Celiac Disease is prevelant-how many people do you know who have a gluten intolerance?

May is already here, can you believe it?  Each month a number of health issues are recognized for national awareness and May is National Celiac Disease Awareness Month.  With the dramatic rise in gluten  related issues including 1 out of 133 Americans that have Celiac Disease I want to use this week’s blog to help spread the word.

Celiac Disease can be defined as a permanent intolerance to the gliadin fraction of wheat protein and related alcohol-soluble proteins (called prolamines) found in rye and barley. Celiac Disease is found in genetically susceptible individuals who eat these proteins, leading to an autoimmune disease, where the body’s immune system starts attacking normal tissue. This condition continues as long as these food products are in the diet.   

For those who have been diagnosed with the disease or intolerance there are many resources today to help in all aspects of living with celiac/gluten intolerances. Blogs are dedicated to gluten-free recipes  and living tips.  You can also add gluten-free cookbooks to your kitchen , ask local restaurants for gluten-free items as many now can accommodate if they do not already have a separate section on their menu, and  gluten-free iPhone apps  are available and this one is on sale for May in recognition of Celiac Awareness Month.

Hanna Kroeger  developed a formula many years ago that promoted good digestive system maintenance and to keep the intestinal wall and villi healthy.  People with Celiac Disease can have damaged intestinal walls resulting from auto-immune disorders that attack the intestinal lining and villi and this product, called Healthy Gut, helps to address those issues.  Since this nutrients from our food intake are absorbed in our intestinal walls,  it is essential to a healthy system to maintain functioning intestines.

Whether your friends, family or you have or have not had experiences with gluten issues please take some time to spread the word  and do your part.