Gluten Free Chipotle

When my son was first diagnosed I took him
to Chipotle.  I was so impress with the staff,
their knowledge on cross contamination,
they knew to change their gloves, and he was
able to eat the chips.  It is a place, where everyone
can enjoy.

Gluten Free Sonic

With the Sonic chains opening now all
over, here is a list of their gluten free foods.

Meats-
        Bacon, Breakfast sausage patty
        Hamburger, hot dog no bun

Cheeses- American, cheddar and pepper jack
Treats- Shakes are gluten free, ask them to wash
container first.
Ice cream, slushes and drinks

Happy Gluten Free Memorial Day!

Gluten Free McDonalds

At one point every kid wants or likes fast
food. Eating gluten free can be challenging
at many fast food chains.  Here is a list of
some items that are gluten free from the
popular chain Mc Donalds.

Meats
        Beef patty (no bun) bring your own
        Canadian Bacon
         Sausage
         Scrambled egg
With any of these, no bun or wrap.

Sides
        Yogurt parfait ( no granola)
         Ice cream sundaes
         Mc Flurry with M and Ms
          Apple dippers
          Caesar  salad or side salad no chicken

Drinks and shakes are good too.
So just bring your bread and enjoy a touch of
fast food once in a while.

Celiac Disease Causes

Celiac disease is caused from a combination of
immunological responses to an environmental
factor and genetic factors.  People need both a
genetic predisposition and the exposure to
gluten in order to develop the disease.

1 Day Gluten Free Meals

Here is a sample of what a healthy gluten free
day of eating is like. 

Breakfast- Egg omelet with low fat cheese and peppers
                  Gluten free toast with jelly or jam
                  A cup of melon

Lunch-  2 corn tortillas, with beans, low fat cheese
and salsa.  Add a side of vegetables for a great lunch

Dinner-  Grilled chicken breast, with stir fry vegetables
brown rice, add a piece of fruit or a low fat yogurt.

Snack-  Cup of low fat yogurt, or low fat ice cream with
some fruit or low fat granola.

Eating healthy is not hard, it just takes some planning.

Celiac And The Gluten Free Diet

Gluten free diets are all the rage, however the
condition that has led many people to adopt
the diet isn't well known.
It is called Celiac disease and it's a condition that
an estimated 3 million Americans suffer from.

Celiac Disease Healthy Eating Tips Day 2 Of 2

Healthy Eating tips Day 2 or 2

1.  You can get iron from lean cuts of beef,
poultry, seafood, legumes, dried fruit, green
leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds.

2.  Eat other enriched, gluten free foods such
as enriched rice.

3.  Try eating lean cuts of fresh pork, legumes,
nuts, and fish are good sources of thiamin.

Celiac Disease Healthy Eating Tips Day 1 Of 2

Eating gluten free is easy, however you need to
make sure you are eating healthy.  It is important
to avoid any deficiencies.  Here are some tips to
help with a healthy gluten free lifestyle.

1. It is important to get enough B-vitamins
(thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and folate), iron and
fiber.

Treatment For Celiac Disease Or Gluten Sensitivity

The only treatment available for Celiac disease
is a life long adherence to a strict gluten free diet.
People living gluten free must avoid foods with
gluten, and always watch for cross contamination.
You must be careful with cutting boards and
toasters.  Even the smallest of crumbs can cause
a reaction in a person with Celiac disease.

Non Celiac Wheat Sensitivity

There are cases where people have symptoms
found in Celiac disease, such as depression,
abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation,
joint pain, and headaches when they eat gluten.
These people do not test positive for the disease,
however symptoms are better on a gluten free
diet.  These people are considered to have
 called non celiac gluten sensitivity or non celiac
wheat sensitivity.

Diagnosis Of Celiac

A diagnosis can be reached by
undergoing an endoscopic biopsy.
This is an outpatient procedure. 
A biopsy is taken of the small
intestine, which is then examined
to see if there is any damage
consistent with the disease. 

How To Get Screened For Celiac

There are several blood tests that screen for
Celiac disease, the most common is called
a tTG-IgA test.  You must be consuming
gluten for this test to be accurate.  If your
results suggest Celiac, your doctor will
recommend a biopsy of your small
intestine to confirm the diagnosis.

Who Should Get Screened For Celiac?

Celiac disease is a life long autoimmune
disorder that affects multiple parts of your
body.  It can lead to other serious illnesses
whether or not you follow a gluten free diet.

So who should get screened for Celiac disease?
1. Children older than 3 and adults experiencing
symptoms of the disease.

Fact Or Fiction?

Fact or fiction?  Avoiding gluten means all
whole grains are off limits.

Fiction!  Whole grains like wheat, barley and
rye are off limits when you are gluten free, but
there are plenty of other gluten free whole
grains that are good choices.  There is rice,
wild rice, and corn are all gluten free and
easy to find.  You could also try millet,
or buckwheat.  Whole grains are a great
source of fiber, protein, and B vitamins. 
These vitamins help your metabolism,
keep your immune system running good,
and keep your skin and hair healthy.

What Is Gluten?

Gluten is a general name for the proteins
that are found in wheat, rye, barley and triticale.
Gluten helps foods maintain their shape, acting
as glue to hold the food together.  Gluten can be
found in many types of foods, even some
you may not expect.

Genetic Testing For Celiac

People with Celiac disease carry one or both of the
HLA DQ2 and DQ8 genes, but so does up to 25%
of the general population.  Carrying the gene is not
a diagnosis of the disease nor does it mean you will
ever develop Celiac disease.  It does mean your
risk of developing the disease is 3% instead of 1%.

Celiac Symtoms

Celiac disease requires a diagnosis by a
medical doctor.  The classic symptom is
diarrhea.  Other symptoms include bloating,
gas, fatigue, anemia, and osteoporosis. 
There are many that have no symptoms.

Others may experience abdomen or joint pain.
Some may have heartburn, indigestion, nausea
or flatulence.
In children  you may notice weight loss, delayed
puberty with slow growth.

How Many People Have Celiac Disease

How many people have Celiac disease.

About 1 in 100 people which is about 1%
have Celiac disease.  Celiac disease is an
inherited autoimmune disease that causes
damage to the small intestine when gluten
is ingested.  About .4% of people have a
doctor diagnosed wheat allergy.

May Is Celiac Awareness Month

Healthy Meal Tips

Healthy Meal Tips

Aim for about 15-30 grams of protein per meal.

Choose 1 to 2 servings of lean protein, such as
chicken, yogurt, fish, eggs, low fat cottage
cheese, veggie burger, lean ham or turkey.

Add 1 to 2 servings of vegetables and/or fruit.

Choose healthy sources of fat, such as olive
oil, avocado, nuts or seeds.

Limit fatty meats, butter, sugary foods, and
refined sugars.

Limit fried and fast foods.