September 13th is National Celiac Awareness Day...Help Spread the Word!

Chad Hines - Founder of Gluten Free Faces

The following article regarding the origin of National Celiac Awareness Day was posted on Gluten Free Faces (a global gluten free social network)  by its founder Chad Hines; I found it interesting and wanted to help spread the word, so I am re-posting Chad's article for you here:

"September 13th is recognized as National Celiac Awareness Day, but what most people don't know is why... here is a brief explanation as to why the U.S. recognizes September 13th as National Celiac Awareness Day:

Samuel Gee, an English physician and pediatrician, is credited with being the first person to recognize the link between Celiac Disease and diet.  In 1988, Gee published the first complete modern description of the clinical picture of Celiac Disease and theorised on the importance of diet in its control.

In Gee's medical writing, he notes that "there is a kind of chronic indigestion which is met within persons of all ages, yet is especially apt to affect children between one and five years old."

He was also quoted as saying, "if the patient can be cured at all, it must be by means of diet."

His theory was definitely forward thinking for the time period and although Gee was not able to discover the cause of Celiac Disease, his theory of how to treat the autoimmune disorder was correct! 

In 2006, the U.S. Senate passed the Celiac Awareness Day Resolution, making September 13th National Celiac Awareness Day in honor of Samuel Gee (September 13th is his birthday!).

If you would like to read more about Samuel Gee, click this link to check out his official Wikipedia page.  Just thought you might enjoy this random bit of information!  I encourage you to do anything and everything you can every September 13th to help spread gluten-free and Celiac awareness!"

Please spread the word about Celiac Disease today (and every day)!  Blog about it, talk to your friends, family, co-workers, business owners, health care professionals, schools, anyone & everyone!

Education is the key to success!