Celebrate Celiac Awareness Month This May

A growing number of|More people are realizing that they need to follow a gluten-free diet. As more and more cases of celiac disease have been reported in recent years, the importance of Celiac Awareness Month in May has increased as well. The month of May was chosen as Celiac Awareness Month for several reasons, mostly because it coincides with the awareness events for celiac disease in many other countries, including Belgium, Norway, Russia, Spain Greece, Hungary, Ireland, France, Italy, the UK and many other European nations. By collaborating to raise awareness of celiac disease during the same month in so many parts of the world, the message is given greater strength and meaning.

Another reason that May was chosen as the month to raise awareness for celiac disease is because here in the United States we also celebrate many other types of awareness events for conditions and diseases that are related to or associated with celiac disease. Among the other observance events in the United States that take place during the month of May are Digestive Diseases Awareness Month, Food Allergy Awareness Month, National Arthritis Month, National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month and Women's Health Week. For those who live with celiac disease on a daily basis, this coincidence of several related diseases and conditions is representative of the vast impact that celiac disease can have on a person's day to day life.

Many important foundations and organizations in the United States are very involved in the May observance of Celiac Awareness Month, including the Celiac Disease Foundation, the Gluten Intolerance Group, the American Celiac Disease Alliance, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research and many others. If you have celiac disease, look for specials and offers from your favorite gluten-free brands, or call them up to ensure that they know May is Celiac Awareness Month. The more people know about this important awareness month, the more research and development can be done to ensure that a cure is found.