Whilst 'coeliac', in its strictest medical sense may refer to gluten intolerance only, in more general terms it means, simply, 'of or in the abdominal cavity'.

The primary, and most important, treatment is the elimination of grains containing gluten from the diet. In addition, it may be necessary to severely restrict intake of non-glutinous grains and refined carbohydrate. If these rules are not adhered to, a severe relapse, especially in later life, will generally follow. It is therefore essential to avoid eating any food containing wheat, rye, barley and oats. This covers a fairly wide range of foodstuffs, and it is important to read the labels on canned, bottled and packaged foods to ensure that fillers containing gluten, have not been used. For the coeliac, even small amounts of gluten, in the form of breadcrumbs, batter, gravy, sauces, etc., can cause serious damage to the small intestine.

Because of malabsorption of nutrients, due to intestinal damage, a course of supplements is extremely useful in aiding the body to recover. Many coeliacs are found to be anemic due to deficiencies or iron and folic acid. Calcium deficiency is common and is due partly, to vitamin D deficiency and partly to calcium binding to unabsorbed fatty acids. In general, malabsorption due to coeliac disease, starves the body of most vital nutrients to some degree. Accordingly, it is important to take daily doses of vitamin, mineral and amino acid complexes during the recovery period. If the small intestine of the coeliac has been severely affected, it may always remain delicate. It may well be necessary to continue with some form of nutrient supplementation after recovery, to ensure maintenance of good health.

Some coeliacs may suffer from a lactose deficiency due either to intestinal damage caused by the disease, or reasons such as incorrect feeding during infancy or hereditary factors. It is important that these people exclude milk and milk products from their diet as well as cereals containing gluten. If this problem is not recognized, then a gluten-free diet alone, will not allow a full recovery.

Some sufferers may also have to abstain from refined carbohydrates, such as cereals and sugar, due to the extent of intestinal damage. For these people, essential carbohydrate may be easily obtained from fruit and vegetables, especially bananas. An ongoing diet, along these lines, will save the intestine from further deterioration and ensure a continuing level of health.

Coeliac disease is difficult to diagnose and there is considerable evidence that, due to the over consumption of grains in our society, it is far more prevalent than previously indicated. It is a prime source of multiple allergy illness and toxic overload due to the damage done to the small intestine, where the bulk of food digestion and assimilation takes place. As well as damage to the villi, the intestinal walls can become porous and allow toxic, partly digested food particles into the bloodstream where they will cause allergy symptoms and wreak havoc on the body's immune system.

It has long been suspected that there are many degrees of coeliac disease, not all of which can be diagnosed effectively by use of the biopsy procedure.