Starting a coeliac disease diet

Whilst going gluten free has its challenges, it does not mean you cannot eat good food that’s both delicious and wholesome. You will be relieved to find that a huge number of foods are naturally gluten free, and thanks to the wide range of gluten free products available these days, it’s not difficult to have a balanced diet. Try these ideas for a gluten-free diet and find out!   

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by the presence of gluten in food. In a person with coeliac disease, the immune system mistakenly identifies gluten – a protein present in the cereals wheat, barley and rye, plus their derivatives – as a foreign body and launches an attack against it with antibodies. These antibodies result in damage to the lining of the small intestine, and over time mean that it cannot absorb all of the nutrients the body needs to remain healthy. 

The only treatment for coeliac disease is a gluten free diet for life. There is no known cure for coeliac disease yet. 

Once a person is diagnosed as a coeliac and adopts a strict gluten free diet, the symptoms such as bloating, stomach pain, diarrhoea or constipation and many others should disappear quite quickly. The intestinal lining should heal over time, so any problems as a result of malabsorption of nutrients such as iron-deficiency anaemia should also improve and, hopefully, resolve completely.  

The gluten free diet is an effective treatment to help reduce the risk of developing the long-term complications associated with coeliac disease, such as anaemia and osteoporosis, if you continue to eat gluten.  

The key rule is NO GLUTEN. Gluten is not essential for a balanced diet, and it is not difficult to get all the nutrients you need while avoiding it. So, as long as you are observing the golden rule of staying gluten free, your diet can be as healthy and balanced as you want it to be.  

The best diet is a varied one, with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and fibre, and not too much fat or sugar. This is best illustrated with a pyramid, with treats up top and a broader healthy base below. The food in the lower pyramid layer (vegetables and fruit) should be eaten in greater quantities than those in the upper layer (fats). 

Whether you have coeliac disease or not, you should watch your weight and do some exercise; drink plenty of water and not sugary drinks; avoid too much saturated fat; watch your salt intake; and cook your food in the healthiest possible way, such as steaming or grilling instead of frying and roasting.