Celiac Disease | Treatment

Celiac disease sounds really serious! How can I control it?

Celiac disease is serious. Fortunately you can control celiac disease by following a gluten-free diet, meaning you don’t eat any gluten. By following the right diet, you can reverse the damage caused by celiac disease and you'll feel better. But if you "cheat" on your diet, the damage will come back, even if you don't feel sick right away.

People who follow a gluten-free diet usually avoid all foods that contain wheat, barley and rye products, including many breads, pastas, cereals and processed foods, Some people also choose to avoid oats because some oat products may be contaminated with wheat gluten, Gluten also is sometimes used in medicines, so be sure to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking a new medicine.

Learning to be gluten-free may be difficult at first. It will take time for you and your family to learn how to avoid gluten. You’ll have to learn to read ingredient labels and identify the foods that contain gluten. You’ll have to be careful when you buy foods at the grocery store, or when you eat out. You’ll probably have to learn some new cooking recipes. For help, contact one of the celiac support groups listed below. These groups are excellent sources of information and advice. They’ll help you find gluten-free foods and good recipes, and can give you tips on successfully living with celiac disease.

What resources are there for people with celiac disease?

The following cookbooks are written by Bette Hagman and published by Henry Holt and Co. In the books, Hagman, who has celiac disease, shares what she has learned about a gluten-free diet.

• The Gluten-Free Gourmet: Living Well Without Wheat
• More From the Gluten-Free Gourmet
• The Gluten-Free Gourmet Cooks Fast and Healthy

The following book is a general guide to living gluten-free:

• Against the Grain: The Slightly Eccentric Guide to Living Well Without Gluten or Wheat, written by Jax Peters Lowell and published by Henry Holt and Co.