Recognizing Celiac Disease

Celiac disease, also known as gluten intolerance, was long considered a rare digestive disorder. People with celiac disease can't tolerate gluten -- a certain protein found in wheat, rye, barley and perhaps oats.

New research is showing that the prevalence of celiac disease is much higher than previously thought -- it's found in about three out of every 400 people.

For people with this condition, consuming gluten damages the lining of the small intestine and limits the absorption of nutrients, which can lead to malnutrition.

Symptoms of celiac disease include weakness, appetite loss, weight loss, chronic diarrhea and abdominal cramps and bloating.

If you have any of these symptoms, contact your physician for a diagnosis because they could be due to other causes.