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Celiac Safe Sunscreens

3/27/2015

Spring Break is here, and for those of us lucky enough to be in a city with warm weather, it's time to pull out the sunscreen. For a celiac, using a gluten free sunscreen is key. Even though you may not be eating the stuff, in my opinion there is too much of risk of cross contaminating yourself if you use a non-gluten free sunscreen. Here is a list of confirmed gluten free sunscreens you can use to protect your skin this spring and summer. If you know of any others, please feel free to comment!

— The Healthy Celiac

• Coppertone® (including Water Babies)
• Neutrogena® — All sunscreens SPF 50 and below
• Kiss My Face — All gluten free products are labelled
• California Baby Sunscreen
• Banana Boat® — Sunscreen products only, including Kids - no gluten ingredients but they cannot guarantee that these are produced on gluten free line.
• Aveeno — Stick to their Baby Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion SPF 45, Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion in 30 and 45 SPF and Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion Face SPF 30 as these products do not contain oats.
• Blue Lizard

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Get In On These (Gluten Free) Phone Wallpapers

3/24/2015

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Why not make your phone wallpaper a little more fun, right? Here are some gluten free / celiac inspired digital downloads created by yours truly for your enjoyment. If you decide to share them on your website or on social media (which I fully encourage!), please just credit The Healthy Celiac with either a social tag (handles below), or a written credit of: image via The Healthy Celiac, www.healthyceliac.com. Enjoy!

— The Healthy Celiac

Twitter: @thehealthyceliac
Instagram: @thehealthycelaic
Facebook: @TheHealthyCeliac

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From The Wall Street Journal: FDA is Sued for Failing to Regulate the Use of Glutens in Medicines

3/19/2015

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Below is a blog entry from The Wall Street Journal about one man who is so fed up with gluten not being clearly labeled in pharmaceutical drugs that he is suing the FDA. I can totally relate to this — I have spent hours speaking with pharmacists and calling drug companies trying to confirm whether or not my prescription is gluten free or not. While there is a great blog out there called Gluten Free Drugs which offers lists of confirmed gluten free drugs, it is almost impossible to keep that list current with every drug manufacturer. Check out the below article — which I think is a great step forward for people with celiac disease everywhere!

— The Healthy Celiac

From The Wall Street Journal:

What would you do if you are allergic to wheat gluten and, therefore, could not take certain medicines?

This is a dilemma for Michael Weber, who suffers from celiac disease, which is an autoimmune disorder that can occur in genetically predisposed people who ingest the protein. This can damage the small intestine and lead to neurological diseases, among other illnesses. However, the protein is sometimes used to coat prescription drug and over-the-counter medicine capsules, among other things.

After taking a generic drug seven years ago and developing side effects consistent with ingesting gluten, Weber petitioned the FDA to either eliminate wheat gluten in medicines or require new labeling on drugs containing the protein. The agency response has been slow. In 2011, the FDA sought public comments about the issue, but otherwise has not taken action.

So Weber has now filed alawsuit to demand the FDA do something.

After taking the drug, “I called my pharmacy and they were not able to determine that drug was gluten-free,” says Weber, a medical office assistant in Eastchester, N.Y. “So then I had to find which manufacturer produced the generic. I went to their website and then had to speak to somebody at the company. They said that was not a gluten-free batch… So I had to discontinue taking the drug. I would like to be able to take drugs and not have any fears or go through all these hoops.”

In his lawsuit, he argues the failure to address the issue is hurting millions of Americans. About 1% of the U.S. population has celiac disease, according to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. “The absence of rules to address wheat gluten in prescription medications has serious and ongoing public health implications,” says Katie Einspanier, an attorney at Public Citizen, which represents him.

An FDA spokeswoman wrote us that the agency does not comment on pending litigation. We also asked what, if any, steps the agency may take to alert the public to medicines that contain wheat gluten and will update you accordingly. In 2011, a paper issued by the FDA Office of Food Safety detailed the adverse effects people with Celiac disease can suffer from exposure to gluten.

It’s not clear exactly how many medicines contain wheat gluten. A list maintained by Steve Plogsted, a nutrition support pharmacist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, shows the protein is found in more than 150 prescription and OTC medicines. He tells us he obtains information from drug makers and government sources, and does this on a voluntary basis without funding.

Recently, the drug information service at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick N.J., began a database. But in a recent essay in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, researchers noted most drugs “cannot be considered truly gluten free due to the lack of final product testing” and some drug makers could not verify the absence of cross-contamination during production.

“Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to the question of the prevalence of gluten in either OTC or prescription medications,” a spokeswoman for the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness writes us. “This highlights “the need for comprehensive research to identify safe thresholds of gluten in medication, its impact on people with celiac disease, and the pervasiveness of gluten” in production.

Meanwhile, spokespeople for the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America, which represents prescription drug makers, and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, which represents over-the-counter medicines, declined comment regarding the lawsuit and say they are uncertain how many of their members use gluten in their products.

