Gluten-Free Is Medicine for Me

Imagine having a disease that can be treated entirely by the food you eat. Imagine not needing prescription medicines or having to deal with the side effects from medicine that can often be worse than the symptoms you are trying to treat. You have heard about the healing power of food, but have you heard of a disease that can be healed by only food? Does this sound too good to be true?

This is exactly the case with celiac disease. The only treatment for celiac disease is a lifelong 100% gluten-free diet. Celiac is an autoimmune disease where eating gluten damages the villi of the small intestine, resulting in malnutrition and any of over 300 possible health symptoms. Since tests for celiac disease are only accurate while still eating gluten, it is essential to get tested for celiac disease before trying a gluten-free diet. Ask your doctor to order the celiac disease panel, which is a simple blood test.

The great news is that there are so many choices for finding delicious gluten-free food. It does require vigilance to ensure the food you order at a restaurant or buy in a store is truly gluten-free and not impacted by cross-contamination. However, you will quickly learn the best questions to ask for your safety. Gluten-free is medicine for me. Is it your medicine too?

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10 Gluten-Free Predictions for the New Decade

Whether 2020 will be your first year eating gluten-free or you have been eating gluten-free for over a decade (like myself), the new year and new decade offer many gluten-free possibilities. While there have been major improvements in gluten-free life in the last decade, there are far more gluten-free advances that are necessary. Imagine how fantastic gluten-free life will be in 2029 when hopefully most of these gluten-free predictions become a reality! 

Here are my gluten-free predictions in random order. Which ones do you hope will come true? What would you add to this list?

1. Significant increase in the number of Americans diagnosed with celiac disease.

2. Broader awareness of celiac disease symptoms, treatment, and health complications.

3. Gluten disclosed on all medication labels.

4. More colleges offering dining halls that are gluten-free, allergen-free, and vegan, following the examples of the University of North Texas and Michigan State.

5. Gluten-free meals and snacks widely available at hospitals, nursing homes, school cafeterias, work cafeterias, sports and entertainment venues, airlines, hotels, and programs for feeding the homeless.

6. The celiac pill will be available. One option could be available as early as 2021, while a vaccine is being fast-tracked by the FDA. 

7. We will see a big increase in 100% gluten-free restaurants as well as many restaurants adding gluten-free menus without cross-contamination that are truly safe for people with celiac disease.

8. Store brand products will be commonly labeled as gluten-free, offering a much-needed way for gluten-free consumers to save money. 

9. The FDA will enforce proper use of the gluten-free label.

10. Tasty new gluten-free products will meet the demands of many special dietary needs, including vegan, keto, plant-based, allergen-free, low sugar, low carb, and more.

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60 Easy Ways to Raise Celiac Awareness

Join me in celebrating Celiac Awareness Month this May. Beyond Celiac, formerly known as the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, has put together a super list of 60 ways to raise celiac awareness. This year’s campaign is focused on raising awareness in 60 seconds (#60forCeliac), and I’m happy to be part of their blogger force. Here are five of my favorite ideas from the campaign. 

1. Watch and share this one minute video.

2. Tell a restaurant worker you have celiac disease instead of only asking for the gluten-free menu. 

3. Talk to one new person about celiac disease. 

4. Help someone in the gluten-free aisle at the grocery store. 

5. Ask your grocery store or supermarket to add gluten-free products.

Visit Beyond Celiac to see all 60 ways! What will you do to spread celiac awareness this May and all year?

My Top 5 Celiac Disease Facts

Share these facts for Celiac Disease Awareness Month this May, and leave a comment with what facts you would add to this list. Let’s fight the countless gluten-free myths and insensitive jokes by sharing the facts! 

