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  • Jefferson Adams
    Jefferson Adams

    Living the Gluten-Free Good Life in Finland

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.

    Finland has one of the highest rates of celiac disease in the world.

    Living the Gluten-Free Good Life in Finland - Finland has one of the world's highest celiac rates, and gluten-free food is common. Photo: CC--Sepi V.
    Caption: Finland has one of the world's highest celiac rates, and gluten-free food is common. Photo: CC--Sepi V.

    Celiac.com 07/19/2017 - Ever wondered what life is like in the celiac disease capital of the world?

    In Finland, an estimated 2.4 percent of adults from 30 to 64 years old, and one in 99 children are diagnosed with celiac disease. The country also holds the record for the most overall cases of the celiac disease in the world. If ever there was a world headquarters for celiac disease, it would be Finland.

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A12):
    One of the best things about Finland is that awareness of keliaka (celiac disease) is common, and gluten-free food is readily available. Throughout the country, most folks you run into know some friend, colleague or family member with the condition. Everyone seems to be aware that celiac disease results from an adverse gut reaction gluten, a protein in wheat, barley and rye products.

    Meanwhile, supermarkets, high-end restaurants, convenience stores, fast-food joints, gas stations, and even international fast food chains like McDonald’s offer gluten-free options.

    As a nation, Finland places a heavy emphasis on research, diagnostics or government support for celiac disease. The nation embraces people who follow what the Finns call gluteeniton, or a ‘gluten-free’ diet.

    So if you’re looking for the closest thing to a gluten-free paradise on earth, consider a visit to Finland.

    Read more at AllergicLiving.com


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    Guest Catherine

    Posted

    My first question is why does Finland have such a high proportion of celiac disease? Some of my ancestors came from that area--perhaps that is why I have it? Would they see high rates of celiac disease in areas where Fins settled in the US? That would establish a genetic link rather than environmental.

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    Guest Laura

    Posted

    The gluten-free offerings at supermarkets, restaurants, convenience stores, fast-food and international fast food chains are inadequate in the US. The processed food manufacturers are struggling to develop an egg substitute that "reacts" like an egg does during the baking process. Companies are uninformed regarding the toxins in heat-extracted oils (canola, sunflower, safflower & other seed oils & some brands of olive oils). Many do not have exclusive gluten-free environments for their products. Additionally, there are different degrees of "leaky gut" syndrome in celiacs. What manufactures have not come to realize is that a person who cannot consume: gluten, egg, yeast and dairy cannot be concerned with the higher manufacturing costs. Those of us who have nothing available in the processed food isles are willing to spend what is necessary for "safe" products. More often than not I return from the store and remind myself of an old saying; "If I don´t cook it, I don´t eat it!" I will be doing research regarding the above keliaka disease. No Finlandia in my history, but there is other Celtic background.

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    Guest Peg Weidemann

    Posted

    Interesting - I remember reading somewhere that celiac rates (like other autoimmune diseases) are associated with low sunlight areas (vitamin D deficiency?)

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    Guest Deb Fuller

    Posted

    Doctors do not address celiac disease well here in the United States. I know so many who have self-diagnosed because doctors are not their friends (me included). This article said it as well: "One of the best things about Finland is that awareness of keliaka (celiac disease) is common,"If doctors were on top of this disease here in the United States, our statistics would be just as high as Finland, in my unprofessional opinion.

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  • About Me

    Jefferson Adams

    Jefferson Adams is Celiac.com's senior writer and Digital Content Director. He earned his B.A. and M.F.A. at Arizona State University. His articles, essays, poems, stories and book reviews have appeared in numerous magazines, journals, and websites, including North American Project, Antioch Review, Caliban, Mississippi Review, Slate, and more. He is the author of more than 2,500 articles on celiac disease. His university coursework includes studies in science, scientific methodology, biology, anatomy, physiology, medicine, logic, and advanced research. He previously devised health and medical content for Colgate, Dove, Pfizer, Sharecare, Walgreens, and more. Jefferson has spoken about celiac disease to the media, including an appearance on the KQED radio show Forum, and is the editor of numerous books, including "Cereal Killers" by Scott Adams and Ron Hoggan, Ed.D.

    >VIEW ALL ARTICLES BY JEFFERSON ADAMS

     


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