May is National Celiac Awareness Month
Can you believe it’s May already! Time sure does fly when you are having fun and if you anything like me you are having tons of fun this year. Per usual spring has just finally bloomed here is Western, NY but May marks the official celebration of: National Celiac Awareness Month.
The National Foundation of Celiac Awareness and life-long gluten free(ers) like myself dedicate the entire month to casting a wider net in our mission of educating, highlighting, and teaching everyone about celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and other gluten related illnesses.
Gluten free living continues to be a major industry in the US and globally. According to Statista, by 2020, the gluten free market is projected to be valued at 7.59 billion U.S. dollars. In 2015 gluten free sales amounted to over 2.79 billion U.S. dollars. Despite its omnipresence and the awareness there continues to be a national lack of knowledge about celiac disease as well as stigma, stereotype and mockery of this chronic disease. However despite what the comics say; celiac disease is a real autoimmune disease with real life changing effects.
As prevalent as the “term” (and label) is there are thousands of people diagnosed and even more that a). Don’t know what celiac, gluten, or gluten free means; b). Don’t consider it to be real c). Have a bevvy of misconceptions and false impressions about the illness and the term ” gluten-free”.
Stay tuned for more articles, personal stories, and blogs from celiac disease survivors and more sharing and telling how celiac disease affects their life every single day.
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