People with celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten. Gluten is a type of protein found as nutrient
in food and is released to the digestive system. When the body receives food
that contains gluten (e.g. wheat, rye, and barley) the immune systems responds
and attacks the small intestines. In the event of this, the linings of the
small intestine called villi are damaged. When the villi get damaged, the body
cannot properly absorb nutrients.
This disease is hereditary, were people with a 1st-degree
relative have a 1 in 10 risk of developing this disease.
