Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a condition in which the immune system attacks the lining of the gastrointestinal tract in response to the consumption of gluten grains (wheat, barley, rye, and oats). Celiac disease is not an allergy, rather an autoimmune condition, but is just as serious as a true allergy. It is estimated that 1% of the population has Celiac Disease, but diagnosis is often lacking as symptoms can be subtle and misleading until overt diseased state is present. Additionally, some people with Celiac Disease do not express gastrointestinal symptoms and otherwise present with muscle aches, joint pain, brain fog, and other neurological symptoms.

Symptoms of Celiac Disease Include:

  • Abdominal pain, bloating
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Fatigue
  • Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies
  • Weight Loss
  • Numbness in hands and feet
  • Skin Rashes
  • Depression/Anxiety
  • Infertility
  • Skin Rashes
  • Migraines
  • Tooth Decay

For many people with Celiac disease, simple elimination of “gluten grains” is not enough to feel entirely better. Other factors, such as undetected food sensitivities, can contribute to symptoms as well as a multitude of nutritional deficiencies from inflamed bowels and chronic diarrhea. New research also points to imbalances in gastrointestinal bacteria and exposure to toxins in the development of Celiac Disease.

Nutritional Therapy Discussions Include:

  • The importance of the gastrointestinal tract on the management of autoimmunity
  • Ways to optimize your bacterial ratios in the GI tract
  • Foods to help “heal and seal” the gut
  • The role of stress on the body
  • Therapeutic foods to incorporate
  • Foods to avoid for symptoms relief
  • Targeted nutritional supplementation

What are the Suggested Lab Tests?

Meet Nicole Fennel Functional Dietitian

Hey There, I'm Nicole!

I'm Nicole, Integrative & Functional Registered Dietitian Nutritionist — and a Hashimoto's patient and busy momma of three who has been in your shoes. I spent years trying to figure out why I felt so off despite doing all the "right" things, and that experience completely shaped the way I work with women today.

My whole approach is built around nourishing your body with real food you actually want to eat, not white-knuckling your way through a six-week protocol that leaves you more exhausted and more confused than when you started. Because restriction doesn't heal anything. Real, sustainable nourishment does.

I'm a college professor and educator at heart— I teach a range of classes from freshman level "Introduction to Nutrition" and graduate-level Women's Health and Nutrition courses, and that passion for making complex science click in plain English is woven into everything I do. If you leave a session without actually understanding why we're doing what we're doing, we haven't done our job.

I love going on long walks while listening to an audiobook (my FAVORITE is The Count of Monte Cristo, but I'm currently reading Lord of the Rings), being totally outnumbered with my three wild kiddos, eating yummy food, sipping a good cup of coffee, and (trying) to crochet!
Freebies For you!
Kickstart your journey without feeling overwhelmed! Check out our free resources for women living with thyroid issues, Hashimoto's, PCOS, insulin resistance, weight loss resistance, and exhaustion.
work with us
Whether you're running on fumes no matter how much you sleep, trying to make sense of a Hashimoto's or thyroid diagnosis, dealing with periods that knock you completely sideways, navigating PCOS, struggling with cholesterol or blood sugar that won't cooperate, or carrying weight that refuses to budge no matter what you try — please know you are not alone. And more importantly, there is an actual reason you feel this way.
At Chews Food Wisely, we're not here to hand you a meal plan and wish you luck. We're here to look at your full picture — your labs, your symptoms, your life — and find the connections that explain why your body has been doing what it's been doing. Then we build you back up with real food, realistic strategies, and a plan that fits your actual life. Not a protocol designed for someone else's body.

Ready to Start feeling your best?

Reach out today to book a call and let’s map out your health journey together.

EMAIL:
hello@chewsfoodwisely.com

VIRTUAL APPOINTMENTS ONLY
Business Mailing Address:
2525 Robinhood Street
Houston, Texas 77005

© 2026 Chews Food Wisely. All Rights Reserved. Website Designed by AVM
Disclaimers   |   Privacy Policy   |   Terms of Purchase   |   Terms and Conditions

By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies. We use cookies to provide you with a great experience and to help our website run effectively.