According to NIH, celiac is the country's MOST-underdiagnosed disease, affecting about 1% of the general population (i.e., one in 141 people - http://bit.ly/CDAC1-1212). The disease affects all but the Japanese and Caribbeans of pure African ancestry. It's rare among Pacific Islanders.

But among all other people, celiac disease is common. Despite the efforts of NIH and others, public awareness of this fact is so low that 83% of celiacs don't know they have it.

Another 6% of the population have non-celiac gluten sensitivity — not damaging to the intestinal mucosa but in other serious ways.

It's up to each of us to raise awareness of celiac and its standard treatment, the gluten-free diet. To see if you might need to adopt the diet, visit http://glutenfreequiz.com .

CSJVCeliacs is a support group for individuals who live with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity in the central San Joaquin Valley of California. This area includes the Fresno, Kings, Madera, and Tulare counties.

CSJVCeliacs has the purpose of giving support for a lifestyle having a diet devoid of "gluten," i.e.: barley, couscous, durhum, einkorn, emmer, farina, farro, kamut, malt, matzo, rye, seitan, semolina, spelt, triticale, udon, and wheat; and all products derived from these grains, except 100% pure distillates (alcohol or vinegar) and a special wheat starch not generally available in the U.S.

A gluten-free diet strictly excludes all sources of "gluten." This means the diet eliminates both ingredients and sub-ingredients with any "gluten" whatsoever.

Indeed we have to avoid many foods. We may sometimes feel unhappy, living in a heavily wheat-eating society. But, sharing our experiences with one another, we learn what foods we may safely enjoy. And we do so knowing and feeling we are happier and healthier!