Miss Universe 2021, Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu has been over the moon since donning the cherished beauty pageant. Her recent statement about the rather inflammatory Hizab feud has captured our hearts. Harnaaz noted that they should live the way they want. The beauty queen recently topped the Lakme Fashion week ramp walk as a showstopper.
Although Harnaaz stole the show, some netizens scolded Harnaaz for arriving. She shared that she was bullied for gaining weight and revealed that she has celiac disease. An autoimmune disease that turns on the immune system when a person consumes gluten in any form in their diet. Harnaaz said that she’s probably one of the first to be bullied for being “too skinny” and now “too fat.” Due to celiac disease, Harnaaz cannot tolerate wheat flour and other gluten-rich diets.
What is celiac disease?
Also known as celiac disease or gluten-sensitive enteropathy is an immune-induced reaction to consuming (any form) of gluten. Gluten is a type of structural protein found in grains including wheat, rye, barley etc. it is also found in oats!
Any ingestion of gluten activates the body’s immunity that attacks the small intestine. Gradually, the linings in the small intestine are damaged, causing diarrhea, weight loss, bloating, anemia, and fatigue, among other things. There is no cure for celiac disease. Unfortunately, there is no cure for a chronic autoimmune disease.
Image: Mayo Foundation
Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms can vary in children and adults. In adults, the following symptoms generally appear early.
- Acute abdominal pain
- Anemia
- Loss of bone density and joint pain
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Heartburn (and headache)
- Fatigue and/or nausea
- Blister rash known as dermatitis herpetiformis
- Hyposplenism or impaired spleen function
Although a gluten-free diet is recommended as part of medication, in some cases, such as refractory celiac disease, the patient does not seem to respond to it either, requiring further medical intervention. Needless to say, the more you dig into the disease, the more you realize how these autoimmune diseases wreak havoc on a human body! The pain and trauma it causes those affected goes beyond saying, leading to anxiety and chronic depression. We are all fighting a battle that no one knows about. Brave storms yourself. Let’s be kind. Let’s be a little more sensitive and sensible. Stop body shaming†
SEE ALSO: 3 Types of Inequality That Degrade Mental Health
Cover Image: Instagram