Celiac Disease and Gluten-Free Diet Resources
It is estimated that about 2 million Americans, or approximately 1 in 133 people in the United States, suffer from celiac disease. Celiac disease is a genetic disease which causes damage to the small intestines when individuals ingest gluten. Gluten is a common protein found in a variety of foods, especially wheat, barley and rye products. It can effect both children and adults. The only current treatment available for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet. Increasingly, even individuals without celiac disease have begun to adopt gluten-free diets as well.
The Library has a wide variety of books and other resources focused on celiac disease and gluten-free diets. We have compiled a booklist of some of these resources, but there are many more available. The following are helpful online resources and organizations that provide information about celiac disease, or gluten-free diets:
The National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases provides a good introduction to celiac disease written in plain language. They also provide a basic list of foods you should and should not eat if you suffer from celiac disease.
The Children's Digestive Health and Nutrition Foundation publishes a gluten-free diet guide for families (opens as PDF) that can be used as a guide for starting a gluten-free diet.
MedlinePlus also has a large list of resources focused on general information, diagnosis, treatment, disease management and current news related to celiac disease.
National organizationslike the Celiac Support Association, Gluten Intolerance Group and Celiac Disease Foundation are also useful sources of information.
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