Celiac disease isn’t just a dietary challenge—it’s a full-body condition that impacts the immune system, digestive function, and often, emotional well-being. When someone with celiac consumes gluten, the immune system reacts by damaging the lining of the small intestine. That damage interrupts nutrient absorption and can lead to a cascade of symptoms ranging from fatigue and bloating to joint pain and even skin issues.
While avoiding gluten is the obvious first step, the body often needs deeper support—especially if symptoms have been present for years or if recovery feels slow. Natural health approaches focus on strengthening the body from the inside out, helping the gut repair itself, calming inflammation, and supporting immune balance. Here’s a closer look at some options that go beyond simply cutting out bread.
Calming Inflammation Through Gut-Specific Nutrition
Once gluten is removed from the diet, inflammation in the digestive tract doesn’t just vanish overnight. The intestinal lining has taken a hit, and healing takes consistent, nutrient-rich support. Foods rich in omega-3s, zinc, and vitamin A can play a big role in encouraging repair. Think wild-caught fish, cooked greens, and broths simmered low and slow to draw out collagen. These foods are gentle on the gut while offering the kind of nutrients the intestinal wall craves for healing.
Fermented foods like sauerkraut or low-sugar coconut yogurt can also help reintroduce healthy bacteria, which often go out of balance in those with celiac. That said, not every gut can handle fermented foods early on, so introducing them gradually is important. A full gut restoration protocol may also include herbal tinctures and digestive enzymes, ideally under the guidance of a practitioner who understands sensitivities associated with autoimmune digestion. For those seeking this kind of thoughtful approach, naturopathic doctors in San Diego are trained to guide gut repair with careful attention to how the body responds in real time.
Supporting Detox Pathways While Easing Stress
When someone has been unknowingly eating gluten for years, their liver and lymphatic systems may be under pressure from the inflammatory aftermath. The body works hard to clean up inflammation, regulate hormones, and eliminate toxins. If the detox systems get bogged down, symptoms like skin rashes, brain fog, or even mood swings can linger.
Natural therapies focus on lightening that load. Dry brushing, infrared saunas, and herbal teas like dandelion or burdock root can all support detox pathways without being too aggressive. Alongside physical detox, stress reduction plays a vital role in healing from autoimmune reactions. Chronic stress directly impacts gut permeability and immune function. Gentle daily rituals—such as restorative yoga, walks in nature, or mindfulness journaling—aren’t just trendy; they’re genuinely therapeutic.
For those who need an extra layer of support, IV therapy in San Diego offers a gentle but effective way to replenish depleted nutrients while giving the digestive system a break. Especially when absorption has been compromised, these treatments can deliver hydration, vitamins, and calming minerals directly into the bloodstream.
Addressing Underlying Nutrient Deficiencies With Targeted Care
Celiac disease doesn’t just make the gut unhappy—it can leave people seriously depleted. Because the small intestine is responsible for absorbing most nutrients, damage to its lining often results in low levels of iron, B vitamins, magnesium, and more. Even after going gluten-free, the effects of long-term deficiency can show up as fatigue, dizziness, anxiety, or irregular heart rhythms.
Natural health providers focus on rebuilding the body’s reserves without overwhelming it. Food-based supplements, mineral-rich tonics, and slow-absorbing vitamins are often preferred over synthetic pills, especially when absorption is still fragile. In some cases, a person may need blood work to evaluate specific deficiencies so the protocol can be tailored to their actual needs, rather than a one-size-fits-all routine.
This is where naturopathic consultations in San Diego can make a real difference. With a holistic look at lab results, lifestyle, and stress levels, a practitioner can help design a plan that brings energy and resilience back to the surface. These consults typically go beyond symptom management and look at the whole picture—mind, body, and what’s happening under the hood.
Strengthening The Gut-Brain Connection
There’s a reason so many people with celiac also report feeling anxious or foggy. The gut and brain are deeply connected through the vagus nerve, and when inflammation hits the gut, mental health often takes a hit too. Many who finally get diagnosed find themselves dealing with lingering fatigue, difficulty concentrating, or unexplained mood swings.
Supporting mental clarity through nutrition is a start—think omega-3s, B-complex vitamins, and antioxidants like quercetin or curcumin—but there’s also power in working directly with the nervous system. Practices like breathwork, meditation, and bodywork therapies can all help retrain the body to feel safe, grounded, and calm after years of internal stress.
Adaptogenic herbs such as ashwagandha or rhodiola may also support resilience, but should be introduced mindfully, especially in those with autoimmune conditions. Not all herbs are ideal for everyone, so it’s best to work with a trained natural health provider when building a protocol. The team at Avena Natural Health can help tailor options that support both gut repair and emotional regulation, acknowledging how interconnected those systems truly are.
Rebuilding Everyday Wellness With Long-Term Support
Getting diagnosed with celiac disease is only the beginning. True healing happens slowly and requires more than a gluten-free label. It calls for a full lifestyle shift that supports balance across all areas of life—sleep, digestion, stress, movement, and mindset. Even relationships and community play a role in helping someone feel grounded and supported.
Natural medicine takes the long view. It doesn’t just aim to relieve symptoms but helps people build a new foundation of health that works with their body, not against it. For some, this might include seasonal cleansing, regular acupuncture, or personalized nutrition plans. For others, it’s about learning how to listen to their body again after years of dismissing symptoms or pushing through.
Whether it’s a monthly check-in, IV nutrient therapy, or ongoing digestive support, Avena’s philosophy centers around getting to the root and staying connected to the healing process. A supportive partnership makes the path to recovery feel less like a burden and more like a turning point.
A celiac diagnosis doesn’t have to be the end of comfort or ease. With the right care, it can mark the start of feeling truly well—for the first time in a long time.
Media Credit: All photos licensed from Adobe.
Dr. Laura Kostrzewski, a San Diego native, completed her undergraduate degree at California Polytechnic State University, earning a BS in animal science with minors in Spanish and Psychology. She then earned her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and taught fifth grade in the central coast of California for two years. After being extremely involved in her grandfather’s journey with Parkinson’s disease and end-of-life care, Dr. Kostrzewski decided to move back to San Diego and enroll at Bastyr University California. Dr. Kostrzewski received her doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University California in June of 2019, and then went on to complete her residency at Bastyr. Before AVENA Wellness, DR. K started her own private practice, focusing on management of neurodegenerative conditions, and continued teaching at Bastyr as adjunct faculty, until founding Avena Health.