What will celiac disease be in the future?

Currently it is a very under-diagnosed condition, but quite common, I read that it is more common that Crohn's, Colitis and IBS combined, and that's just at the current conservative estimate of 1 in 133. Awareness is growing, and so are our options.

First off, there is more access to gluten-free foods. I can carb out and junk out almost as much as a non-celiac. In my case, that's not always a good thing,

but when some of those GF products are actually healthy, it's great. For my sons, it's great to have options of what to feed them that are less damaging than what they see the other kids eat. (It's also great not to always give them those options, so they develop healthy tastes in foods...like my 4 year old who loves beans, avocados and artichokes, and my 1 year old who kind of likes broccoli sometimes)

The best improvement now is the access to information. Sometimes it is overwhelming, so I'm glad I can read everything through the lense of the BTD. Corn and soy are pretty prevalent in GF food, and it's nice to know I do feel so much better without them.

Will a wonder-drug come out for celiac disease? Will I take it?

The zonulin-receptor-antagonist looks promising, not only for making it so celiacs can eat gluten, but also for many of the associated complications of celiac disease which can affect the skin, lungs, blood/brain barrier, nervous system, or any system in the body. A drug for CD would also serve to improve the rates of diagnosis. Once a drug company starts pushing a drug for it, doctors will start testing for it so that they can prescribe said drug. I'd bet that testing would be simplified as well, and maybe biopsies wouldn't even be necessary any more. Once the GF diet is no longer considered a major lifestyle altering event, perhaps they won't be so selective about how much damage has to be done before treating it. Most people are more eager to get a diagnosis that just involves popping a pill, than one that changes their whole way of eating and socializing.

Will I take the drug? As much as I prefer to not take drugs, I would consider it. It may make other drugs unnecessary for some celiacs, and may even have some positive side effects. However, first I'd want to understand why we produce zonulin in the first place, and why we need to block it's effects. There must be some reason why the body produces some zonulin, is it just a genetic error that makes some of us produce too much, or respond to it the way we do? Stomach acid isn't a bad thing, when the right foods are eaten, likewise can zonulin be all bad?

If I did take the drug, I still would avoid gluten. It would be a nice bit of armour for those times that gluten sneaks up on me, but I wouldn't use it as a license to eat krispy kreme. Nope...nothing can convince me to eat wheat-laden junk again. Not even a slice of fresh San Francisco Sourdough on Christmas day? Hmmmm. I'm not going to think about that option anymore...not an option. Whoa...it's been a long time since a thought like that has gotten into my head. <>

Ok, back on track. I think things will continue to make life easier for celiac disease patients. Some of it may be a mixed bag, but things are getting easier and better.