celiac disease Archives

Celiac Disease Explained

People who have celiac disease have to avoid eating gluten, which is a protein found in wheat.

Celiac disease, as mentioned, is a sensitivity to gluten. It affects 1 in 100 people worldwide, and it is estimated that almost 3 million Americans might have it without even knowing! People with Celiac disease might develop nutrient deficiencies and malnutrition because their body limits the absorption of nutrients. There is no cure for the disease other than to avoid eating gluten, which can be hard for many people without doing extensive research or getting help from a registered dietitian.

The Medicare Nutrition Therapy Act

Currently, Medicare does not allow beneficiaries to access help from nutritionists for Celiac disease; only diabetes and renal disease qualify for medical nutrition therapy under Medicare Part B. So, unfortunately, this means that many older adults do not have access to a registered dietitian who can explain to them what they can eat and should avoid. However, a new bill that has been introduced in Congress, the Medicare Nutrition Therapy Act, is aiming to change things and allow beneficiaries to get treatment from registered dietitians.

“The only treatment for Celiac disease is the diet. And the person that’s best trained to help that patient navigate a gluten-free diet is a dietitian,” says Anne Lee, EdD, RDN, Instructor in Nutritional Medicine at the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University in New York.

She says providing insurance coverage is the right thing to do, “because it ensures better healthcare for our patients. Many patients can’t afford the additional cost of a dietitian visit on top of the physician visit, on top of the cost of the gluten-free food, on top of the additional costs of just having Celiac disease.”

young woman with a stethoscope around her neck holding a bowl of fruit.

In addition, the current Senate version of the bill would allow physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and psychologists to refer patients to nutritionists. This would mean that Medicare beneficiaries would not have to rely on their primary care physician to refer them. Making it easier for older adults to get consultations with a dietitian is extremely important, as a regulated diet is currently the only treatment available for those with Celiac disease.

Medicare Supplement Plan Coverage

If you have an autoimmune condition such as Celiac disease, you should consider a Medicare Supplement Plan, because you will need as much coverage as possible to help cover the cost of treatment. Seeing a registered dietitian can be costly, but a Medicare Supplement Plan can help with medical expenses so you will not have to worry about how to pay for your treatment.

Currently, Plan G is the most popular Medicare Supplement Plan on the market because it offers the most coverage, but there are 10 different Medicare Supplement Plans that can be tailored to your needs, each with different coverage options at different price points. If you are interested in a Medicare Supplement Plan, EZ can compare plans in your area at no cost. Our licensed agents are ready to help you save money and get you the most coverage for your buck. To get free instant quotes, enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a licensed agent, call 888-753-7207. No obligation.

Ok, the holidays have been over for weeks and weeks now, so it’s getting harder to blame that uncomfortably swollen belly on a cookie-induced food baby. Don’t worry, though, that distended belly is most likely caused by simple bloating (and don’t feel bad about it – nobody has a completely flat belly ALL the time, no matter what Instagram says). Bloating is very common: at least 16 – 30% of people say they experience it regularly.

Not to be confused with water retention, bloat is the result of having extra gas in your system due to swallowing air or eating certain foods, so the culprit is most likely something in your diet. If that’s the case, it’s an easy enough fix: the first step is to know which foods are likely to cause bloating, and which ones might help you relieve it.

Other Causes of Bloating

woman grabbing her belly — *Bloating can be caused by a number of different medical conditions, but can also be caused by the foods you eat.*

Before we look at the most likely causes of bloating, we should mention that there are other possible reasons behind your uncomfortable belly. If you feel very bloated every single time that you eat, you may want to speak to your doctor about it. According to Rachel Doyle, RDN, “It could be a sign that something is out of whack with your gut health and digestion.” More serious causes behind excessive bloating include:

Celiac disease
Constipation
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Inflammatory bowel disease
Gastroparesis
Cancer

In most cases, though, dealing with a bit of bloat is a matter of some dietary tweaks. Now, it can be tough to know exactly what is triggering your belly bloat, so there may be a little bit of trial and error involved. “A food that causes bloating for your friend might not do the same for you and vice versa,” as Rachel Doyle points out. “That being said, there are some common culprits.”

Foods That Bring the Bloat

Legumes – Yes, we all know the rhymes dedicated to beans, the magical fruit. There’s a reason these classy poems exist: most legumes, which includes beans and lentils, contain sugars called alpha-galactosides and fiber, both of which can cause bloating. Alpha-galactosides belong to a group of carbs knowns as FODMAPs (fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides and polyols). FODMAPs are short-chain carbohydrates that escape digestion and are then fermented by gut bacteria in the colon. Gas is a byproduct of this process. Some people tolerate this fermentation better than others; some, unfortunately, experience uncomfortable bloating, so if you’re one of them, experiment with taking some of these foods out of your diet one at a time.

