How do I get over feeling sad about giving up the foods I love? Don’t celiac patients look a certain way? Can I eat wheat when I travel to Europe?
Today the Gluten Free RN is answering your frequently asked questions about celiac disease, clearing up misconceptions around the safety of wheat in Europe, the appearance of a celiac patient, and the percentage of the population that suffers from gluten sensitivity. She speaks to the challenges of getting your healthcare provider to do appropriate testing for celiac disease and the learning curve associated with changing your diet.
Nadine also explains the risks of embarking on a gluten challenge and the benefits of a super-good high fat diet. She discusses why a single breadcrumb can trigger an autoimmune response and how she uses tools like a Nima Sensor when she eats out. Listen in and learn why one negative test doesn’t rule you out for celiac disease, especially if you suffer from type 1 diabetes.
Having celiac disease doesn’t mean you have to live in a bubble. The Gluten Free RN wants to give you the answers you need to navigate the world—happy, healthy and gluten-free!
‘My sister has celiac disease, but I tested negative. I do have type 1 diabetes… What should I do?’
‘Why do you use a Nima Sensor or EZ Gluten test strips? Doesn’t it give you a false sense of security?’
‘A single breadcrumb or dusting of flour can trigger an autoimmune response? Really?’
‘I am overweight, I have dark hair, and I’m not of European descent. Don’t celiac patients look a certain way?’
‘Why do you recommend a super-good high-fat diet?’
‘I’m already on a gluten-free diet. Do I need to go back to gluten to prove I have celiac disease?’
‘My cousin was just diagnosed with celiac disease, and she is very sad about giving up the food she grew up with. How can she get started on a gluten-free diet?’
‘Why won’t my doctor order tests for celiac disease?’
‘Can I eat wheat in Europe?’
‘Is it true that celiac disease affects 1% of the population?’
Gluten Free RN EP027: Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease
‘Your Skin on Gluten’ on YouTube
Melodies of the Danube Gluten-Free Cruise with Nadine
Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism
Never assume. It makes an ass of u and me!
Not only do assumptions make you feel foolish, they can be dangerous. If you suffer from celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, assuming that a product is safe and gluten-free can be hazardous to your health! Gluten is hiding is some surprising places, from cashews to PlayDoh, and it is in your best interest to remember that anything processed in the same facility with wheat is at risk for contamination.
Today the Gluten Free RN shares the many places she has discovered gluten ‘hiding in plain sight,’ including personal care products, olive oil and communion wafers. She offers advice around supporting companies that are 100% gluten-free, alternatives to gluten-containing products, and choosing nutrient-dense foods that will help you heal.
Nadine also covers labels, discussing why you can’t necessarily trust the information you find there, the many different names for wheat to look out for, and why you should take a look even when the product should be naturally gluten-free. She reveals some of her favorite gluten-free products as well as several companies that are committed to maintaining gluten-zero production facilities. Listen in and learn how to make good choices—without giving up the activities you love. Eating gluten-free doesn’t have to be a punishment, and the Gluten Free RN can’t wait to share!
Why Nadine sticks with clearly marked gluten-free products
Some of the surprising places gluten hides
Why you can never assume a product is naturally gluten-free
Why Nadine encourages the support of companies striving to be 100% gluten-free
The many different names for wheat to watch out for on labels
Alternatives to gluten-containing products like bread, crackers and chocolate
Why you can’t trust labels
The cumulative effect of consuming products that contain just under 20 ppm of gluten
Why Nadine urges you to be picky
‘Your Skin on Gluten’ on YouTube
Melodies of the Danube Gluten-Free Cruise with Nadine
Dough Nation: A Nurse's Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism
We all just want to fit in, so it can be embarrassing to have special needs when it comes to your diet. Whether you are gluten-free, Paleo, or suffering from food allergies, a feeling of isolation is not uncommon. After all, you have to eat differently from the rest of your friends, family, or colleagues—and that makes you stand out. You run the risk of being perceived as picky or annoying, when the truth is that certain foods are toxic to your system!
Today the Gluten Free RN speaks to the psychology of eating gluten-free, explaining the sense of disbelief many gluten-sensitive individuals feel when the food they love turns out to be poison. She discusses ‘food ideology’ and why changing your diet can be so challenging.
Nadine also covers the doubt, mocking, and even anger that celiac and gluten-sensitive individuals face, offering suggestions for building connections with a like-minded, gluten-free community. Listen in as she outlines her approach to dating on a Paleo diet and reassuring family and friends who find a gluten-free diet too restrictive for kids. Learn to be your own best advocate and resist the social pressure to eat the standard American diet!
Why gluten sensitive patients must be willing to experiment
A downtown Corvallis business owner’s testimonial
How to research the possibility that gluten is causing your symptoms
Why people are resistant to diet change
The difficulty around getting a celiac diagnosis
The value of preventative medicine
Dating on a gluten-free diet
The human need to be part of a community
The global shift to a Western diet
Why Nadine recommends a Whole30 diet
The narcotic-like effect of gluten on the brain
Nadine’s recent experience in hospitals
Nadine’s rules around ingredients in packaged foods
Why people on a gluten-free diet are reluctant to tell others
How to approach neighbors or family who view a gluten-free diet as too restrictive for kids
The psychology of denial
Nadine’s opposition to a gluten challenge
The genes that indicate a predisposition to celiac disease
Hospitalization is nearly always the result of a sudden, unexpected event. So how do you plan ahead to keep yourself safe in the event that a health emergency lands you in the nearest emergency room? What steps can you take to stay healthy in the hospital as a celiac or gluten-sensitive patient?
Thanks to a listener suggestion and Nadine’s recent experience with a client recovering from surgery, the Gluten Free RN is addressing the cross-contamination risk in hospital kitchens and the nutrient-deficient foods available in hospital gift shops and vending machines. She also covers the responsibilities of the pharmacist to ensure that medications are gluten-free as well as resources you can use to verify that your prescriptions are safe.
Listen in as Nadine explains the significance of having an advocate with you at the hospital, who can prevent inadvertent gluten exposure and bring in the nutrient-dense food you need to heal. Learn how to communicate your needs as a celiac patient to resistant doctors, nurses, pharmacists and RDs, and plan ahead to stay safe and healthy—even when you’re in the vulnerable position of being in the hospital.
Why celiac patients should be skeptical of gluten-free menus in the hospital
The quality of food available in hospitals
How to verify that medications are gluten-free
The role of the pharmacist in providing gluten-free medication
What you can do to communicate your needs to hospital staff
The significance of having an advocate
Gluten-free options for patients on a liquid or soft food diet
The role of nutrient-dense food in healing the body
The Catch 22 of gluten and hospitals
How antibiotics affect your system
Dough Nation by Nadine Grzeskowiak
Emergency Preparedness with Nutrient Dense Foods
GIG Resource: Hospital Stays Made Safe
Gluten Intolerance Group of North America