Q: What are the current standard tests to diagnose celiac disease? Celiac disease (CD) is diagnosed by evaluating symptoms, conducting blood tests and a small intestinal endoscopy (biopsy). People with CD can have many different symptoms or no symptoms at all, up to 200 symptoms are associated with CD, here are some of the most common ones: Gastrointestinal Malabsorption- related …
Q: Is “gluten allergy” the correct term to use in regards to having celiac disease? Thank you. Celiac disease (CD) is not an allergy but an autoimmune disease. People with CD have an autoimmune reaction involving IgA antibodies when gluten is ingested. An allergy is different and involves a different branch of the immune system, so the term gluten allergy …
Q: I just bought a product labeled gluten-free but it has this statement: “this product was manufactured in a plant that also processes wheat products.” I am very confused, is it still ok to eat? A lot of manufacturers put these advisory statements on their products and this can be very confusing for the consumer. An important thing to note …
Q: I’ve been reading a lot about plastic straws being swapped out for wheat/pasta/gluten-containing straws. Are most non-plastic straws made from a wheat ingredient? Being a celiac, is this one more thing we need to be aware of when dining out? As we have become more aware of the negative environmental impacts of plastic straws, other alternatives have entered the …
Q: Do I need to check that my medication is gluten-free? You should always check anything you are ingesting, that includes medications. Gluten may be used as a binder or filler in medications, although this is rare according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).1 However, you should always check your medications for gluten-free (GF) status. It is important to …
Q: I just switched to a plant-based diet and I am having a hard time tolerating beans is this normal? It is quite common to react to beans and high quantities of fiber when first introduced. It is best to introduce high fiber foods like beans gradually. Beans contain indigestible carbohydrates called oligosaccharides. Humans lack the enzyme to break them down …
Q: Are soy products ok to eat when you have celiac disease? Soy is naturally gluten-free but some soy products contain other gluten-containing ingredients. Soy and soy products are fine to consume as long as they are gluten-free and providing you do not have a soy sensitivity or allergy. Soy is a bean and is naturally gluten-free. However, some soy …
Q: Is vinegar gluten-free? Most vinegars are gluten-free. Some examples of gluten-free vinegars include: Note that plain distilled vinegars are gluten-free even when made from gluten-containing grains. Gluten is removed during the distillation process rendering the final product gluten-free. Malt vinegar, which is usually made from barley but may also be made from rye and called rye vinegar, is not …
Q: Why can I NOT tolerate GF oats? The reaction I have is not as severe like when I’ve inadvertently gotten into gluten in the past but I still react w/mild GI symptoms. Mainly gas and bloating. I REALLY miss eating oats and they are not considered an allergen so I have to check the ingredients even when it’s labeled …
Q: Are canned vegetables, fruits & juices gluten-free? Most plain canned vegetables, fruits and juices are safe. Canned fruits, veggies and juices sometimes have added ingredients and have been somewhat processed. Always read the ingredient label carefully. It can also be helpful to look any allergen statement. Fresh whole fruits and veggies should be fine because they have not been …
