Preparing a meal for adult women with celiac disease and fish/shellfish allergies can be a unique challenge. Gluten and seafood should be avoided in the diet, with some special dietary needs beyond those of a normal adult woman. Below will be a brief description of what celiac disease and fish and shellfish allergies are, how common they are, the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and special dietary needs. An example of a two-course meal will be presented before this information to provide an example of a meal that takes into account this person's particular dietary needs. Celiac disease What is celiac disease? Celiac disease is the autoimmune disease that causes the body's immune system to attack itself when gluten-containing foods are present. How common is the disease? The disease, also known as celiac disease, is a common digestive condition. Before advances in testing for celiac disease, the disease was thought to be rare. However, it is now known to be a common condition affecting around 1 in 100 people in the UK in people of all age groups (Celiac Disease – NHS, April 2010). Women are much more likely to develop the disease than men; being two or three times more likely. However, it is sometimes difficult to diagnose celiac disease. Some carriers of the disease cause no noticeable symptoms or cause very mild symptoms. For this reason it is believed that from a minimum of 50% to a maximum of 90% of cases of celiac disease are not diagnosed or are misdiagnosed as other digestive diseases (Celiac disease – NHS, April 2010). What is gluten? Gluten is a protein that can be found in products containing wheat, barley and rye. This means that foods...... in the center of the paper......, D. (9 March 2011). New treatment for celiac disease?. WebMD: Better information. Better health. Retrieved March 9, 2012, from http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/celiac-disease/news/20110208/new-treatment-for-celiac-diseaseSeafood Allergies Common for Adults. (n.d.). WebMD: Better information. Better health. Retrieved March 4, 2012, from http://www.webmd.com/allergies/news/20040713/seafood-allergies-common-adultsSeafood allergy, shellfish allergy, and fish allergy. (n.d.). Allergy UK - Helpline and advice for those suffering from allergies, asthma, hay fever, food intolerances and chemical sensitivities. Retrieved March 4, 2012, from http://www.allergyuk.org/fs_seafood.aspx Shellfish Allergy: Testing and Diagnosis - MayoClinic.com. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved March 1, 2012, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/shellfish-allergy/DS00987/DSECTION=tests-and-diagnosis