Celiac Disease Facts

Here are some facts about celiac disease and being gluten free. If you have been diagnosed or think you may be experiencing symptoms it is important to do the research.  Be informed.  Take control and your overall health will improve dramatically.


Celiac disease is an autoimmune digestive disease that damages the villi of the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food.

• One in 133 Americans has Celiac Disease.
• Three million Americans of all races, ages and genders suffer from Celiac.
• 95% of Celiacs are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions.
• 10 years is the average time a person waits to be correctly diagnosed.
• 17% of Celiac patients have an immediate family member who also has Celiac.

• Celiac Disease can lead to a number of other disorders including infertility, reduced bone density, neurological disorders, some cancers, and other autoimmune diseases.

• $5,000 - $12,000 is the average cost of misdiagnosis per person/per year of Celiac, not including lost work time.

• There is NO pharmaceutical cures for Celiac Disease.

• A 100% gluten-free diet is the only existing treatment for Celiac today.

• A positive attitude, 100% of the time, helps Celiacs create a gluten-free lifestyle for themselves and their affected family members.

• 500,000 new Celiac diagnoses are expected to occur in the next 5 years thanks to efforts to raise public awareness of Celiac Disease.

• The gluten-free marketplace is expected to reach $1.7 billion by 2010 thanks to new vendors manufacturing better tasting and more affordable products.

This information was taken from The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness.