This SC city was ranked 5th best for gluten-free lifestyles in the US. Here’s why
Every year in the U.S., the month of May marks Celiac Disease Awareness Month.
The month helps to tackle the many stigmas and misleading information that surrounds celiac disease and the gluten-free diet.
Worldwide, many believe they may have a gluten allergy. However, research shows that gluten allergies are actually not a real ailment, but in fact, are the sign of something deeper.
“Gluten is a protein that is found in grains, such as wheat, barley and rye. Some people are allergic to wheat, but that is not the same as a gluten allergy,” the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology states.
“Gluten allergy is a misleading term commonly confused with wheat allergy, or sometimes celiac disease. There is no such thing as a gluten allergy, but there is a condition called Celiac Disease. Celiac Disease is a digestive condition that is potentially serious if not diagnosed or treated,” the ACAAI continued.
Although gluten allergies don’t exist, if you find yourself having adverse reactions to gluten but don’t have celiac disease, you may have a gluten intolerance.
A gluten intolerance is not an allergy, and there are currently no tests for accurate diagnosis of this sensitivity.
Yet, there is a difference between this sensitivity and celiac disease, but the difference is more in the severity and longevity of the symptoms.
“When a celiac person ingests gluten, his or her immune system will attack against its own body’s tissue. Whereas, if a person is gluten intolerant, the consumption of gluten will cause short-term bloating and belly pain,” according to Closing the Gap Healthcare.
Whether you have celiac disease, a gluten intolerance or just prefer to stay away from gluten from time-to-time, you may be looking for new locales that offer ample gluten-free options.
Charleston was recently ranked as the fifth best city for gluten-free choices in the country this year, according to a recent study by LawnStarter.
Out of 200 cities nationwide, the historic South Carolina destination made the top five list due to scoring the highest food quality of them all.
Charleston was the only city in the Palmetto State to be ranked in the list.
The study concluded that, although it might not have the best access to gluten-free food, Charleston served up the highest food quality out of every city, followed by New Orleans. Charleston also was able to boast the best access to gastroenterologists.
To determine the 200 best cities for gluten-free eating in 2023, the company compared the “200 biggest U.S. cities based on five categories.”
These categories included food access, food quality, demand, healthcare access and community.
Charleston was ranked as having the best food quality, seventh best for community, 10th for healthcare access, 60th overall for demand and 61st for food access.
Here are the top 10 best cities for gluten-free eating in the country this year, according to the study.
New York, New York
San Francisco, California
Boston, Massachusetts
Miami, Florida
Charleston, South Carolina
Orlando, Florida
Washington, District of Columbia
Las Vegas, Nevada
Portland, Oregon
Seattle, Washington
If you’re looking for gluten-free dining in Charleston, there is an abundance of eateries.
Here are four websites offering guides to eat gluten-free all around The Holy City.
