By Crystal Brewer
Celiac disease (immune reaction to gluten, first studies in 1974,) is now on the rise in the U.S, it has recently shown to be five times greater now, than in 1974. After looking at preserved blood, scientist have learned that in the 1950's antibodies linked to the disease were not as common, it also shows that people in this day and age are four times more likely to develop the disease at some point in time, in their life.
With the disease, the immune system targets the small intestine, and targets areas of the organs lining "villi," that absorbs nutrients from the food we eat. If the disease isn't caught, a person could continue to eat gluten enriched products (bread, dairy, processed), and become very malnourished. If the body is lacking the vitamins, and nutrients it needs, this disease could permanently damage the areas the immune system targets, and absorbing the nutrients may not be possible, it can also lead to mental health issues, if it goes untreated. Though the vast majority of cases are treatable, this disease can be deadly if it goes untreated.
Symptoms include, stomach pain, digestive issues, and constant fatigue from being malnourished. Genetics play a role in developing the disease, which is why it is also common in Europe. There have been many speculations as to why this disease is on the rise, one being, our food and lives are too sanitary, thus there is less gut bacteria variety in the intestines, which leads to them being more vulnerable to the condition, and another being that a plant that we depend on, has become gluten dependent over the years, and people feed there children these foods, and don't even know they might be setting them up for a disease later on in life.
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/09/01/celiac-disease-on-rise-in-us/
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