Gluten intolerance can cause chronic health problems, including celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis. Gluten intolerance groups provide support, information, and advocacy for affected individuals, and may offer discounts and access to medical information for members.
Gluten is a substance that is part of many foods, such as bread. Some people are allergic to gluten in a typical diet and develop chronic health problems. A gluten intolerance group is a support group that provides information for affected individuals through social contact and through websites. A group can also actively promote gluten-free eating through programs such as granting standards to food service industries.
Celiac disease is a digestive condition in which the body accidentally misidentifies gluten as an invading substance and causes an inappropriate immune response to its presence. Classically, the symptoms associated with celiac disease are gastronomic in nature, but because the disease prevents the body’s efficient absorption of nutrients, patients may also experience different problems, such as depression, rash, and osteoporosis. The disease is not curable, but by removing the gluten trigger from the diet, a celiac patient can resolve the symptoms of the disease.
Another disease that can arise from gluten intolerance is dermatitis herpetiformis. This is a skin problem that causes blisters over much of the body. With this facet of gluten intolerance, digestive problems may not be present.
Wheat, barley, and rye grains are the sources of gluten in most problem foods. These grains can also be ingredients in common foods such as pizza, pasta, and confectionery. Because gluten is so ubiquitous in many people’s daily diets, a gluten intolerance group can be useful both as a source of information for sufferers and as an advocacy group to raise the profile of gluten intolerance in the industry. food.
A national gluten intolerance group, such as the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America (GIG), can serve all of these purposes. Their local branches hold meetings, disseminate information, and also allow patients to exchange personal experiences with each other. The organization also compiles a list of restaurants that offer gluten-free food along with a list of health professionals who can specialize in gluten intolerance.
Smaller gluten intolerance group organizations may restrict their activities to regular meetings and support for people with gluten intolerance in their areas. Even the smallest groups can post useful health information on their websites for those who are interested. Group coordinators may also work alongside gluten researchers to recruit volunteers for medical research projects.
Each group may have a membership fee. Depending on the group, this fee may entitle you to attend meetings and receive newsletters. It can also give you a discount on products sold by the group and give you access to a variety of medical information about your condition.
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