1. I have an autoimmune disease, not a food allergy.

2. A 100% gluten-free diet is medically necessary for me. It is not a fad, weight loss diet, celebrity trend, or a joke. 

3. Please get tested for celiac disease before experimenting with eating gluten-free.

4. If “gluten-free” food comes in any contact with gluten while cooking or serving, it is not safe for me to eat. 

5. I love that there are tons of delicious certified gluten-free products. I am not deprived or suffering!

Celiac and Emeril: New Cookbook from Gluten-Free Daughters

Celebrity Chef Emeril Lagasse has two adult daughters who are gluten-free! Jilly has celiac disease and was diagnosed in 2004, while her sister Jessie was diagnosed with gluten sensitivity in 2001. The Lagasse girls have a brand new cookbook, The Gluten-Free Table: The Lagasse Girls Share Their Favorite Meals. Emeril wrote the forward to their book and makes gluten-free gumbo for his daughters.
 
Remember how exciting it was too see gluten-free episodes of Emeril Green in 2008? Now, we know why Emeril had a special interest in doing these shows. Is a gluten-free cooking show from the Lagasse girls coming soon?

 

Gluten-Free Olympic Athletes Go for Gold in London 2012

Wondering what US Olympic athletes are gluten-free and may win a gold medal in London 2012? Pole vaulter Jenn Suhr was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2011 and is the world’s top ranked female pole vaulter. Swimmer Dana Vollmer is gluten intolerant and also can’t eat eggs. She will compete in the 100m butterfly and 4x200m freestyle relay. Dana is the new spokesperson for Crunchmaster Crackers. To read about gluten-free Olympic athletes from other countries, visit About.com. View the Olympic schedule for these gluten-free athletes.

Update July 30, 2012 - Dana Vollmer won a Gold medal and set a world record in the 100m butterfly!

Update August 4, 2012 - Dana Vollmer won a total of three gold medals and set two world records! She competed in the 4x200 free relay and 4x100 medley relay.

Update August 6, 2012 - Jenn Suhr won a Gold medal in the pole vault!

Gluten-Free Cupcakes Finally Win Cupcake Wars!

Kyra Bussanich of Crave Bake Shop returned to Cupcake Wars and this time, her gluten-free cupcakes won! In December 2010, Kyra first appeared on Cupcake Wars and her gluten-free cupcakes almost won.

On tonight's episode, The Closer 100th Episode, Kyra said that this is a "win for the entire gluten-free community." I couldn't agree more! After watching three seasons of Cupcake Wars, it is fantastic to finally see a gluten-free winner on the Food Network. Cast members of The Closer loved the cupcakes and said "we are all going to gluten-free."

Season four of Cupcake Wars airs Sundays at 8 pm ET/PT. This episode reairs on Tuesday, December 20 at 8 pm ET/PT.  If you missed the episode, watch this clip of the ending to see the first gluten-free champion.

Gluten-Free News: New Magazine, Protein Bars, Omni Hotels, and Much More

My gluten-free Google Alerts have been filled with positive gluten-free news over the last two weeks. From gluten-free menus at hotels to an Olympic pole vaulter with celiac disease, celiac awareness is increasing.  

Silvana Nardone, the founding editor-in-chief of Every Day with Rachael Ray, is now the editor-in-chief of the brand new Easy Eats digital magazine. The first issue of the beautiful magazine is completely free. Simply click on subscribe at the bottom of the page and choose special introductory deal. A one year subscription (6 issues) is $16. You can also sign up to be an Easy Eats recipe tester. The premiere issue has many recipes and a great article listing the Best Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread in a variety of categories. 

Speaking of magazines, Gorton’s is giving away 100 subscriptions to Living Without to celebrate their line of grilled fish fillets that are now gluten-free. 

NuGo Nutrition Debuts the First Almost Sugar-Free Protein Bar Without Maltitol or Artificial Sweeteners at Expo East. The new certified gluten-free bars have 15 grams of protein, 9 grams of fiber, and 2 grams of sugar from real dark chocolate and chicory root. Since I work for the company, I already sampled the new NuGO Slim bars. My daughter and I loved them!

Omni Hotels will be offering gluten-free breakfast buffet stations at all of their locations. Read about other hotels with gluten-free items in Hotels Go Gluten-Free. 

“Omni Hotels is rolling out a gluten-free breakfast buffet station companywide. The station will include gluten-free cereals, granola and a variety of breads and muffins. It has its own table—and toaster—to avoid cross-contamination with products containing wheat.

“We’re getting great positive feedback from our hotel guests on recognizing the importance of people with celiac disease,” says Rosenstock, who, personally, keeps gluten-free by choice and claims improved health as a result. “We’re getting letters from people who say they’ll always stay at Omni.” 

Rosenstock points out the gluten-free options don’t cost a hotel more money. It’s all about sourcing differently and planning for it.” 

A British home baker, Jennifer Buls of Absolute Treats, won the title of UK National Cupcake Champion with a lime and coconut cupcake. She bakes gluten-free, dairy-free, diabetic-friendly, and vegan cupcakes and has secured a permanent location for a tearoom in West Wales.  

There has been lots of coverage of the FDA’s proposed gluten-free labeling standards. A story was even featured on CBS News. For more information about submitting your comments to the FDA and to read what others are saying, visit Gluten-Free Living.

Jenn Suhr, an Olympic pole vaulter, was diagnosed with celiac disease this summer after “suffering leg cramps, dehydration and general weakness for months.” She competed last week at the World Athletics Championships in South Korea and finished fourth. Jenn is hoping to win Gold at the 2012 Olympics. 

Olympic runner Amy Yoder-Begley also has celiac disease and packed gluten-free food for the 2008 Olympics. She suffered for 10 years before being diagnosed with celiac disease. She is currently recovering from an injury and hopes to make it to London in 2012. It is so exciting to imagine celiac disease being mentioned during the 2012 Olympic broadcasts!

Celebrate Celiac Awareness Month with NFCA

The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) is celebrating Celiac Awareness Month with several social media activities. In April, they collected approximately 500 photos of people with celiac disease and compiled them in this amazing mosaic. If you are in the Facebook photo, make sure you tag yourself. Also on Facebook, answer the weekly question. "What's one thing you can do now that you couldn't do before going gluten-free?"

On Twitter, NFCA is sharing signs of celiac disease in their #youmighthaveceliac tweets. Join the #gfchats about gluten-free nutrition every Tuesday night in May at 8 pm ET, beginning on May 10. The chats will be led by the Ask the Dietitian Experts.

Each day in May, NFCA will profile a blogger in “A Blogger a Day, the Gluten-Free Way”. I will be profiled on May 6. For a great list of gluten-free blogs, visit NFCA’s celiac bloggers list. Many of these bloggers will be profiled during May. Happy Celiac Awareness Month!

For more NFCA news, visit these links:

NFCA’s Kids Central

What We’ve Been Up To

Where We’re Headed

Gluten-Free News: Dumplings, Hotels, Vending Machines, a Dog, and More

It is only the second week of the New Year, and there is already lots of gluten-free news. The most exciting news is about the first gluten-free Asian dumplings. A luxury hotel chain, Fairmont, introduced gluten-free options at all of its locations. Organic vending machines with gluten-free snacks are making their way across the country. For a truly fascinating story, read this article about a woman who trained her dog to sniff her food for gluten. 

Elisabeth Hasselbeck launched a new line of high protein bars made in a shared facility with wheat, and there is no information about testing for gluten. She has several upcoming television appearances promoting her book, now available in paperback. While I do not recommend her book and am concerned about the spreading of inaccurate gluten-free information, I hope the appearances will encourage viewers to Google gluten-free and get tested for celiac disease.

In addition to two certified gluten-free cereals, Pebbles now makes two gluten-free treat bars. The Gluten-Free Travel Site launched a new mobile version and named the DC area as the winner of their annual contest to choose the “World’s Most Celiac-Friendly Destination.” It has certainly been a great week for gluten-free news!

Crave Bake Shop Baked Gluten-Free Cupcakes on Cupcake Wars

Tonight, Kyra Bussanich of Crave Bake Shop baked gluten-free cupcakes on Cupcake Wars on Food Network. The beginning of the episode had some terrific information about gluten-free.  Crave Bake Shop is a 100% gluten-free bakery located near Portland, Oregon.

The judges loved the gluten-free cupcake in the first round, which was a holiday cupcake made with cranberries and apple cider. In the second round, the three gluten-free cupcakes were inspired by holiday drinks. The flavors were egg nog, chai spice, and chocolate peppermint. They had beautiful decorations that impressed the judges. This quote from judge Candance Nelson from Sprinkles Cupcakes was amazing.

"I think you guys are like magical gluten-free elves that are working over there in that kitchen because I cannot tell that these are gluten-free cupcakes."

In the third round, Kyra had a display of Christmas trees on a table to hold the cupcakes, while the other finalist had an elegant sleigh display. Kyra added more ginger to the egg nog cupcakes at the request of the judges, but unfortunately she added too much.

While Kyra did not win Cupcake Wars, this was still a huge victory for gluten-free awareness.  This episode called Tree Lighting, the second season premiere, reairs several times this week.

Video: Celiac PSA on CBS

Thanks to a tip from Amy Ratner at Gluten-Free Living, I discovered this good celiac disease PSA that aired on CBS last night as part of CBS Cares. Pauley Perrette from NCIS is in the PSA. For more information, the PSA mentions celiac.org, which is the website for the Celiac Disease Foundation. Watch the video here or click below.

Gluten-Free Cake Mix Doctor on QVC

Last night, Anne Byrn was on QVC showing many desserts from her brand new cookbook, The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten-Free. You can watch the entire video on the QVC website and preorder the book at a low price of $11.89.  The books will ship on November 29.

The 80 recipes use a store-bought gluten-free yellow or chocolate cake mix, like Betty Crocker. Every recipe also has a dairy-free option. Anne was inspired to write the book after many requests from her readers. Her gluten Cake Mix Doctor books have been extremely popular. Over 3,000 autographed books were sold during this QVC segment!

Video from Lifetime: Celiac Disease on The Balancing Act

If you missed the celiac disease segment on The Balancing Act yesterday on Lifetime Television, watch this great video. It is almost five minutes long and packed full of good information!  I loved this part. "If you have symptoms you can't explain...ask your doctor about it."

Watch the Celiac Disease Foundation on Lifetime Television

On Monday, October 25 at 7 am ET/PT (6 am CT/MT), watch The Balancing Act on Lifetime. The show will feature Phyllis Kessler, President of the Celiac Disease Foundation South Florida Chapter and a doctor. They will discuss awareness efforts and celiac resources.

Read the press release and watch the preview video. If you miss the celiac segment, it will probably be added to their YouTube channel next week.

View the Transcript for the Celiac Episode to Air on Second Opinion

Recently, I blogged about the Celiac Disease Episode to Air on Public Television on October 15 or 16.  The transcript can now be viewed online. This great episode includes Alice Bast from NFCA and Dr. Daniel Leffler.  The patient, a 42-year-old man, presents with swelling in his hands, joint pain, and lactose intolerance. Later, he develops GI symptoms.

This episode is truly amazing awareness! One of my favorite parts is this quote from Alice.

"Yeah, malignancies, and I ended up seeing twenty-two doctors before I was diagnosed, but in my case I also had reproductive health issues.  So when you say how can it affect you, I had a full-term stillborn child, I had three miscarriages, and my youngest daughter was two pounds when she was born.  So she fit into the palm of my hand.  I’m five foot nine and I weighed a hundred and thirty pounds now.  I was down to about a hundred pounds. My hair was falling out, my teeth were breaking, and the doctors were telling me that I had postpartum depression and telling me I had psychiatric problems, you name it, anemia, so a lot of this — I had, you know, swelling in my joints.  I had such diarrhea that I couldn’t even go to work."

All aspects of celiac disease are discussed, including testing, related conditions, complications, and the gluten-free diet. Celiac is even referred to as "a multi-symptom chameleon disease." 

Celiac Disease Symptoms and Treatment: An Excellent Video

Watch this excellent video of Dr. Daniel Leffler, Director of Clinical Research at the Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Melinda Dennis, a registered dietician, discussing celiac disease and their new book.  The video aired this week on the Fox morning news in Boston.  Visit their website for more information about their new book, Real Life with Celiac Disease.

Celiac Disease Episode to Air on Public Television

The seventh season of Second Opinion will feature an episode about celiac disease. Episode 702 is called celiac disease, and will air on October 15 or 16, depending on the public television stations in your viewing area. In the DC area, Second Opinion airs on Saturdays at 9:30 am on WHUT channel 32.

Here is the description of this episode, which will likely include Dr. Daniel Leffler, Director of Clinical Research at the Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

"Nearly three million Americans suffer from Celiac Disease, a hereditary, autoimmune digestive disorder which is difficult to diagnose. Discover how a gluten-free diet (no wheat, rye, or barley) results in greatly improved health for those suffering from this disease."

If you aren’t familiar with Second Opinion, read the description of this unique series.

"The long-running, Telly award-winning series engages a panel of medical professionals and lay people in honest, in-depth discussions about complex medical issues. Host Dr. Peter Salgo presents intriguing, real-life medical cases to professionals representing a variety of specialties. As the experts grapple with the diagnosis and treatment options, viewers gain an understanding of doctors' decision-making process."

In episode 413 called inflammation, there was information about celiac disease and eating gluten-free. Joseph Mercogliano, a plumber in Long Island, shared his celiac diagnosis story on the show. It took two years for doctors to diagnose his weight gain, swollen lymph nodes, and chest pain as celiac disease.

Additionally, you may be interested in watching episode 701 about Vitamin D. Watch this new Second Opinion Stat! podcast featuring Alice Bast explaining celiac disease.

Buy Unique Celiac Awareness Items at CafePress and Support Celiac Research

I am pleased to introduce the new Gluten-Free Optimist CafePress Shop. Keep reading because you won’t find any items in the shop that promote my blog. The goal is to increase celiac disease awareness and promote positive gluten-free thoughts with fun and unique items. For all purchases made in my shop between now and October 31, 2010, a minimum of $2 per item, except individual buttons and cards, will be donated to the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research.

The donation for an individual button or card will be 50 cents. The highest donation is for this awesome 10 pack of mini buttons, which are perfect for both kids and adults to wear in October. For each pack of mini buttons purchased, $5 will be donated!

This tote bag is my favorite item. This design is also available on shirts and as an individual greeting card, which would be perfect to send to a friend or family member who resists being tested for celiac disease.

My daughter designed this awesome T-shirt. Also, look at the gluten-free tastes so good design, which is available on many items, including aprons, postcards, and shirts. 

Looking for an item without any cute graphics? Then, there is this T-shirt and button. Want to give a gluten-free kid a special reward for a job well-done? This bear would be perfect!


Here is some information about shipping, returns, and  discount codes.

• Use coupon code 15OFFTEES through September 23, 2010, to receive 15% off the T-shirts. Great new discount codes will appear in a banner at the top of the shop page.

• Economy shipping is $5.25 for any item, and 50 cents extra for each additional item. One exception to this is if you are buying only one button or greeting card, then shipping is only $1.25, and 30 cents extra for each additional.

• "No sales tax when shipping outside CA, KY, NV, NC or WA."

• "100% satisfaction guaranteed. Rest assured, we'll take it back (no questions asked). With our money-back guarantee, whether it's too small, too big, too orange or too (fill in the blank), simply contact Customer Support within 30 days for a full refund or exchange."

Check back often for new products. Leave a comment with any product requests. Wearing a celiac awareness button, shirt, or tote bag is a fantastic way to spread awareness and get people talking about celiac disease!

Kicking for Celiac and a Guinness Record

Craig Pinto will hold a unique fundraiser for celiac disease while attempting to break the Guinness record. The professional arena football player will kick field goals for 12 straight hours. To break the worldwide record, he will need to make 500 field goals! The event will take place on October 10, 2010, at Bethpage High School in Long Island, New York. Here is a quote from Craig, who is passionate about raising celiac awareness.

"Kicking footballs for this long seems physically challenging, but so is living with Celiac Disease everyday, and both can be done successfully."

To make a donation, visit the Kicking 4 Celiac website. All proceeds will go to the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University.