In people with celiac disease, gluten intake triggers the body to generate high levels of antibodies which damage the villi in the small intestine. It is these villi which are responsible for absorbing nutrients from the food into the bloodstream. Once they are damaged, our body does not get the required nutrients, which causes different problems in different individuals. Watch our videos about celiac disease to learn more.

Gluten is a protein – found in wheat, barley rye and oats – which is responsible for causing celiac disease. Gluten is found in all breads, cakes, rotis, pasta and many other food items. Learn more

The only treatment for celiac disease is to eliminate gluten completely from your diet. There is no need for any medicines, injections or transfusions but only a dietary change.

Once you stop eating gluten, the changes will be visible in 2-3 weeks itself. Complete recovery of the intestine though may take about 2 years.

Naturally gluten free food items like rice, daal, fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs and dishes prepared at home from these items are safe to eat. Read about safe and unsafe items.

You can also learn to prepare gluten free versions of cake, bread and other items from our recipe section

Always keep in mind that if a strict gluten free diet is not complied to, it can result into anemia, malnutrition, bone disorders, infertility, liver disease and at times even more complicated disorders. Of course, all the original symptoms will also return. Little bit gluten, eaten only once in a while can also result in these complications in a few years.

I would like to share with you that the first recorded cases of celiac disease were in 250 AD by a Greek doctor! In fact, the word celiac has its origin in the Greek word ‘koeliac’ meaning abdomen.

Read some other myths about this condition.

It is generally thought that celiac disease is rare but the reality is that about 1% of the population in countries like USA, UK, Canada, Australia and many other parts of the world is suspected to be suffering from this condition. In India too, 1% of the population, especially in North India, is suspected to have celiac disease but most of them have not been diagnosed so far.
Children like you are fortunate to have been diagnosed because your recovery process can begin now. There are many more who are still suffering, not knowing that it is a condition which can be corrected easily – by a dietary change.