Gluten Free Candy Options

Following a gluten free diet doesn't mean you have
to swear off all sweets.  How you should approach
finding out if a candy is gluten free.  You should
first check the candy's ingredients.  That may mean
passing up on a community candy bowl, some
varieties of candy corn, candy canes, etc., are gluten
free while others are not.  As long as you have the
ingredient list you are good to go.  Many candies
you may think are gluten free, have wheat.  Be careful
and read the labels. 

Oat Milk

Oat drinks, also known as oat milk, is a plant
based beverage made from oats.  They are
cost effective and easy to make.  It is a healthy
and nutritionally rich beverage which comes
in many flavors.
The changing lifestyles of consumers have
increased the occurrence of obesity and the
fear of gaining weight is driving these
consumers toward low fat products.  Oat
milk is a popular choice for those allergic
to dairy and those who are looking to limit
the amount of saturated fats in their diet.
People with Celiac disease and gluten
sensitivity are choosing this new alternative.

What Not To Share In A Kitchen

Eating gluten free is tough enough, however
you must also think about cross contamination.
Here is a list of what not to share in any kitchen.

• Cutting boards
• Toasters
• Frying pans
• Waffle or pancake irons
• Dish towels
• Condiments such as butter or cream cheese

I would also would recommend having your own shelf

in the cabinet to avoid any chance of cross contamination.

Foods That Are Suprisingly Not Gluten Free

Here is a list of foods that contain gluten.

Bulgar Wheat             Soy Sauce
Durum Wheat             Soup Cubes
Einkorn                       Corn flakes
Faro                             Rice Krispies
Pearl Barley                 Some blue cheese
Rye                               Licorice
Semolina                      Beer
Spelt                             Couscous
Triticale                        Some hot chocolates.

After Diagnosis

After the stomach biopsy comes back positive for
Celiac disease, a gluten free diet is a must.  You
have to give up all sources of gluten for life to
prevent from further damaging the lining of
your intestines.
Your symptoms will not get better if you continue
to eat gluten.  Once gluten free you should start to
feel better right away, however it can take up to
1 year to heal completely.
You should see a specialist to assess your height
and weight, and review  your symptoms.  You
should have blood tests done yearly.

Is Celiac Disease Hereditary?

Celiac disease often runs in families. If
you have a close relative with the disease,
such as a parent or sibling, your chance of
also developing the disease is increased
by 10%. 

Celiac Disease Rash

Dermatitis Herpetiformis is the name of the skin
rash related to Celiac disease.

This rash affects around 1 in 3300 and usually
presents as an itchy, stinging rash.  It is red in
color and has raised patches.  It is most commonly
found on the elbows, knees, shoulders, buttocks, and
face.

A skin biopsy can be done to confirm the diagnosis and
can be treated by a life long gluten free diet.