Celiac disease, also known as gluten sensitive enteropathy, is an autoimmune disorder that affects the small intestine. People with celiac cannot eat gluten as it can cause damage to the small intestine. Celiac is a genetic disorder, meaning people are born with it. It is not something you develop through eating habits or any other outside influences. About 1 in every 100 people around the world are affected by celiac, and even more are undiagnosed. This is troublesome, as left untreated, the disease can have long term health implications.Gluten can be found in wheat, barley and rye, which are all found in many common foods. People with celiac cannot process gluten the way most people can. For people with celiac disease, consuming foods with gluten causes their body to attack the gluten as if it were an infection. Their immune system causes damage to the villi of the small intestine, which in turn hinders their bodies' digestion.Read on to learn more about the symptoms of celiac.
