Growing Gluten Free Awareness

It is undeniable that the gluten free industry’s awareness is growing exponentially.

Most of all, the awareness has caught the attention of almost every doctor.  Ultimately, more and more lives are being greatly improved or saved.  People now know what the true cause of their aliment is.  Patients who have been misdiagnosed for years, have completely turned their lives around.  With the nutrient deficiency that celiac causes, many terrible diseases have been prevented.

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• “Untreated celiac disease increases the risk of cancer 200-300%.”  REFERENCE 3
• “Total US healthcare cost for all untreated celiacs: $14.5 – $34.8 billion annually.”  REFERENCE 3
• “Over 300 signs, symptoms, associated disorders and complications may result from celiac disease.”  REFERENCE 3
• “Prevalence of celiac disease: 1 in 250 Americans estimated rate; actual diagnosis rate is 1 in 4,700 Americans.”  REFERENCE 4

Some doctors have openly said that the gluten free diet is one of the healthiest diet possible.  You are cutting out processed foods, eating a lot of natural foods, and motoring everything you eat.  With this, and any hype of a healthy diet, especially when someone can lose weight on it, comes a flood of people who adopt the diet, sometimes claiming they are a self-diagnosed celiac, just for the attention and to be part of a fad.  I frequently hear that this upsets many doctor-diagnosed celiacs.  In the beginning, I also found it somewhat offensive.  After reflecting further on the issue, I believe any attention and product demand that is brought upon the gluten free industry is good.  In the end, those of us who truly have celiac will benefit.

With the increase in demand for gluten free food and products, more manufacturers have entered the industry.  Competition has been amazing for this industry!  Even in the past couple of years, the quality and taste of the food has greatly improved.  The quality of bread products have improved from the gluten free bakeries, and the major food manufacturers are now making breads easily available at almost every grocery store.  You have to be blind to have not seen, even some of your daily products, labeled gluten free.

• “Demand has been growing exponentially as sufferers of a wide variety of maladies (including celiac disease, autism, attention deficit disorder, irritated bowel syndrome, and MS) have come to believe a gluten-free diet will provide relief.”  REFERENCE 1
• “The Federal Government is lending a hand as it finalizes regulatory criteria for gluten-free labeling.”  REFERENCE 1
• “Packaged Facts projects that this segment of the U.S. retail marketplace enjoyed a 28% CAGR to reach $1.56 billion by the end of 2008. Packaged Facts goes on to project that the segment will continue to grow, though not at the same torrid pace, through 2012.”  REFERENCE 1
• “To meet consumer demand, more than 225 marketers introduced new gluten-free products into the United States in 2008.”  REFERENCE 2

Be thankful for the things the gluten free industry has brought us.  I am now able to enjoy a normal sandwich and a beer!  I look forward to many more gluten free options, more availability, and continued research.