Sensitive to gluten? Get tested for celiac disease

WASHINGTON — People who think they are sensitive to gluten haven’t been properly tested for celiac disease, according to a new study at the Eastern Health Clinical School at Monash University and Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia.

Celiac disease is a condition where eating gluten – a protein found in grains like rye and wheat – damages the lining of the intestines and leads to digestive complications like diarrhea and cramping.

In other cases, celiac disease could lead to anemia and neurological disorders, says Claire LeBrun, a senior nutritionist at the George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates.

If you have a gluten sensitivity, it’s important to get tested for celiac disease, Lebrun says. Those with celiac disease have to be “vigilant” to avoid gluten altogether.

And if you’re not sure just what gluten is, let Jimmy Kimmel help you. Or not.

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