digg_url = 'http://switch2glutenfree.com/misc/growing-gluten-free-awareness/'; digg_title = 'Growing Gluten Free Awareness'; digg_bodytext = 'It is undeniable that the gluten free industry\'s awareness is growing exponentially.\n\nMost 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 co'; It is undeniable that the gluten free industry’s awareness is growing exponentially. Most...

Celiac Disease affects 3 million Americans. 1 Celiac Disease affects more Americans than Epilepsy(2.8M), Crohns(500k), Ulcerative Colitis(500k), Multiple Sclerosis(333k), Cystic Fibrosis(30k).  1 1 in 133 people have Celiac Disease. 1 1 in 22 people with celiac disease have a first degree relative diagnosed. 5 1 in 250 in Italy; 1 in 300 in Ireland.  3 500,000 new Celiac diagnoses are expected to occur in the US by 2012 — thanks to efforts to raise public awareness of the disease.  6 1 in 4,700 people are ever diagnosed. 1 97% of Americans estimated to have CD are not diagnosed. ...

Here is Bella’s personal story and answers to my list of gluten free questions for the Mary’s Gone Crackers contest. I hear similar diagnosis stories from people of that generation.  My grandmother and father were both misdiagnosed for most of their lives and found out they had celiac after they were 50. What are the foods you missed the most? Crackers, chips, most breads. If you initially did not follow the gluten free diet.  What made you change your mind? I’m going to add this addendum to say I am almost 60 and didn’t know I was allergic to gluten until I was about...

I was diagnosed with Celiac while showing no, or very little, symptoms.  My blood work showed I had it and my endoscope showed little signs, therefore it was positive.  I could go eat a pizza buffet and not fart once!  A couple years ago, I went gluten free for a few months.  During that time, if I ate gluten I would have some stomach symptoms.  The same thing is happening to me now.  A couple chocolate chip cookies, hurts my stomach. So, if I eat gluten, I feel fine.  If I go gluten free, when I slip-up, I don’t feel fine.   Points To Remember  (Taken from celiaccentral.com) People...

Last night I went over to my aunt and uncle’s house for dinner.  She was having turkey, mashed potatoes, and corn… so I’m all good with the menu.  I immediately opted for a margarita instead of a beer… so far so good!  After dinner something terrible happened!  My aunt makes her amazing chocolate chip cookies!  I had to have just one… well I’d already had one- one more isn’t going to hurt… two or three, who cares!  So, about an hour later my stomach starts to act up.  You’re probably saying, “but Mike, I thought you didn’t have the typical stomach type of symptoms?” ...

Last night, I went to a New Years Eve party and felt like crap.  I knew I was starting this new diet and ate everything I could.  It was one of those after thoughts, just like drinking, where you ask yourself, “why did I do that, knowing how it would make me feel later?” I frequently put myself in that situation, like most overeaters and drinkers.  Frequently, I will go to a pizza or Chinese buffet, eat a good amount, then feel like crap later, not so much with Celiac symptoms, but just overall.  Don’t you wish there was someone at the cash register warning you about how you will feel...

Why make the change?  Over the past few months, I have not felt very well.  Even though I do not have the typical symptoms of Celiac, I think I am being affected in other ways.  I sleep way too much for no reason and am generally lethargic about everything.  I suspect gluten is the culprit.  It is time to make a change!  

Celiac runs strong in my family, starting with my grandmother and down to her grandchildren (my generation).  Nine people on my dad’s side of the family have celiac.   I always was very active in sports and generally pretty healthy.  My favorite foods are pizza, Chinese food, cheeseburgers, and macaroni and cheese… I showed no signs of an intolerance to gluten.  My sister was diagnosed with Celiac after she went through a long period of pain and feeling poor.  My mom insisted that I have a blood test, and I failed miserably.  I was officially diagnosed with celiac via an endoscope...