Statistics show that about 15% of people suffer from gluten intolerance of some kind. A lot of these people are clamoring for information. They want to know if gluten “blockers” will work, or if they eat probiotics, will it help them digest gluten better. No one wants to feel sick all the time.
A smaller number of people have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease or have such high sensitivities to gluten that are not able to be helped by anything other than complete abstinence from gluten. It may seem strange, but a diet this strict is often a cause for depression, confusion and loneliness.
It is hard for these people to adjust to the food culture in America, knowing that every bite of food they eat may cause them to get sick. Ordering at restaurants becomes a chore and attending dinner parties becomes a major challenge. Often, they begin feeling like they are a burden to others. Even people who have very supportive parents, spouses and friends feel the need to reach out to others who will really understand them.
It is the combination of the desire for more information and the desire for camaraderie that has driven the rise of gluten free online social communities. In these chat rooms, forums and message boards people who are feeling alone can find hundreds of other people who are going through the same challenges and issues. It is a chance to ask questions, share tips and recipes and make new friends who understand how hard it can be to evaluate every bite of food they eat.
There are several types of gluten free online social communities. The main types are information sites with community forums, socially driven sites that are built specifically for the community aspect and interactive information directories. All types offer plenty of information, but are structured differently.
Information Sites with Forums
These sites often have a team of writers that keep people continuously updated on news, research and products in the gluten free community. People can log on and read their fill of information and then log on to the forums to ask and answer questions. Some sites to check out are:
- www.celiac.com
- www.glutenfree.com
- forums.delphiforums.com/celiac
Socially Driven Gluten Free Online Communities
These sites contain a lot of information, but are structured to be a more social environment. There are two that rise to the top in this area.
- Gling- This Socially Collaborative Community is made to be by the user, for the user. There is no part of the site that cannot be commented on or added to. The entire site can be used as a forum.
- Gluten Free Faces- A Facebook type site that is specifically geared toward those living a gluten free lifestyle. They also offer forums and chat.
Interactive Information Directories
These sites are geared specifically toward information. They encourage users to participate by submitting entries and reviews. Each one is built around providing a certain type of information.
- Glutenfreetravelsite.com- Reviews and information from all over the world to help in travel planning.
- glutenfreeregistry.com- A listing of restaurants that carry gluten free menus. Users are encouraged to rate restaurants and post reviews.
Using these and other gluten free online social communities can make a gluten free lifestyle easier and more fun to live. They continually prove that no one is alone in the world, regardless of the daily challenges that are being faced.
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