Your Secret Weapon for Managing Celiac Disease: A Legacy Dietitian

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with celiac disease, you know how overwhelming it can feel. Suddenly, everyday foods become landmines, grocery shopping feels like a research project, and eating out with friends turns into a stressful guessing game.

But you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. Legacy Community Health has registered dietitians who specialize in helping patients with celiac disease make healthier choices and take control of their condition. We spoke with Director of Nutrition and Fitness at Legacy Community Health, Sean Barrett, to learn more about how he helps celiac patients navigate their diagnosis and thrive on a gluten-free diet.

Understanding Celiac Disease: More Common Than You Think

Celiac disease is becoming increasingly common across the United States. According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, diagnoses have been rising steadily since the second half of the 20th century. In fact, as the Mayo Clinic points out, this increase isn’t just because doctors are getting better at recognizing the condition. There’s evidence that celiac disease itself is genuinely becoming more widespread.

So what exactly is celiac disease? It’s an autoimmune condition where eating gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye) triggers your immune system to attack the lining of your small intestine.

Over time, this damage makes it harder for your body to absorb nutrients from food. The Cleveland Clinic explains that this can lead to symptoms ranging from digestive issues like diarrhea, bloating, and stomach pain to unexpected problems, including fatigue, anemia, bone loss, and skin rashes.

Symptoms vary widely from person to person. Some people experience obvious digestive discomfort after eating gluten, while others might not notice anything until nutrient deficiencies start causing problems elsewhere in their bodies. This is one reason why celiac disease can go undiagnosed for years.

Why the Right Diet Makes All the Difference

The good news? Celiac disease is highly manageable. The primary treatment is straightforward: avoid gluten. When you stop consuming gluten, your small intestine can heal, and most people see their symptoms improve significantly.

But “simple” and “easy” are two different things. Gluten hides in unexpected places, like soy sauce, medications, salad dressings, even lip balms. Cross-contamination is a major concern that many new patients underestimate, Barrett explains. Touching contaminated items and then preparing food, or using products labeled gluten-free that were exposed during manufacturing, can cause problems.

Depending on how severe your sensitivity is, even kissing someone who recently ate gluten can trigger a reaction.

Managing Celiac Disease Without Fear

“One of the biggest mistakes I see is patients becoming so fearful of flare-ups and hospital visits that they severely restrict their diets,” Barrett says. “They might limit themselves to just a handful of ‘safe’ foods, which can lead to malnutrition. Education is the key. The goal isn’t to become scared of food. It’s to become educated about food so you can eat confidently and maintain good nutrition.”

Understanding food labels is crucial but complicated. There’s a difference between “gluten-free” and “certified gluten-free” labels, and the food industry uses many different names for gluten-containing ingredients.

Legacy dietitians help you navigate the complexities of gluten-free living, teaching you to read labels, identify hidden gluten sources, and plan safe, satisfying meals. They’ll make sure you’re getting adequate nutrition (people with celiac disease often risk deficiencies in iron, calcium, and vitamin D) and help you avoid fear-based eating while preventing long-term damage from flare-ups.

What to Expect When You Work with a Legacy Dietitian

When you schedule an appointment with a Legacy dietitian, you’re not just getting a list of foods to avoid. You’re getting a partner who can help you build sustainable habits for the long haul.

“The first thing I need to know is: have you been properly tested for and diagnosed with celiac disease?” Barrett explains. “With gluten-free eating becoming trendy, entire grocery store aisles are now dedicated to it, [but] it’s essential to confirm you actually have celiac disease before overhauling your diet.”

Once your diagnosis is confirmed, Barrett educates patients on what gluten is, where it comes from, and how to avoid it in all its hidden forms. He asks for a few days of food intake records to understand current eating patterns, as well as symptoms and recent flare-ups.

Your dietitian will develop a personalized plan that fits your life: whether you’re a busy parent needing quick meal ideas, a college student with limited cooking options, or someone troubleshooting persistent symptoms. Between appointments, you’ll receive handouts defining gluten and listing safe foods, plus trusted websites for celiac patients to turn to when questions come up.

Taking the First Step

If you’ve been diagnosed with celiac disease (or suspect you might have it), don’t wait to get the support you need. Left untreated, celiac disease can lead to serious complications, including malnutrition, weakened bones, and an increased risk of certain cancers. The earlier you take action, the better your chances of reversing intestinal damage and preventing long-term problems.

Ready to take control of your celiac disease? Talk to your Legacy provider about scheduling an appointment with one of our registered dietitians. Your small intestine will thank you.