Gluten-free Celebrity Update

Celiac.com 07/07/2011 - With diagnosis for celiac disease and gluten intolerance growing by leaps and bounds, it's no wonder that the list of celebrities who eat gluten-free continues to grow as well.

Like anyone else with celiac disease and gluten-intolerance, for celebrities and athletes who suffer from either condition, consuming gluten damages the lining of the small intestine and reduces absorption of important nutrients.

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People with celiac disease are more likely to have autoimmune disorders, Addison’s disease, Down syndrome, intestinal cancer, intestinal lymphoma, lactose intolerance, thyroid disease, and type-1 diabetes. In the United States, approximately 1 out of 133 people are diagnosed with celiac disease.

A partial list of some noteworthy celebrities and athletes who reportedly follow a gluten-free diet due to celiac disease, gluten-intolerance, or other reasons include: news host Keith Olbermann, actor Billy Bob Thornton,  Elizabeth Hasselback Katherine, Dutchess of Kent, news anchor Heidi Collins, actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Esposito, Goldie Hahn, Rachel Weisz, Zooey Deschanel, Susie Essman, Emmy Rossum, and Heidi Collins.

Chelsea Clinton featured a noteworthy gluten-free offering at her wedding reception.

Athletes include tennis stars Novic Djokovic, who attributes an unbeaten string of wins in part to a switch to a gluten-free diet.

German tennis star Sabine Lisicki looks to bounce back after collapsing on the verge of a major upset at the French Open; a collapse she attributes to an undiagnosed gluten-sensitivity.