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September 13 is National Celiac Awareness Day

Did you know that National Celiac Awareness Day is September 13? There are many ways that you can celebrate Celiac Awareness Day with the members of your family who must stay gluten-free. The date was selected to honor the birthday of Samuel Gee MD, a British physician and pediatrician who published the first clinical description of celiac disease, and to connect the disease with diet. Celiac disease affects about 1% of the population. It is a genetic condition that causes the body to be unable to tolerate gluten. Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, rye, barley, all … Continue reading →

The Confusion Surrounding Gluten-Allergies

There are a lot of people who don’t have a good understanding about gluten allergies, celiac disease, or the differences between them. Some people think that a person chooses to eat a gluten-free diet for no other reason than to lose weight. Here is a quick explanation of the confusion that surrounds gluten-allergies. Celiac disease affects about 1% of the population. It is a genetic condition that causes a person’s body to be unable to tolerate, or properly digest, gluten. It actually causes damage to that person’s intestines. The inability to absorb food can lead to other health problems, like … Continue reading →

Universities are Starting to Offer Gluten-Free Foods

Every parent feels at least a little bit of concern when their “baby” is ready to start college. If your son or daughter has celiac disease, or an allergy or intolerance to gluten, then you may be especially concerned about if your child will be able to find enough food while at school. Fortunately, several colleges are starting to cater to students who need to eat a gluten-free diet. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease. If a person who has celiac disease eats a food that contains wheat, rye, or barley, that person is going to get sick. The lining … Continue reading →

Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity Are Not the Same

At age thirty-eight, I discovered that I had a gluten allergy. For a while, I was very confused about exactly what that meant. Is this an allergy to wheat? Does this mean I have celiac disease? Could this be nothing more than a sensitivity to foods that contain gluten? A little research gave me the answers I was looking for. Celiac disease is something that affects about 1% of the population. It is a genetic condition that causes the body to be unable to tolerate gluten. Gluten is the protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and all the foods that … Continue reading →

Wheat Allergy vs. Gluten Allergy

I sometimes use the two terms interchangeably when explaining it: “My roommate has a gluten allergy — he’s allergic to wheat.” But the two really aren’t the same thing. If you have a gluten allergy (also known as celiac disease), the cause of the problem is a mixture of protein fragments in wheat and other common cereal grains like rye, oats, and barley. Different kinds of wheat, like semolina and spelt, are all unsafe. If gluten is your problem, you’ll have to eat other grains, like corn, rice, millet, sorghum, and quinoa. If you have a wheat allergy, the cause … Continue reading →