Coeliac Awareness Week

Coeliac Awareness Week 2014 is taking place this week (12th -19th May 2014) to promote better understanding of the disease which affects 1 in every 100 people in Ireland. It is estimated that around 45,000 Irish people could be coeliac, many of which are, as yet, undiagnosed.

Coeliac Awareness Week is organised by the Coeliac Society of Ireland, the charity organisation which provides information, support and awareness to people throughout Ireland living with coeliac disease. The disease causes some adults and children to react to a protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye.

Gluten can be found in everyday foods like bread, biscuits, pasta, and beer as well as in many common dinner time dishes. Just a single crumb of gluten can cause damage, resulting in diarrhoea, discomfort and other symptoms which can last for several days. There is NO known cure for coeliac disease and the only proven treatment is a strict adherence to a gluten-free diet. Medicine or drugs are not required.

A number of events offering a wealth of information and advice on how to diagnose and live with coeliac disease are taking place over the course of the week, including a Gluten-Free cooking master-class with well known chef Clodagh McKenna at her restaurant Clodagh’s Kitchen in Arnotts this Thursday (15 May). The clean living cook will be preparing her favourite dishes for coeliac and gluten intolerant guests and offering advice on how to cook tasty meals for family members, friends or children who are coeliac. For all events taking place check out Coeliac Society of Ireland