In comments made to the FDA in 2011, the CHPA said the amount in OTC drugs where gluten “is not intentionally added is minute, especially when compared to the intake via the food supply.” The trade group also argued, though, that “banning use of specific grains would disrupt the supply chain, resulting in major reformulation of products.

“Reformulation to ensure elimination of gluten would have significant consequences to manufacturing cost and resources,” the trade group continued, adding that cross contamination could still occur. The CHPA, however, did suggest that labeling – such as the information provided for people who may experience allergic reactions – would be worth discussing.

Blog by Ed Silverman

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Making Gluten Free Dog Food

3/18/2015

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Purina Veterinary Diets Fortiflora Canine, 30 Sachets Per Box

I recently posted on Instagram about the gluten free dog food I make, and quite a few people have asked me how I make it. I started making gluten free dog food for a two reasons — one reason is that my dog has a very sensitive stomach, and most store bought dog food brands make her sick. The second reason is that I was sick of worrying about cross contamination. Even when I purchased 'gluten free' dog food, often times I would see 'oats' on the ingredient list. Without really knowing, my assumption was that those oats were not specifically gluten free grown oats. I always found myself cleaning my hands after touching my dog, sterilizing the floor around her bowl, and worrying about touching her bowl — not worth the hassle!

The best part is that by making my dog's food in large batches, I end up spending the same amount of money (or less) than I was paying for organic canned food. Each batch I make lasts for about 10 meals (my dog is 25 lbs), and costs approximately $13.

• 1lb of pan sauteed organic ground bison or extra lean ground beef — You can get great deals at Costco on organic meat and significantly reduce the cost of your dog food (Costco sells 3 lbs pack of Organic Ranchers ground beef for $13.99).

• 2 cups of chopped zucchini and / or broccoli florets (sometimes I also add some asparagus).

• I cup of cooked brown rice.

I combine all ingredients in a bowl, and then serve a portion for each meal. Once a week I grind up some egg shells in my food processor and mix in with her food (here is why I add the egg shells). I also add one packet of Purina Veterinary Diets Fortiflora Canine on top of each meal to promote a healthy immune system for my dog. The whole process takes me about 30 minutes from start to finish — well worth it!

Hope your pups enjoy!

— The Healthy Celiac

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Keeping a Positive Attitude When You Have Celiac Disease

3/12/2015

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They say attitude is everything, right? As any person with celiac disease knows, the disease is often accompanied by emotions of frustration, sadness and anger (sounds awesome doesn't it ... ). There is the disappointment of accidentally getting gluten, the hurt of a family member not understanding what you are dealing with, the exhaustion of other celiac related health challenges and symptoms, the fear of eating in a restaurant .... the list goes on.

Then of course there is a constant stream of worries and considerations that fill your head on a regular basis: what will be able to eat at that work dinner? How you will manage to eat a friend's wedding? The point is, that with all of these challenges, it is very easy to fall into a pattern of negativity and develop a 'poor me' attitude. So where is the line? Do you just 'suck it up' and not complain? Or do you let yourself get down on the fact that these frustrations and anxieties are something you will have to deal with for the rest of your life?

While I personally don't think there is a magic answer to this question, and each person's personality and temperament are different, I can speak to my own approach:

• First of all, I always try to be as positive as possible. I remind myself that I'm not on chemotherapy, I don't take daily pharmaceuticals, I'm not in a wheelchair, etc. While this downward comparison may not appeal to some, for me, it reminds me to be thankful for my current station in life.
• Second, I have one, go-to person who really understands what I deal with. For me, that person is my Mom. To have at least one sympathetic ear you can vent to when you're frustrated is really helpful!
• Third, I have learned to speak up. I have stopped letting the fear of being the high maintenance person at the table bother me. I have asked to speak to the chef at a restaurant, I have (kindly) requested that the waiters go back and double check a dish, and I have corrected people who have told me celiac disease is 'just a diet'. Admittedly I have never exactly been a wallflower — however, when first diagnosed, I felt like the special needs person at every group dinner I attended. I had to work to get over that.
• Fourth, I don't take anything personally. If someone feels celiac disease is a 'fad diet', or that I'm being high maintenance, I don't take their comments personally. It's not my job to ensure other people feel good about my disease and my health.
• And finally, when I do get frustrated or overwhelmed, I allow myself to feel that way. Nobody can slap on a happy face and pretend to feel good all the time. There are moments that I feel completely at war with my body, and that is okay. I don't try to deny myself to right to feel pissed off — but I also try not to let those emotions go on too long. It's too much work to always feel sorry for myself.

What are your tips? I would love to hear what other celiacs think about this! Please comment below.

— The Healthy Celiac

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Celiac Safe Sunscreens

Get In On These (Gluten Free) Phone Wallpapers

From The Wall Street Journal: FDA is Sued for Failing to Regulate the Use of Glutens in Medicines

Making Gluten Free Dog Food

Keeping a Positive Attitude When You Have Celiac Disease

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