According to NIH, celiac is the country's MOST-underdiagnosed disease, affecting about 1% of the general population (one in 141 people — http://bit.ly/CDAC1-1212). It 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, awareness of this fact is so low that 83% of celiacs don't know they have it.

Another 6% of the people 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 .

GFW105 is a support group for individuals who live with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity in L.A. cities/communities near the 105, such as: Athens, Bell, Bellflower, Compton, Cudahy, Downey, Florence-Graham, Harbor Gateway North, Hollydale, Huntington Park, Inglewood, Lennox, Lynwood, Norwalk, Paramount, Rancho Dominguez, South L.A., South Gate, Walnut Park, Watts, Westchester, Westmont, Willowbrook, and Wingfoot.

GFW105 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 pure distillates (alcohol or vinegar) and a special wheat starch not widely 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 feeling and knowing & feeling we are happier & healthier!