Gluten-free Diet

 Gluten is the general name for one of the proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley. It is the substance in flour that forms the structure of dough, the “glue” that holds the product together and is also the leavening ingredient. When these proteins are present in the diet of someone with CD, they become toxic and cause damage to the intestine. This damage leads to decreased absorption of essential nutrients and, if left untreated, can lead to nutrient deficiency and subsequent disease (i.e. iron deficiency anemia, decreased bone density, unintentional weight loss, folate and vitamin B12 deficiency). If your child has just been diagnosed with celiac disease (CD), you may be experiencing mixed feelings. On one hand, no one likes to hear that his or her child has any kind of medical condition. However, you may be relieved to finally have the answer to your child’s past medical problems. You may also feel better knowing that celiac disease is a treatable disorder, that intestinal damage from celiac disease is reversible, and that therapy does not involve shots, pills, therapy or surgery. You may also feel confused, overwhelmed or unsure about how to start the healing process. After getting nutritional advice, some parents head straight to the grocery store to stock up on gluten-free (GF) products for their child. They may spend hours in the grocery store, but leave with only a small bag of groceries and no idea of what to serve for dinner. They may experience the so called “Celiac Meltdown”