Expecting parents often cite genetics and diet when it comes to their baby’s risk for Celiac Disease. But experts in Sweden say something else may be a determining factor.

Out of a recent study of over 350,000 Swedish babies, those born in the summer season faced a small increased risk of later developing CD.

The increased risk was minor (less than 2 percent), but doctors found that children born in the summer months are likely to be introduced to gluten during the winter season, when viral infections are more frequent.

Another concern is the low level of vitamin D that pregnant women were exposed to during their baby’s main fetal development during the winter. Summer babies also lack exposure to sunlight during the time of gluten introduction in the winter.

Because the increased risk for CD is so small, doctors say there is no reason for parents expecting this summer to be concerned. But it’s important to keep factors like viral infections and exposure to sunlight in mind, no matter what season you’re expecting.

Read more about the study now at: http://adc.bmj.com/content/98/1/48.abstract

A new study from Sweden looks at the rise in Celiac Disease diagnosis rates in children under 2 years of age.  The researchers looked at 475 children and found that kids who experienced three or more parental reported infections, regardless of the type of infection during their first 6 months, were much more likely to then be diagnosed with Celiac Disease later in life.

The study – which was published in the journal BMC Pediatrics –  also showed that children were affected at a higher rate if their parents introduced large amounts of gluten into their diet soon after they ended breast feeding.

Read more about the study now at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2431/12/194/abstract

New research signals that undiagnosed Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance may play a role in the development of glaucoma, a slowly progressing eye disease that damages the eyes optic nerve and can cause blindness sometimes due to hypoperfusion or inadequate circulation.

Gluten is known to cause hypoperfusion in the brain, which could concurrently affect eye vessels and contribute to eye disease.  Food sensitivities in general can also affect eye health.

Read more about the relationship between gluten and glaucoma here: http://www.healthnowmedical.com/blog/2013/01/08/can-gluten-cause-glaucoma-and-blindness/

New research shows that patients with stomach problems are more likely to suffer from head aches and migraines than those who don’t suffer from digestive issues.

Up to 30% of people with Celiac Disease and 56% of people with gluten sensitivity reported either having chronic long term headaches or migraines and 72% of those would classify their head aches as severe.  Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome also had a higher percentage of head ache sufferers than healthy people.

Read more about the connection between gluten and head aches here: http://www.dailyrx.com/ibd-and-celiac-disease-patients-more-likely-have-headaches

Famous women’s lifestyle magazine Cosmopolitan is finally talking to their readers about the gluten-free diet.  For most people going gluten-free can be overwhelming at first as their is a multitude of foods you would never consider to contain gluten. Cosmo is now helping their readers with this difficult adjustment.

In the article, the magazine lays out some of these trigger foods such as processed lunch meats, chocolate, salad dressing, and baked beans that can sometimes (though not always) have gluten lurking within.  What’s most important is to always read labels and make sure that the products you pick are 100% gluten-free and not processed in plants that also process wheat which can also make you sick.

Read more from Cosmo here: http://www.cosmopolitan.com/celebrity/news/foods-with-gluten

The U.S. Justice Department has come to an agreement with Lesley University to ensure that students with Celiac Disease and other food allergies can completely enjoy the meal plan that is offered by the school as to be in compliance with the Americans Disability Act (ADA).

Under the settlement, Lesley University has agreed to take big steps such as ensuring that gluten-free options are available or allowing students with allergies to pre-order food.  They will also try to work with more vendors who accept student dining cards that cater to food allergies as well as make clear any allergies that could present a danger when in dining hall food.

Read more: http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/December/12-crt-1538.html

The latest study by the National Institutes of Health to determine the prevalence of Celiac Disease in the United States has put it at 1 in 141 people. However, researchers caution that even though public awareness is growing many, cases remain undiagnosed.

The disease is currently more active in the non-Hispanic white population, which could be due to larger awareness and more access to health care.  A biopsy of the small intestine was only performed in 43% of patients, which is relatively low.

Read more about Celiac in America from the NIH here: http://www.celiac.nih.gov/newsletter.aspx?control=Newsletters

Just in time for Christmas, Bakeryandsnacks.com has put together a list of all the science and research done on gluten-free products in 2012 to see how efforts to improve quality and nutrition in gluten-free products are emerging. This is great information that you could perhaps incorporate into your holiday baking adventures!

Buckwheat scores high in improving both texture and nutritional quality in gluten-free foods while rice bran has shown to improve both sensory experience and longevity of shelf life.

Read more about the 2012 developments here: http://www.bakeryandsnacks.com/Formulation/Gluten-free-festive-bake-off-Quality-vs-nutrition

Celiac Disease awareness is soaring!  More people than ever are checking with their doctors to get tested and new drugs are in development to help people with Celiac Disease and gluten-sensitivity.

Because of growing awareness, sales of gluten-free products have risen 28% annually over the last four years sales this year have reached $4.2 billion. How amazing is that! This is all great news so let’s keep getting the word out there.  There are still an estimated 1.4 million people who are may have Celiac but don’t know it because they have been incorrectly diagnosed with IBS or other medical issues. Talk to you doctor now, or check out the CeliacSure Test Kit to test yourself or a loved one from home!

Read more about Celiac today at: http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2012/12/awareness_of_gluten-free_diets.html

Celiac Disease is linked to more than 300 symptoms that can affect any system of the body. The symptoms can be typical of the disease such as stomach problems or as confusing as headaches, fatigue and mouth sores.