May is Celiac Disease Awareness Month!

(statistics from NFCA & CDF)

As of this past February, I have been gluten-free for 3 years. I can't put into words how dramatically my life has changed as a result of getting on the right diet to treat my reactions. My life has more clarity, I am properly digesting food and am no longer malnourished due to malabsorption of nutrients. Switching to a gluten-free diet has definitely been a blessing for me.

The bad thing about all of this is that my diagnosis took about 20 years. During that time, I was increasingly and increasingly plagued by various health issues including ADHD, nervous system disorders, forgetfulness, malabsorption, unexplained weight loss, indigestion, depression and anxiety. After about 2 weeks on the Gluten Free diet, all of my symptoms completely reversed. On an older episode of the Hold the Gluten podcast (by the brilliant Maureen Stanley), it was said that the average time for a diagnosis of Celiac Disease was 10 years. Spreading awareness will help decrease that ridiculously high diagnosis time and will help the search for a cure. This May, being Celiac Awareness month, let's spread the word like wildfire.

For more information regarding the importance of a gluten-free diet, symptoms of Celiac Disease/gluten intolerance, going gluten-free and getting a diagnosis, see a few of my previous posts: Importance of Gluten-Free, Symptoms, and Basics of Diagnosis.

Some great additional resources:

• National Foundation for Celiac Awareness


• Celiac Disease Foundation


• Celiac.com

Have you been diagnosed with Celiac Disease or Gluten Intolerance?

Share your story here!

Thriving happily without gluten, soy, peanuts, and legumes.

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Notable Gluten-free Names

When I first went through diagnosis 3 years ago, I only knew one other person who even knew what Celiac Disease was--he had it himself. I felt like I was alone and suddenly different than everyone else, and had a hard first few weeks. It's always nice to know there are other people out there dealing with the same issue and it makes you feel part of a bigger community. Here's a few famous names you may recognize that either have gluten intolerance or Celiac Disease.

 -Drew Brees -

Drew Brees is the quarterback for the New Orleans Saints and was previously named Sport's Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. He is allergic to dairy, wheat, gluten, eggs and nuts. It's awesome to see someone flourishing so much on such a restricted diet. I found myself cheering for Drew and the Saints yesterday against the Lions in the playoffs, even though I'm a Michigander and Detroit fan at heart. ;) Read more on Drew Brees here.

 - Heidi Collins -

Well-known CNN News Anchor Heidi Collins has Celiac Disease. She is also the spokeswoman for the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA). Check out NFCA here.

- Actress Rachel Weisz -

You may recognize her from movies such as Constantine or The Fountain. Rachel Weisz avoids gluten due to Celiac Disease.

- Novic Djokovic -

Novic Djokovic won the 2011 Australian Open and the 2011 Wimbledon Championships--all on a gluten-free diet!

- Zooey Deschanel -

Actress Zooey Deschanel is gluten-free.

Who are your favorite gluten-free or food allergic famous folks? Leave a comment below.

The Importance of Diagnosis: Going Gluten-free

[caption id="attachment_539" align="aligncenter" width="421"] The road to health: Gluten-free (Photo credit Dreamstime.com Free)[/caption]

Recently, I've been asked by a few readers to do a series of posts outlining a gluten free guide/survival crash course for beginners. In the next few posts, I'll be covering the following. If you're wondering about going gluten-free, the main thing to remember is:

It is not hard!---No matter what anyone else says! Going Gluten-free is a breeze.

The next posts will be broken down into 3 main posts including:

1. Symptoms: This is crucial, as they will lead to a correct (and much needed) diagnosis of Celiac Disease or Gluten intolerance.


2. Diagnosis: How to talk with your health care professional regarding classic Celiac Testing, and also testing for gluten intolerance--something many patients are left to do on their own with no real guidance. Here's where the research I had to do myself came in super useful. Food diaries and elimination diets are really very helpful.


3. Treatment: Implementing, and sticking to a Gluten-free Diet is key. Focus on what you can eat instead of what you can't. Going Gluten-free is surprisingly easy, and most people I've diagnosed even before the doctor's did said they were astounded at the huge selection of GF products available these days. They're right! It's such a positive thing!


4. Vital Importance: I'll be outlining how undiagnosed Celiac or Gluten Intolerance can lead to terrible diseases, mental disorders ranging from ADHD to schizophrenia, and even Multiple Sclerosis. I went 20 years without a diagnosis and am lucky I didn't have much irreversible damage, save my nervous system.


5. Healing: Having a diagnosis of Celiac Disease or Gluten Intolerance IS life changing in more ways than just a diet. It changes the way you approach life as a whole. Focusing on filling your body with good nutrition, calming practices (meditation or yoga), and doing things you enjoy all help one to find balance again after wondering if the world is upside-down or not. Remember, you are always stronger than you think. You will thank yourself later for the changes you make today.

Stay tuned! Post one of three will be posted tomorrow. If you'd like some information about going gluten free sooner, please feel free to email me at sprinklesandallergies@gmail.com  I've been gluten free for three years now and have had no choice but to become a complete expert on the subject. Thanks again for asking for the post topic. Supporting each other makes the whole thing that much easier.

[caption id="attachment_540" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Being gluten-free does not rule my life. I am a stronger person because of it. I still dream big. Nothing holds me down, especially not a little gluten ;)[/caption]