Info on Gluten intolerance/ Celiac disease

I attended a continuing education course on gluten intolerance celiac disease last evening and wanted to share some highlights. It is triggered by a physiologic event - acute or chronic stress, pregnancy, or virus. Gluten damages the intestinal lining which leads to nutrient deficience primarily lack of vit D impairs calcium absortion (leads to osteoporosis), iron deficiency possible, vit b deficiencies. Chronic imflamation can lead to intestinal cancer and lymphoma. Can also cause lactose intolerance. Only 10 % of people have typical symptoms. Symptoms include- abdominal pain, gas bloating constipation, diarrhea, change in stool, FATIGUE, fractures, infertility, mouth sores, muscle cramping, skin rash, weight loss, or NO SYMPTOMS!!.. Also depression, irritablitly, inability to concentrate, mood swings. Other diseases linked with celiac- Type 1 Diabetes, systemic lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, addisons, and other auto-immune diseases. Lactose intolerance is a common side effect of disease. ONCE GLUTEN IS REMOVED FROM THE DIET< SYMPTOMS OF LACTOSE INTOLERANCE USUALLY DISAPPEAR!!!!! If you are following a gluten free diet and then have the blood test, you can get a false negative. It is better to keep eating gluten if you are wondering if you are gluten intolerance, and get the blood test and biopsy. I can not list all the foods with hidden gluten, but will give you some web sites for more info. The university of Maryland Center for Celiac Research: is www.celiaccenter.org CD foundation site is www.celiac.org and www.deletethewheat.com is a site run by a dietiian. I hope I have helped! I have alot more info if you have any questions, will try to help. Everyone take care!!!!