One thing to consider is that legumes are chock full of protein and nutrients (fiber being a necessary one, despite its tendency to cause tummy trouble), so try not to cut them out of your diet completely. If they’re really causing you trouble, try lighter colored lentils, black beans, or pinto beans (all of which may be easier on your digestive system) and soak them if possible. If you’re looking to add more protein into your diet without the beans, try quinoa.

Cruciferous veggies – This is not an excuse to feed your greens to the dog, but cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kale, arugula, and cabbage contain a sugar called raffinose, which can cause gas, according to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders. On the other hand, these veggies are extremely good for you, so instead of cutting them out altogether, try eating smaller portions, eliminating one at a time to see which bothers you, or cooking them to get rid of some of the raffinose. And if you really need a break from these nutritional powerhouses, supplement your diet with other nutritious veggies like spinach, sweet potatoes, and zucchini.

Apples – An apple a day keeps the doctor away, for more reasons than one, apparently. While apples are undeniably healthy, they also contain fructose and fiber, which can ferment in the large intestine and cause gas and bloating. Apples are also considered a high FODMAP food. Try cooking them (mmm…applesauce!), or switching to other fruits like strawberries, bananas, or blueberries.

Processed/packaged foods – Bet you can’t eat just one potato chip, right? The reason? Sodium (ok, and the crunch)! Processed foods tend to be so hard to put down because they’re salty; they also cause bloating for the same reason. While sodium technically is causing water retention because it holds onto water, the results are the same: swelling and bloating. Try to limit high-sodium processed foods – it’s better for your health to do so, anyway!

Fatty foods – Some fats are good for you; others, less so. Foods high in saturated fat are not great for you and should be limited; they can also cause bloating because they take longer to digest than other foods. According to Kristin Gillespie, RD, a certified nutrition support clinician, “Because these move more slowly through the GI tract, this can result in bloating.” Try to limit your saturated fat intake to less than 10% of your daily calories.

Wheat can cause bloating, especially if you have celiac disease.
Dairy – Think lactose intolerance isn’t a thing? Think again: around 75% of the world’s population can’t break down lactose, the sugar in dairy products like milk, butter, cheese, and ice cream (the horror!). This struggle to break down lactose can cause – you guessed it – gas and bloating. The one exception might be yogurt (more on that below). Fortunately, nowadays there are a lot of alternatives to straight-up dairy products, like lactose-free products and dairy alternatives made with soy or nuts.

Wheat – Here’s a controversial one, but it is true that wheat is a major source of FODMAPs, and gluten, the protein found in wheat, can also cause digestive discomfort in people with a gluten sensitivity (or, more seriously, celiac disease). As with dairy, there are tons of gluten-free alternatives to wheat like oats, quinoa, buckwheat, and almond and coconut flours.

Foods That May Help Beat the Bloat

Yogurt – Most dairy can be a real belly buster, but yogurt is the exception. According to Gillespie, “Containing probiotics, which help to regulate digestion and improve overall GI health, yogurt can help prevent bloating.” Just make sure to look for products that tout “live, active cultures,” and avoid sugary varieties, as too much sugar can contribute to bloating (and all that sugar kind of cancels out the health benefits of that lovely yogurt!)

Cucumbers – While you’re slicing up cukes for your under-eye puffiness, slice up a few for your puffy belly, too! Cucumbers contain quercetin, a flavonoid antioxidant that helps reduce swelling. According to Cynthia Sass, RD, MPH, “Cucumbers have been shown to inhibit the activity of pro-inflammatory enzymes.”

Asparagus – Ok, yeah, it makes your pee smell, but it also just makes you pee, period. The aspargine in it is a diuretic, which helps you flush out salt and water and relieve discomfort and bloating. Asparagus also contains prebiotics, which help support the growth of ‘good’ bacteria, as well as soluble and insoluble fibers, which helps promote overall digestive health.

Bananas – Foods high in potassium, including bananas, kiwis, pistachios, and avocados, prevent water retention by regulating sodium levels in your body, meaning they can reduce salt-induced bloating. Bananas also have soluble fiber, which can relieve or prevent constipation, which could also be behind your bloated belly.
Peppermint tea can help get rid of the gas that causes stomach bloat.

Papaya – The enzyme in papaya, papain, helps break down proteins in your GI system, which makes digestion easier. Like cucumbers, it is thought that papaya has anti-inflammatory properties. They also have fibers that support a strong digestive tract. Try freezing it and blending it into a delicious smoothie!

Peppermint tea – After a big meal, or when you’re feeling bloated, sit back with a nice, hot cup of peppermint tea, which can relax GI muscles. This helps dissipate the gas that causes your stomach to bloat.

If you’re experiencing the bloat, you’re definitely not alone! But there are strategies to help keep it at bay. Experiment with removing the above foods, but remember, there’s no need to cut them all out for good – figure out which are causing you trouble, and go from there! And if you’re experiencing persistent digestive problems, talk to your doctor about trying a low FODMAP diet, or about other possible causes to your discomfort. You can beat the bloat!

Tag: celiac disease

Celiac Disease & Medicare