Gluten-Free and Celiac Facts

Did you know…

• Celiac disease is a serious genetic autoimmune disease that damages the villi of the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food.

• An estimated 1 in 133 Americans, or about 1% of the population, has celiac disease. However, recent screening studies point to a potentially higher prevalence than 1% in the United States.

• There are no pharmaceutical treatments or cures for celiac disease.

• A 100% gluten-free diet is the only existing treatment for celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity today.

Gluten-free diet and celiac disease (CD):

· A strict, life-long gluten-free diet is required for health reasons.

· Ingestion of gluten causes an adverse reaction that damages intestinal cells and can lead to serious health problems.

Gluten-free diet and non-celiac gluten sensitivity (also known as “gluten sensitivity”):

· Individuals with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) require a gluten-free diet to avoid adverse health effects.

· When people with NCGS consume gluten, their intestinal cells are not damaged, but they may experience many of the same symptoms as do people with celiac disease.

· In some cases, other components of gluten-containing foods may cause adverse reactions in people with NCGS.

(https://gluten.org/2019/12/16/the-gluten-free-diet-facts-and-myths/)