Celiac disease is quite frequent in India and other parts of the world. Patients of celiac disease have damaged small intestine; the damage is caused by the reaction of the immune system to gluten. Gluten is a protein found in rye, barley or wheat. The reaction caused against gluten causes inflammation of the small intestine. The damage caused to the small intestine also lead to nutritional deficiencies as it affects the absorption of nutrition from the ingested foods. Further complications like anemia, seizures, joint pain, diarrhea, acidity, post-meal dizziness, to name a few, may also arise in the patients. Different patients suffer varied complications with respect to frequency and intensity.
Dietary changes for patients with celiac disease
The best treatment for celiac patients is a special celiac disease diet. Celiac disease patients require making dietary changes in order to curb the problems caused by gluten-containing products. Patients with celiac disease should avoid Gluten and Gluten containing products in their diet. Gluten-free diet for celiac disease patients will help in reducing the symptoms, heal the injury and prevent further damage. The slightest amount of Gluten in the diet may trigger the immune response and cause severe health problems and complications in the patients.
It is very cumbersome to limit Gluten from the diet as one has to be always very careful of the foodstuffs that they are consuming. Celiac patients need to take special care while planning their diet.
- They should carefully read the labels of all the products
- They should only buy products that have no gluten ingredients.
- They should keep a list of millet products handy with them
- They should know the millet foodstuffs that they can consume in their daily diet
Special Celiac disease diet
Since special dietary changes are necessary for celiac patients, the vital question is, which products should the celiac disease patients safely consume? It is imperative that celiac patients should avoid gluten and gluten-containing products. Celiac patients have to avoid eating most of the grains, pasta, cereals, and processed foods as these may contain gluten-containing grains like rye, barley or wheat. There are many products which can form a part of celiac patient’s diet like meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, rice, and potatoes without additives or seasonings. Various natural grains are available which are healthty millet and safe for the consumption of the celiac patients. These grains are usually available at the local grocery shops, or in specialty or health food stores. These products could also be bought through various online portals.
A balanced diet for celiac patients
Another aspect that should be carefully monitored while planning a diet is the celiac disease patient’s nutrition. Many times while making dietary changes, people fail to plan for and consume a balanced diet. This may lead to unnecessary deficiencies in the patients. The diet planned for celiac patients should not only be gluten free but should also contain necessary nutrients.
Here is good news!
Many healthy Millet products are now available in the market. Jowar (Sorghum) Flakes and Pearl Millet (Bajra) Flakes are amongst them. The advantages of including Jowar (Sorghum) Flakes and Bajra (Pearl Millet) Flakes in the celiac patient’s diet are –
- These are produced from natural grains and by natural farming techniques
- The necessary nutritional ingredients are intact
- They are a rich source of dietary fibre and low in sugar content
- They help in digestion and reduce post-meal acidity
- As they contain no gluten Ingredients, they reduce the complications caused by celiac patients
- Various nutritious and tasty recipes could be made easily from these flakes
Many tasty and quick recipes could be made from, Jowar (Sorghum) Flakes and Bajra (Pearl Millet) Flakes. These recipes are nutritionally balanced, tasty and easy to cook. Celiac patients, on consuming these recipes made from Jowar (Sorghum) Flakes and Bajra (Pearl Millet) Flakes feels as if he has regained his health and active life! Eat well and bring back a healthy life!
