What is coeliac disease - and what can and can’t you eat if you have it?

Those with Coeliac disease struggle to digest gluten - (Getty Images)

Last month, Rebecca Adlington - the BBC Sports presenter and two-time Olympic gold medallist - revealed she had been been diagnosed with coeliac disease, but what exactly is it?

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition where the body attacks its own tissues when gluten is eaten, which prevents normal digestion and absorption of food, with the risk of developing serious health complications. It is driven by eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.