The disease can be identified through the condition known as villous atrophy or the damage within the upper small intestine’s mucosal lining. The consequence of this damage is inability of the intestines to absorb nutrients which further result to malnutrition.

The immune system intervenes with the mucosal injury or damage caused by this disease by triggering a reaction that treats toxic proteins especially prolamins (contained in gluten) as enemies of the body but instead of causing damage to the enemy, it causes damage to itself. That reaction causes the flattening of the villi in the small intestines. When prolamins are detected by T-cells (our body’s immune system cells), it then fights it out.

Flattening of the villi is the result of the body’s immune system action towards the toxic protein. Instead of causing damage to the enemy, it causes damage to the body because the protein that it fights is supposedly an integral part of the diet which is essential to the body of a person without this disease, that’s why it is called autoimmune disease due to its action towards its own body.

One good thing about this damage is that, it is reversible if prompt action is to be undertaken immediately. Although intestinal injury occurs due to this disease, it is slow to build up. There is a great chance of complete healing if the disease is diagnosed and treated early.

Other kinds of cereal proteins like zein (found in corn) and oryzenin in rice are not harmful to celiac sufferers because they contain sequences of amino acids of a different order.

Listed here were significant dates and contributions, known for their conviction to put an end to this debilitating malabsorption disease, celiac sprue (celiac disease).

• 400 B.C.- During this time, the great Greek physician Hippocrates established a customary school of medicine founded on the notion that diseases were not to be attributed anymore with supernatural forces, and that diseases were caused by actual physical and environmental causes rather than by disappointed and resentful gods.

• 250 A.D.-  Galen, also known as Arataeus of Cappadocia, was the first to explain the variations of celiac disease between children and adult.

• 1888-  It is the year when the first clinical accounts regarding adult and children’s celiac disease were presented by Samuel Gee. It was in this account that he commented “If the patient be cured at all, it must be by means of diet.”

• 1908-  Herter was the first to identify that celiac disease can lead to stunted growth especially among middle-aged children.

• 1921-  Howland devised a healthy diet (three-stage diet) for celiac sufferers.  It is referred to as milk/protein diet.

• 1932-  The first clinical explanation of celiac disease in adults was provided by Thaysen although he lacked knowledge on intestinal pathology.

• 1950-  Willem Karel Dicke astutely identified cereal grains as the culprit in aggravating the symptoms of celiac disease, especially in children.

• 1954-  Paulley while experimenting with surgical biopsy material was the first to accurately discover the intestinal lesions caused by celiac disease in patients.

• 1955-  Margo Shiner invented a minute biopsy tube still used today for diagnosing celiac disease presence in the jejunum (small intestines).

At this time studying and extensive research are still being done by experts with the intention of finding a real cure for this mysterious malady, celiac disease.

Celiac disease is dissimilar from other autoimmune diseases because the antigen that hastens or precipitating its occurrence can be readily excluded from the food intake. This makes celiac disease easy to avoid and cure. The only setback here is how to totally avoid the precipitating agent (gluten) because the substance is present in almost all of the ready made foods sold in grocery stores as well as restaurants.

There are foods in groceries especially bread, that was labeled wheat-free, but take note, wheat-free foods does not necessarily mean they are totally free of gluten. Certain foods that require avoidance aside from bread are pastries, pasta, bagels and pizza. These foods generally contain high amounts of gluten.   Wheat is not the only gluten-rich product that should be avoided, barley, oats and rye must also be evaded.

Instead of buying and eating the aforementioned products, there are products or foods that can be substituted like foods made strictly out of rice flour.  In order to avoid being deceived by food labels, there is a kit that determines the presence of the said antigen in food contents.  After total avoidance of gluten in the diet, a person will usually feel the dwindling of symptoms in a span of just two weeks.  If symptoms persist after the suggested cure, intestinal biopsy is required to further determine the cause of the persisting warning sign.

Bagels, cake, beer, bread, certain biscuits, broth, couscous, french toast, cupcakes, graham crackers, matzo, croutons, wheat starch, noodles, cookies, doughnuts, pancakes, pastry, noodles, oatmeal, malted milk (malt is derived from barley), pie, semolina, macaroni, muffins, spaghetti, waffle, soup and stack, pasta, pretzel, toast, wheat berries, barley, cake meal, durum flour, flour (unless specified), gluten, kamut, wheat germ, malt flavoring, bulgur (made of wheat), oat bran, rolled oats, gliadin, malt vinegar, spelt, wheat, triticale and seitan.

Nevertheless, there were still some exceptions to the rule namely, rice noodles (made from rice) and breads that are made from rice flour.  Nebulous foods are foods that have virtually no wheat content label on its package and are considered safe.  But beware, these kinds of foods may contain food enhancers that is made from grains such as HVP (Hydrolized Vegetable Protein) and therefore should be avoided.

Despite this long list, the best and most possible way to avoid foods that are harmful to celiac is to consult a physician. It is also best to bring a list of taboo ingredients and foods when doing shopping to have a ready reference on what to buy and what not to buy. There is no better way than prevention.