Coeliac Disease is an auto-immune disorder. As a Coeliac, our body rejects proteins found in wheat (gluten), barley, rye and oats. When someone with CD eats foods containing these proteins, it has a significant effect on your small bowel. 

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Gluten damages the villi hair within your small intestine, impacting the nutrients your body absorbs. It can take up to 6 months to reverse the impact gluten has on the small bowel and the only way for the villi to recover from this damage, is to stick to a strict gluten free diet, for life. 

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Common Symptoms of Coeliac Disease

- Fatigue 

- Low iron levels 

- Mouth Ulcers

- Unexplained Infertility 

- Indigestion

- Nausea and Vomiting 

- Diarrhoea and Flatulence 

- Malnutrition

- Joint Pain

- Delayed Puberty 

- Skin Rash (Dermatitis Herpetiformis)

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Being a Coeliac is hereditary, so individuals with a first degree relative (parent, child, sibling) have a 1 in 10 risk of developing Coeliac Disease. According to The Coeliac Society, 1 in 70 Australians have Coeliac Disease and 4 out of 5 remain undiagnosed. 

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You can learn more about Coeliacs Disease Here.

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