Gluten Free and healthy living
Gluten Free Diet
Check every label every time.
The gluten free diet is absolutely necessary if you have celiac disease. This is because your body no longer recognizes gluten, and gluten has become harmful to you. Celiacs in Edmonton and everywhere else must eliminate all gluten from their diets for life.
Years ago, celiacs didn’t have many options for eating gluten free, but that has really changed. Today there are tons of great products on the market that have made the gluten free diet easier and more satisfying. Even restaurants offer tasty gluten free options.
When you first start on a gluten free diet, it will take some time to discover which gluten free products you like. This can be an adventure as you get to try new things and experiment with your diet. There is also a wide range of “regular” foods you can eat, like fresh fish, meat, fruits, vegetables, eggs, and most cheeses.
Of course, you’ll want to spend some time learning what is and isn’t safe to eat, and how to avoid cross-contamination. It is important to learn where gluten may be hiding and how to properly read labels. At the Canadian Celiac Association Edmonton Chapter, we offer information and resources to help. All you have to do is ask.
As you begin your gluten free journey, remember to have fun, and to check every label, every time.
How do I know if a product is gluten free?
Read every label every time. New regulations by Health Canada requires manufacturers to label products with commonly used words such as “milk” or “wheat”, thus making it easier for people with Celiac Disease to determine if a product contains gluten or not. Click here to read more on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s website.
We also suggest contacting the manufacturer. They are the greatest source of information to know if their product is gluten free. We also suggest you ask the following questions:
- Are there any gluten ingredients such as wheat, rye or barley in this product?
- Does your manufacturing facility handle any gluten ingredients such as wheat, rye or barley?
- Is this product produced on a dedicated production line that does not contain any gluten ingredients such as wheat, rye or barley?
- Do you test your products for gluten? If so, what does your product test at parts per million (ppm)? Health Canada considers anything 20ppm and below to be gluten free.
Answers to these questions will help you decide if you want to purchase their product and consider them safe or not.
The Canadian Celiac Association also runs a gluten free certification program and have begun to certify brands. Click here to visit the Canadian Celiac Association website and see a list of gluten free certified brands.
Education
Are you eating better or worse since being diagnosed?
Are gluten free products healthier than wheat alternatives?
Do you gain or lose weight after Diagnosis?
Gluten free products are often about 1/3 of the size smaller than wheat based products. Do people eat a single portion or do they eat more as visually the product appears less?
Learn more about eating healthy gluten free. Debbie Pietsch, a registered dietician and a member of our advisory board put together a presentation to answer these questions and others.
Check our calendar for the next Gluten Free Living 101 session.
