Celiac disease a digestive system disorder caused by intolerance to gluten, was historically thought to be rare, but it is becoming evident that is no longer the case.

the disorder currently affects approximately 3 million Americans, or about 1 in 100 people, making it almost as prevalent as type I diabetes.

researchers suspect that because its symptoms are similar to other diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome, many more cases remain undiagnosed.

that for each person diagnosed with CD, there are as many as 30 who unknowingly have it, putting them at risk for a variety of health problems.

The team also found that people who were unaware they had celiac disease were nearly four times more likely than those who were celiac-free to have died during the 45 years of follow-up.

The findings also raise questions about the reason why prevalence of the disorder has risen so quickly.

One theory is that modern, cleaner living, which has resulted in fewer infections, parasites and microbes in our bodies, causes the immune system to attack healthy tissue instead.

The only treatment for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet. But despite the fact that manufacturers are required to label food that contains gluten, adhering to a gluten-free diet can be tricky business.

the obvious places gluten can be found in a normal diet, such as breads, cereals and pasta, there are many hidden sources of gluten.