Celiac disease: Causes, symptoms & histamine

Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects not only the intestines but can also affect various organ systems . Therefore, it is often referred to as "the invisible" disease . People with celiac disease have a lifelong autoimmune reaction to the gluten protein. This protein is found in grains such as wheat, rye, spelt, and barley.

Diverse symptoms: How celiac disease manifests itself

The symptoms of celiac disease can vary widely. However, one thing is the same for everyone – consuming certain foods triggers inflammation of the small intestine lining in affected individuals . Over time, this causes the villi of the small intestine to die off. This then leads to a deficiency in the body's supply of essential nutrients.

Villi: a brief overview

Intestinal villi are tiny projections of the intestinal wall responsible for nutrient absorption. The good news is that intestinal villi can regenerate once damaged. The recovery time varies depending on the extent of the damage, but generally speaking, it can take about 12 months .

The most common symptoms of celiac disease

Because the symptoms are often ambiguous, celiac disease is frequently diagnosed very late. The disease doesn't only manifest itself through gastrointestinal problems. In children, it can also present as developmental delays , which may only become apparent relatively late. Psychological symptoms such as depression are also possible . If other family members are already affected by celiac disease, a diagnosis is usually made more quickly, as it can be inherited.

Diagnosis: Celiac disease

At the first suspicion of celiac disease, it's best to have a blood test done by your trusted doctor to determine the level of celiac antibodies in your blood. In most cases, this antibody test is sufficient to confirm the diagnosis . However, definitive confirmation is obtained through a small bowel biopsy. For the biopsy and antibody test to be accurate , it's important to perform them before eliminating gluten from your diet .

Celiac disease diagnosis: What you need to know

Immediately after diagnosis, it is highly recommended to seek appropriate nutritional counseling to ensure that all sources of gluten are eliminated from the diet. Even trace amounts can cause severe inflammation and discomfort. A gluten-free diet therefore means a strict separation of gluten-free and gluten-containing products. If the affected person lives in a mixed household , it is even advisable to have a separate cutting board, toaster, etc., for them. Even the smallest traces, such as crumbs of gluten-containing products, can trigger an adverse reaction. It is therefore particularly important to inform the daycare, school, etc., about the condition, especially in the case of children .

Histamine and celiac disease: Is there a connection?

People with histamine intolerance often suffer from an imbalance of gut bacteria. This can lead to poor metabolism of gluten-containing foods or even the development of other intestinal disorders. Generally, wheat is less well tolerated by those affected, even though it contains little histamine. In conclusion, it can be said that people with histamine intolerance often also suffer from gluten intolerance , but this does not necessarily mean they have celiac disease.

Living gluten-free: Suitable grains and shopping tips

• corn
• rice
• Amaranth
• millet
• Buckwheat
• Quinoa
• Teff

• Spelt
• Einkorn
• Emmer
• barley
• Green spelt
• Kamut
• rye
• Triticale
• Wheat

Shopping tips