Dimensions
161 x 232 x 30mm
What exactly is celiac disease?
Celiac disease is hereditary autoimmune condition that damages the lining of the small intestine so that it cannot properly absorb food. Without essential vitamins‚ minerals‚ and nutrition‚ the entire body begins to suffer. The disease is triggered by gluten‚ a protein found in wheat‚ rye and barley. So for those with celiac disease‚ that means bread‚ pizza‚ pasta and most pastries‚ cookies‚ cakes‚ etc.‚ are off limits. The only "cure" for the disease is a life-long gluten-free diet.
Celiac disease affects nearly 1 in every 100 people in the United States but as many as 97 percent of these patients remain undiagnosed and untreated. Although the primary target of injury is the small intestine‚ celiac disease can affect the entire body‚ leading to secondary conditions including bone loss‚ osteoporosis‚ anemia‚ infertility and cancer. Because of the complexity of the symptoms and a lack of awareness among many medical practitioners‚ it takes an average of 9 years for a celiac patient to receive a correct diagnosis.
Incredibly comprehensive yet accessible and user friendly‚ this book is the only authoritative guide to this serious condition. It explains how the disease is properly diagnosed‚ treated and managed. It examines the latest research into its many manifestations with chapters devoted to complications and related diseases‚ and it devotes an entire section to coping with the psychological aspects of a chronic illness and the gluten-free diet. The book also includes appendices on related articles and books of interest‚ medical contact information and a list of national support groups.
