Some people may not realize they have a genetic disease that flares up after eating certain foods. The culprit is gluten and the symptoms are from celiac disease.

Every time Alicia Yowell ate certain types of food, she had a reaction that caused damage to her small intestines . "Stomach ache, indigestion, bloating, sometimes diarrhea."

Alicia was diagnosed with celiac disease. Gastroenterologist Asif Choudhury says, "is a disease of mostly the small intestine where it gets inflamed from allergy to some of the food particles."

Dr. Choudhury explains that the offending food is called gluten and it is found in found in wheat, barley, rye, and to a lesser extent, oat products. While some medications may help to alleviate a portion of the gastrointestinal discomfort from this disease, there is one change all patients must make. "The main treatment is gluten free diet, especially rye, barley & wheat."

Alicia says that if you are diagnosed with this condition, its important that you become a bit of a research freak because when you do, you'll find out that foods like this have gluten and gluten's not good for you in fact, its very bad for your digestive tract. "Some stores do carry special products that are gluten free then you do start seeing an improvement."

Celiac disease is life-long and currently incurable. If you suspect you might have this condition, talk to your doctor. It's usually diagnosed with a simple blood test.

Celiac disease is most often a genetically inherited condition.