Celiac in America – How Times are Changing

I have been living in the world of Celiac disease, gluten-free, and food allergies for over eight years now, and oh, how the times are changing!  Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that involves foods containing wheat, rye, barley, spelt, kamut and other grains that contain gluten. Gluten is found in breads, crackers, cookies, and other baked goods as well as lunch meats, gravies, sauces, soups, and salad dressings.  When people with Celiac disease eat foods containing gluten, the villi in their small intestines becomes damaged or even destroyed.  Over time, the impact of damaged or destroyed villi is that a person can no longer absorb vitamins and vital nutrients because the villi are crucial for this process.  That means that people with undiagnosed Celiac disease then become at risk for other serious illnesses including cancer.

Gluten is a common food ingredient that is becoming easier to avoid as more people are diagnosed with celiac disease.  Statistically speaking, about 1 out of every 133 Americans has Celiac disease making it more common than diseases that you are very familiar with.  The recognition of Celiac disease has grown exponentially in the last eight plus years.  I can hardly believe the increase in the number and quantity of gluten-free products that you can now find in health food and grocery stores!  

Today only about 3-5% of the people with Celiac disease are diagnosed which means that we have about 95-97% of the Celiac population undiagnosed and tragically at great risk for serious health problems and potentially death.  The more people that get diagnosed and the greater the demand for gluten-free foods the easier it is for everyone!  

Celiac disease and gluten intolerance are highly recognized in Europe. So much so that for many, many years McDonalds has made gluten-free hamburger buns available.  When we get enough American’s diagnosed with either Celiac disease or gluten-intolerance, we too will be finding gluten-free hamburger buns popping up at all of our fast food restaurants.  Now, let’s see how fast we can come together to create THAT as a new reality!

Love,

Lisa