effective treatment for Celiac Disease is a lifelong Gluten-free diet.
Current medical research states that 1 in 33 people have Celiac Disease … but the numbers can and will increase as diagnostic testing improves, and doctors begin to test for Celiac Disease on a more routine basis. Only 5 short years ago if a person was diagnosed with Celiac Disease they were told they were 1 in 25,000. The disease itself is not growing, the testing process is improving.
More and more runners are finding out that they have Celiac Disease, yet they are unaware that there are many nutrition and hydration products available at the San Diego Running Institute that are Gluten-free! In fact, at the San Diego Running Institute we have two employees who have Celiac Disease and have personally tested these Gluten-free products to ensure they are in fact safe for Celiacs to consume. These products include Clif Shot Bloks, Clif Luna Moons, GU Roctane Ultra Endurance Energy Gel, GU Chomps, Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews, Honey Stinger Gels, NUUN Portable Electrolyte Hydration, Ultima Replenisher, and Chocolate #9. At the San Diego Running Institute new Gluten-free products are being added to our shelves on a routine basis!
If you are a runner and have Celiac Disease you now have several Gluten-free choices available both online http://www.sdri.net/store/running-nutrition/gluten-free-products.html and in our San Diego store. Should you require further information you can email us at: info@SDRI.net … or call 619-265-SDRI [7374]
