Appetite for Awareness
The gluten-free diet isn’t just a fad. It’s a medically necessary treatment—currently, the only treatment—for celiac disease, a serious autoimmune disease.
Celiac disease is triggered by consuming the protein gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye.
When a person with celiac disease eats gluten, the protein interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food by damaging a part of the small intestine called villi. Damaged villi make it nearly impossible for the body to absorb nutrients into the bloodstream, leading to malnourishment and a host of other problems including some cancers, thyroid disease, osteoporosis, infertility and the onset of other autoimmune diseases.
Celiac Disease Awareness Facts:
- An estimated 1 in 133 Americans, or about 1% of the population, has celiac disease.
- Celiac disease can affect men and women of all ages and races.6-10 years is the average time a person waits to be correctly diagnosed. (Source: Daniel Leffler, MD, MS, The Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center)Celiac disease can lead to a number of other disorders including infertility, reduced bone density, neurological disorders, some cancers, and other autoimmune diseases.
- Over a four-year period, people with undiagnosed celiac disease cost an average of $3,964 more than healthy individuals. (Source: Long et al, 2010)
- 5-22% of people with celiac disease have an immediate family member (first-degree relative) who also has celiac disease.
- There are no pharmaceutical treatments or cures for celiac disease.
- 100% gluten-free diet is the only existing treatment for celiac disease today.
- The celiac disease diagnosis rate may reach 50-60% by 2019, thanks to efforts to raise public awareness of celiac disease. (Source: Datamonitor Group, 2009)
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Download: The Gluten-Free Diet Overview |
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Download: The Beyond Celiac Getting Started Guide |
Help Spread Awareness about Celiac Disease
Help raise awareness by distributing the Beyond Celiac “Do I Have Celiac” brochures to doctors’ offices, grocery stores, pharmacies and more!
Request free brochures for distribution by filling out the following form: