It seems that the big new health trend is gluten-free.

Gluten seems to be everywhere and in everything, especially if you suffer from Celiac Disease.

We hear of gluten intolerance and celiac disease so often because there has been a marked increase of the population who suffer with this autoimmune disease.

The amount of gluten in our food, which has risen in the last 90-100, as well as improvements in hygiene and sanitation have been noted to contribute to the affliction.

Celiac disease is an inherited autoimmune disorder that causes the body’s immune system to attack the small intestine, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center. The attack is prompted by exposure to gluten, a protein found in such grains as wheat, rye and barley.

The disease interferes with proper digestion and, in children, prompts symptoms that include bloating, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. Adults with celiac disease are less likely to show digestive symptoms but will develop problems such as anemia, fatigue, osteoporosis or arthritis as the disorder robs their bodies of vital nutrients.