One thing that all Celiacs can relate to is having to figure out how to explain what Celiac is to their family and friends. I decided to put together a little helpful guide so you’ll be armed with science – and the best way to explain to the less science inclined people in your life.
What Is Celiac?
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease where the ingestion of gluten leads to the damage of the small intestine. If it goes undiagnosed, the lining of the small intestine, called the villi, gets damaged and cannot absorb important nutrients your body needs. This leads to even more serious problems, such as Type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, infertility and miscarriage, neurological conditions like epilepsy and migraines, short stature, heart disease and intestinal cancers.
Typically Celiac disease is genetic – so if your parent or your grandparent has it, then you are more likely to have it. According to the Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF), people with a first-degree relative with celiac disease (parent, child, sibling) have a 1 in 10 risk of developing celiac disease.
The CDF also estimates that 1 in 100 people worldwide have Celiac disease, and about 2.5 million Americans are undiagnosed.
That’s great – But how do I explain what Celiac is to my loved ones?
Clearly, this is a serious disease. But how do you convey that to your family and friends who don’t want to listen to st
ats and boring stuff about genetics?
This is how I tell people: Celiac disease means I can’t eat gluten, and if I do, it destroys my intestinal lining, which, overtime, could cause complications, like cancer.
Straight to the point, and conveys that this is a very serious disease, and not a lifestyle choice.
Then you’ll get the follow up question: What is gluten?
Here’s the simplified answer: Gluten is wheat, barley and rye, and is found in many common products, like pasta, bread, baked goods, and cereals.
Once you answer that, you’ll get a whole list of other (semi to extremely annoying) questions like, “Are potatoes gluten free?”, “Wow, you can’t eat anything, can you?”, “I bet this new diet will make you lose so much weight!” (I know, not a question, but something annoying.)
By the way, you have every right to ignore these terrible questions, or you can be prepared and check out the list of 22 annoying things people say when they find out you’re gluten free.
