Every September 13th is observed as National Celiac Disease Awareness Day. Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes a person’s body to react abnormally to gluten—a protein found in barley, wheat, and rye. When people with Celiac Disease consume gluten, their immune system attacks the lining of the small intestine.

This causes damage to the small finger-like projections in the small intestine called villi, which help the body absorb nutrients from food. The cumulative damage from the destruction of the villi can result in the malabsorption of nutrients and a variety of other health problems. This holiday is designed to raise awareness about this condition and to help raise funds for better treatments for it.

The History of National Celiac Disease Awareness Day

Celiac Disease Awareness Day was created by the U.S. Senate through a unanimous resolution in 2005. September 13th was chosen for the day because it was the birthday of Dr. Samuel Gee.

He was a doctor who published the first literature on the nature of celiac disease and how a special diet is needed to treat it. This holiday continued to be observed until 2011. This is when the U.S. Senate stopped calling for an annual observance of this holiday.

Even so, this day continues to be celebrated by celiac disease organizations, those who have celiac disease, and those raising money for better treatments for this condition. The only difference now is the holiday has been renamed National Celiac Disease Awareness Day.

Observing National Celiac Disease Awareness Day

This is a day that can be observed in numerous ways. It’s a day for people to learn more about celiac disease, particularly if they have recently been diagnosed with this condition. It’s also a good day for people to switch to a gluten-free diet.

Some people may not have celiac disease but still have a sensitivity to gluten. These individuals often feel better when they remove this protein from their diet. Of course, weeding gluten out of your diet can be difficult, particularly since it’s often hidden in foods such as sauces, dressings, and soups.

People are also encouraged to do what they can to raise money for organizations that are attempting to fund research into better treatments and eventually a cure for celiac disease. These organizations work tirelessly all year long to raise money for celiac disease research, but they can always use help.

A good way to help them is to spread the word about this holiday using the hashtag #CeliacDiseaseAwarenessDay on social media. Let’s all work together to help people with celiac disease and work towards eventually eliminating this condition altogether at some point in the future.