14 Things That You Didn't Know About Celiac Disease

That's right. Celiac disease is not an allergy and it is also not a fad. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease (examples of other autoimmune diseases are: type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis).

Celiac disease can be difficult to diagnose because it affects people differently. In fact, some people with celiac disease have no symptoms at all.

Celiac disease symptoms also include: unexplained iron deficiency anemia, fatigue, bone or joint pain, seizures or migraines, depression, osteoporosis, and an itchy skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis.

1 in 100 worldwide, or 3 million Americans have celiac disease.

People with a first-degree relative with celiac disease (parent, child, sibling) have a 1 in 10 risk of developing celiac disease.

These include the development of other autoimmune disorders, including: Type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), osteoporosis, and gastrointestinal cancers.

Brain fog is a form of cognitive impairment that can encompass disorientation, problems with staying focused and paying attention, and lapses in short-term memory.

With an estimated 3 million people in the U.S. affected by celiac disease, and less than 500,000 diagnosed, there is a critical need to raise awareness and funds for diagnosis, treatment, and research for a cure.

There are several causes of poorly responsive celiac disease, including Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and Pancreatic Insufficiency.

Gluten is a general name for the proteins found in wheat, rye, barley, and triticale. Gluten helps foods maintain their shape, acting as a glue that holds food together.

Common deficiencies among celiac disease patients include: iron, calcium, vitamin D, zinc, B6, B12, and folate.

Dermatitis herpetiformis, also known as DH and Duhring's disease, is the skin manifestation of celiac disease. Extremely itchy bumps or blisters appear on both side of the body, most often on the forearms near the elbows, as well as on knees and buttocks.

Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF) is a 501 (c )(3) non-profit organization established in 1990. With vital programs and services for the public, patients, healthcare professionals, and the food industries, CDF meets the growing public health challenge of diagnosing and treating celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders.