The CeliAct Blog

One of the greatest debates in the world of gluten-free living is whether oats are safe for people with celiac disease to consume. For many years, celiacs were told that the list of grains they should avoid were “wheat, barley, rye and oats.” It was assumed that oats should be avoided as diligently as wheat should. Only recently has this advice started to change, but the debate still rages. Wrapped up in the argument over oats are many myths and misunderstandings about this humble, fiber-rich grain. Let’s get to the bottom of this once and for all… – Oats, also known as avena sativa, are an extremely nutritious cereal grain. The portion of the grain […]

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When most people think about celiac disease, “diarrhea” is one of the first symptoms that comes to mind. Constipation rarely comes to mind. Even doctors frequently do celiac blood testing for patients whose primary symptom is diarrhea, yet anecdotally it seems that constipation rarely raises red flags for them. However, research has shown that about 15% of celiac patients with gastrointestinal complaints experience constipation. A 2012 study suggests that any person experiencing constipation that doesn’t respond to laxatives should be tested for celiac disease. Constipation is no mere inconvenience. It can reduce the body’s ability to eliminate toxins and can contribute to gastroesphageal reflux. It can cause symptoms such as pain, fatigue and anal fissures. […]

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In our previous post, 3 Gluten-Free Grains You’ve Never Tried, we explored nutritious gluten-free millet, amaranth and sorghum. But if you thought those were the last of the nutritious “ancient grains” you can incorporate into your cooking, think again! We’re back with two more types of grains (or “pseudograins”, which are technically the edible seeds of grasses) that can add flavor, creative flair, and essential vitamins and minerals to your diet. This time we’re going to look at teff, a grain often associated with Ethiopian cooking, as well as quinoa, a South American crop that’s quickly growing in its popularity and availability. – Teff is a grass that is native to Ethiopia and produces an […]

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Brown rice, white rice, corn… Does the list of gluten-free grains in your diet stop there? You might be surprised at all of the nutritious grains you’re missing out on. While rice and corn are the basics that most celiacs start out with, few gluten-free folks are aware of the more exotic and nutritious gluten-free grain options that are available to us. The following ancient grains are nutritious staples in many parts of the world but less well-known in the Western world. Although these grains are not as common in the American diet, they are all available for purchase on the internet or through health food markets. One of them is even easy to grow […]

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Is the cost of gluten-free groceries breaking the bank? Well, you may be in luck because there is actually a gluten-free tax deduction. Since gluten-free food is medically required for people with celiac disease, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) actually makes the difference in cost between gluten-free food and “regular food” a legally deductible medical expense. Too few of us know about this wonderful perk that can significantly help us deal with the excessive costs of gluten-free food. It may be months until you have to do your taxes again, but that makes this the perfect time to learn how you can benefit from a special tax deduction every celiac should know about. After all, […]

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When you have just one dietary restriction, such as having to avoid gluten, figuring out what to eat can be overwhelming. When you have multiple dietary restrictions, such as gluten-free and vegetarian, it can seem truly daunting. Even in our increasingly food-savvy world, many people hear “gluten-free” and their first response is: “What on earth can you eat?” A surprising number of people have a similar response when they hear about vegetarianism. So when the topic of gluten-free vegetarians is broached, many people are clueless about whether one can be healthy as a vegetarian without eating gluten and have little idea what gluten-free vegetarians eat. Well, we’re not only going to tell you that it […]

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Gluten-free groceries are notoriously expensive. In fact, a study showed that gluten-free specialty foods are 2.5 times more expensive than their “regular” counterparts! If you go to a restaurant and order their gluten-free pasta, it will surely be one of the most expensive items on the menu. When you go to the liquor store and buy a 6-pack of gluten-free beer, the price is often similar to the more expensive microbrews. As if the gluten-free diet wasn’t hard enough! Luckily for us, there are many ways to cut down the cost of living gluten-free. From how you plan your grocery list to where you shop, there are many opportunities to trim excess fat from your […]

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Gluten-free athletes appear to be popping up all over the place today. What’s up with that? For athletes who have celiac disease, like collegiate hurdler Shelby Kaho, the benefits of a gluten-free diet are obvious. A gluten-free diet led Shelby to become stronger and faster after being diagnosed with celiac disease. Once she started following a gluten-free diet, her nutritional status improved, as did her athletic status. What is less obvious is why so many non-celiac athletes are choosing gluten-free diets. There have been so many stories in the news about athletes claiming better performance when removing wheat, barley and rye from their diets. What gives? –   The Number of Gluten-Free Athletes is Growing […]

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As we mentioned on the CeliAct Blog a few weeks ago, we were just as interested in the Domino’s gluten-free pizza controversy as the rest of you. For anyone who follows a gluten-free diet, a gluten-free product launch from an establishment like Domino’s is extremely exciting. … at least for the first 15 seconds. For many celiacs, this excitement quickly turned to disappointment as the disclaimers and warnings were made painfully clear. Domino’s new gluten-free pizza is made with gluten-free ingredients. But, it is NOT made in a gluten-free kitchen, so cross-contamination can’t be ruled out. Domino’s was very transparent about this risk. The gluten-free community was up in arms. At CeliAct, we were curious. […]

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The numbers don’t lie. You (the readers) LOVED our blog posts on gluten-free barbecues and gluten-free drinking last year. Well, I don’t know why that would come as a surprise. Just because you have celiac doesn’t mean you don’t have a good time, right? Well, we decided to go back to the drawing board and give you an even better gluten-free barbecue guide for 2013. So fire up that grill! Barbecue season is upon us again, and it’s never been easier to throw a delicious gluten-free barbecue! – Start Out with a Clean Slate   The first consideration for gluten-free grilling is the grill itself. Old grill grates typically have caked-on, burnt food residue on […]

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It’s that time of year again! Graduation is around the corner for scores of high school and college seniors and you’re probably searching for the perfect gluten-free gift. While it’s always safe to stick to traditional graduation gifts, wouldn’t your favorite graduating celiac find it especially meaningful to get a gift designed to help them transition into a healthy and easy gluten-free life at college or in the working world? Here are some ideas for gifts for your favorite gluten-free graduates. – Gluten-Free Gifts For High School Grads   For high school graduates, focus on items that will ease an older teen’s transition from living at home to living in a dorm or shared apartment. […]

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Domino’s and Chuck E. Cheese’s both announced the launch of gluten-free pizzas in May 2012. The timing of their decisions makes sense. May is Celiac Awareness Month, and if you’re going to make a splash in the gluten-free market during the year, it makes sense to take advantage of the additional publicity gained during the month. Well, additional publicity may not be what Domino’s wanted here. Many in the gluten-free community are up in arms over Domino’s gluten-free pizza launch. Chuck E. Cheese’s on the other hand, has taken a more thoughtful approach to their launch. Hopefully it’s not too late for Domino’s to learn from their fellow pizza-making friends. –   Domino’s “Almost” Gluten-Free […]

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Gluten-free products and companies are (thankfully) appearing all over the place today. Subway and Domino’s are two of the latest companies to test the market, and it appears that we’re entering a “Golden Age” for gluten-free consumers. Our culture’s romance with gluten is finally on shaky ground, but it hasn’t always been that way. Only in the past decade or so have we started to reverse our infatuation with gluten. In fact, the history of gluten in the human diet spans 10,000 years and includes key characters like the Roman Empire, the Great Depression and even the U.S. Government! We found the history of gluten interesting, so we thought you would to… –   The […]

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May is not just the month when wearing white comes back into style and everyone’s firing up the barbeque. The month of May is also Celiac Awareness Month, a time period during which extra public attention is drawn to this vastly underdiagnosed disease that affects 1 in 133 Americans. Celiac Awareness Month was pioneered by the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA), a national organization focusing on educating the public about celiac disease. Well, they’ve done a pretty good job because now you can find Celiac Awareness Month being celebrated across the entire country! With all of the exciting promotions and events going on during the month, you’re probably wondering where to get started. Lucky […]

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If you have had celiac disease or gluten intolerance for more than a handful of years, you probably remember a time when eating gluten-free at a national restaurant chain, or even an independently owned local restaurant, was simply impossible. If you ate out at all, it usually involved asking the chef a million questions and still feeling nervous when eating even a basic salad or baked potato. Thankfully, the world of gluten-free dining has traveled light years away from that reality. In addition to a plethora of local restaurants offering gluten-free fare, many regional and national chain restaurants are offering gluten-free menus to their customers. Many are even training their staff to help decrease cross-contamination. […]

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