Question: Why does it suddenly seem like everyone is allergic to bread?

Answer: I think you may be referring to gluten-free products and people avoiding bread, either because of gluten or because they are on some sort of weight loss diet. There definitely are more people who avoid gluten (the protein found in wheat, barley and rye) for health reasons, the main one being celiac disease. Celiac disease is not a food allergy, it is an auto-immune disease. Since individuals with celiac disease cannot digest gluten, it can cause a variety of health problems.

Celiac disease is not a new disorder; skeletal remains found in Rome that were over 2000-years-old showed signs of celiac disease. Fortunately the medical community is becoming more aware of celiac disease and so this is helping with diagnosis – perhaps this is why you are hearing or seeing about more people avoiding bread?

There are others who following a popular diet to lose weight that may refuse bread due to the carbohydrates. This is unfortunate because: 1. Bread is tasty and a sandwich made of a lettuce leaf is just sad!; 2. Breads, especially whole wheat and whole grain breads are a source of fiber, vitamins and minerals. 3. We have been eating bread for centuries!

For more information on celiac disease see:

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