But as more people take on this way of eating for medical or personal reasons, misinformation about the diet and health condition has spread further and wider.
Here are some popular myths about the disease, and why they're not true:
Myth: People diagnosed with celiac disease can't eat bread
A doctor must run tests to determine that you have it, but if you do, adherence to a strict gluten-free diet is the only effective treatment currently known.
Myth: Wheat-based breads are the only thing people need to avoid
Barley, rye, and products that use those ingredients in any way are also potential sources of gluten.
Myth: Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity are the same things
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Although celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) can both be remedied by a strict gluten-free diet, researchers are still uncertain as to whether it's gluten that causes immune system overreactions in individuals with NCGS.
Symptoms may also differ greatly between children and adults. In the latter, abdominal and joint pain, mouth ulcers, and anemia are among the more common symptoms. In children, irritability, delayed puberty, and even neurological symptoms may occur.
Myth: Celiac disease is an allergy
Celiac disease is not the same as having a wheat allergy. But both are serious medical conditions, and people diagnosed with them should avoid wheat and products with the ingredient.
Unlike those with celiac disease, people with allergies might experience swelling, hives, and even anaphylactic shock within a few minutes or hours after consuming wheat.
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Myth: People with celiac disease must only use gluten-free personal-care products
If you're a vegetarian or vegan, it may be comforting to know that the personal-care products you choose align with your diet, but it's not necessary - and the same goes for people with celiac disease.
As of now, there is no scientific evidence to indicate that any gluten-containing product that is not ingested is harmful to those with the condition.
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