Wheat is everywhere in modern society. Since first being cultivated in the Fertile Crescent over 10,000 years ago, wheat has expanded its influence into various cultures around the globe and is an essential ingredient in many places (de Sousa). In my household, however, not so much. Gluten in all its forms has been missing from our family dinner table ever since my sister was diagnosed with celiac in 2010. I was diagnosed with the disease four years later. Living with celiac can be difficult. I remember feeling awkward at team dinners and celebrations when I had to turn down food that was prepared by other families, or when traveling with family or friends and feeling like a burden when we have to find a place where I can safely eat. These moments serve as reminders that what we eat is so much more than just nutrition—it’s a means for connection. Avoiding wheat is not just a physical challenge, but an emotional one too. That said, it’s important to keep perspective. 

Living with celiac disease is a minuscule problem in the grand scheme of things. In fact, it’s almost been a blessing to have celiac disease. Avoiding processed grains, such as wheat, and fatty foods has encouraged me to lead a healthy lifestyle, and living with celiac has allowed me to meet others who have the disease and connect with them. As more people come to realize the potential health benefits of living gluten-free, there’s been an increase in gluten-free products available, as well as more regulations to make eating gluten-free safer. I can recall a time when my sister and I couldn’t trust the labeling on foods because there was no standard for what was considered safe to eat and gluten-free. It wasn’t until August of 2013, (only eleven years ago!) that the United States Food and Drug Administration passed a law defining a “final rule” for a product to be considered gluten-free (“Gluten-Free Labeling of Foods”). Now, the most recent Nobel Prize winners: David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper are also leading celiac researchers (“The 2024 Nobel Prize”). It’s very exciting to see how much more attention celiac disease is getting. While I may be crossing my fingers and hoping they can develop a cure, with the lifestyle that having celiac has created for me, I’m not entirely sure if I would want to make a change.