FOR most people, eating a bowl of cereal for breakfast and then a sandwich for lunch seems easy.

But for more than 6,000 people in Oxfordshire, these simple foods could lead to ill health and eventually infertility or even bowel cancer.

Sarah Sheldon, from Jericho, Oxford, was diagnosed with coeliac disease two years ago. She said: “I wasn’t aware of coeliac disease and I definitely didn’t know the implications of it before I was diagnosed.

“I thought I must be getting old. I was tired all the time, aching and was quite depressed.”

The mum-of-three, who is in her fifties, was eventually taken for tests, and was diagnosed with coeliac disease in December 2008.

She said: “That Christmas was tricky.

“I couldn’t have the bread sauce, gravy or many other things.

“I had to completely re-think everything I ate.”

Mrs Sheldon said: “I was so depressed, it was awful. And eating out was even harder. I’d ask the waiter what was gluten-free on the menu, and they’d say ‘what’s that?’.”

She said although many restaurants and supermarkets now indicate their gluten-free choices, more needed to be done.

Mrs Sheldon said: “It can be really embarrassing having to explain it in restaurants.

“People just need to think about it more.”

Coeliac UK, a national charity for people suffering with coeliac disease, is urging people to try being gluten-free for a week, beginning on May 6.

Gluten is a protein in wheat, barley and rye, and is found in items including bread, pasta, pizza, cakes and beer.

It is also often used in a wider range of products, including mayonnaise, soup, and many processed goods.

Coeliac disease in an auto-immune disease caused by an intolerance to gluten. The only treatment is a gluten-free diet for life.

Visit coeliac.org.uk/glutenfreechallenge