While I wait for my Amazon book delivery…
…(I ordered a stack of books on gluten-free living) I thought I’d do a little light reading this morning, thanks to the Interwebs, which I luvs.
WebMD has tons of resources on celiac disease and gluten-free life, like this article on celiac disease symptoms, another piece on diagnosis and tests, and - most useful to me - this piece on treating celiac disease with the right diet.
Already, I can see I have some big adjustments to make. Like sushi. I’m definitely going to have to find wheat-free soy sauce, because I love sushi and I can’t live without it, I won’t! You can’t make me! So I’ve added wheat-free soy sauce to the shopping list for later today.
I was also not thrilled to see yogurt on a list of foods that often contain gluten, so I guess I’ll hunt for gluten-free yogurt. Not a food I would have suspected could have gluten, but shows you what I know. The article also suggests that vitamins can have hidden gluten, so I bolted into the bathroom and checked all my bottles - lucky me, no gluten to be found.
Oh, and lipstick. Lipstick?! Apparently it can have gluten. I don’t really wear lipstick, but I do use a gloss, Buxom Lips by Bare Escentuals
It’s kind of crazy how much work you have to do to eliminate gluten. But I know I’m lucky, since I’m not allergic to it, so if a little slips by I’ll be okay. It makes me appreciate what other people go through, and how much work they put into being healthy. So my hat’s off to all the guys and gals out there who go through this! And I’m also reminding myself that a lot of research will be upfront - I won’t have to check my lip gloss every day.
Elwoodcity said,
May 31, 2007 @ 4:17 pm
Wal-mart’s brand of soy sauce is not certified gluten free, but it is 100% soy, unlike most brands. It isn’t as good as some wheat containing kinds, but it works for me. If you like Asian, check out Fresh Ginger, http://freshginger.org/.
Shannon said,
May 31, 2007 @ 7:31 pm
San-J (found at some grocery stores and at Whole Paycheck) has a wheat free Tamari that is excellent. I just drop the bottle in my purse when I head out for sushi. You still have to be careful, though. No crab stick. No unagi sauce. I cried many tears over that. I have found that Hatchi’s Kitchen on California is great and fairly helpful. Super yummy. Mmmm…sushi.
Dannon yogurt is a no-no. Yoplait is ok. FAGE (the greek yogurt) is safe, as well. I think almost all plain yogurt is safe (no additives with the flavorings).
I was very unhappy about the lipstick deal. The company you use is known to be safe. Mary Kay lipstick is safe, too. I was told to be careful about nail polish. Most colored nail polish has gluten. When you cook it can chip off into your food. That is one of the more extreme things I have heard about. That and the whole “make your boyfriend brush his teeth with GF toothpaste before you kiss him” thing. WHAT? What a mood breaker.
Linda said,
June 14, 2007 @ 10:32 pm
Once you start to eat GF, your body begins to detox. After being GF for a period of time, just a little bit may indeed cause a reaction.
You say you do not have CD. how do you know for sure? Testing available can only rule in, not out. You could have early stages of the disease with atypical symptoms. You could naturally not consume large amounts of gluten so antibodies would remain below standard. They are now beginning to realize it is more of a spectrum than once thought. Different researchers have different opinions, but many are starting to see the disease more broadly. Many individuals only present with atypical symptoms and no abdominal symptoms.