If you’ve just been diagnosed with celiac, you may be feeling confused, overwhelmed, and sad. You may be asking yourself, how can I give up the foods I love – for life?
These are understandable and common reactions. A diagnosis of celiac disease means some big changes for your life! So let’s start with the basics. What is celiac?
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease in which the protein gluten triggers the body’s immune system to attack the small intestine. The lining of the intestine is damaged and then is unable to absorb nutrients well. Even a tiny amount of gluten can jump-start this reaction, so people with celiac have to be extremely careful about what they eat.
That may sound pretty bad, but luckily, the treatment for celiac disease is simple - a lifelong gluten-free diet. No drugs or long-term medical treatment; your cure is food. Eating only gluten-free foods will allow your intestines to heal completely and will help you feel healthy again. Whether you’ve been suffering for years or just started experiencing symptoms recently, the diagnosis of celiac can truly change your life. It may be hard at first, but you’ll be amazed as you shed one symptom after another, until you’re feeling like a new person.
So even though you have been diagnosed with celiac disease, your life is not over! You can still enjoy dinner with friends, socialize, and eat delicious food. You can still do all the activities you did before – only now, you’ll feel better doing them.
In fact, you are about to embark on a fantastic new beginning.
There are lots of people around you who are going through the same thing. Find each other over a delicious gluten-free cupcake! Here are some places to start in the Boston area:
And if you're feeling alone? Don't.
There are lots of people around you who are going through the same thing. Find each other over a delicious gluten-free cupcake! Here are some places to start in the Boston area:
