Can Celiac Disease be Diagnosed without Biopsies
2/7/2024 by Anna Hall, MS Nutrition and Dietetics Researchers are exploring whether clinicians should skip biopsy for diagnosing celiac disease in adults with very high levels of a specific blood marker called tTG-IgA. Current guidelines for children use this blood test, while an intestinal biopsy is the current “gold standard” for diagnosing adults. A Read More
More Recent Posts
Virtual Event: Insights & Information to Inspire Your Gluten-Free Life
So many aspects of life are affected and need to be considered as you’re aiming to optimize health and happiness when living gluten-free. One good way to view these considerations is to think of fitting them into three main categories: 1) Diet and Nutrition; 2) Health and Medical; 3) Lifestyle/Social. Of course there is overlap Read More
First Steps to a Gluten-Free Life: Navigating Milestones
The first time you experience a significant activity or milestone event there’s bound to be an element of the unknown involved – after all, you don’t have past experience to inform your expectations. This can be exciting, but maybe a little nerve-wracking too. And if you’re new to living gluten-free, some of these “firsts” can Read More
3 Steps to a Celiac Disease Diagnosis
You’ve been experiencing some discomfort, pain, or simply feel unwell. You go to the doctor to try to find out what’s wrong. At what point should the topic of celiac disease and getting tested come up? If it does, what happens next?
Building Your Healthcare Team
Published May, 2021 The purpose of this article is to explain the different types of expertise that may be beneficial when taking a comprehensive approach to treating a person diagnosed with celiac disease. GIG acknowledges that not everyone has access to all of these options, and some have access to very few of them. This is an important point to note and a conversation we will Read More
Celiac Disease: Barriers to Diagnosis
Published April, 2021 If getting your celiac disease diagnosis is taking (or took) a long time, you are not alone. The journey to diagnosis can take a while for individuals with celiac disease. We spoke to some experts who treat celiac disease patients to better understand some of the barriers that can interfere with a prompt diagnosis. Patient Confusion/Attitudes When you’re not feeling well, Read More
Gluten-Free Meal Plans
Click on the meal plan to download the full plan in a PDF. GIG Gluten-Free Meal Plans All of us at GIG are committed to making life easier for everyone living gluten-free. Creating and sharing Four Week Meal Plans is part of this commitment. We’ve included easy-to-download plans and separated out weekly shopping lists for Read More
4-Week Tasty Gluten-Free Meal Plan
Published February 8, 2021 Looking for cooking inspiration? We’ve designed this 4-week tasty gluten-free meal plan to make it easy for you to enjoy flavorful, gluten-free meals with some surprising and fun dishes. We included shopping lists to make things as simple as possible. You can adjust quantities based on the size of your household, Read More
3 Tips for Gluten-Free Label Reading
Download the Printable Version of this Educational Bulletin Updated January 30, 2023 When you’re living gluten-free, making sense of food labels can be a bit of a puzzle you must solve before you can feel confident putting that product in your cart and bringing it home to consume. We put together three tips for reading labels on packaged food products to help you figure out if they’re safe for Read More
7 Tips for Avoiding Gluten Cross-Contact at Home
Updated January 8, 2021 Click here to view print friendly version How can you go about avoiding gluten cross-contact at home, particularly in a kitchen shared with non-gluten-free family members? The presence of gluten, the protein found in common cereal grains wheat, barley, rye, and their derivatives, can be problematic even in microscopic Read More
5 Ways to Cut Costs on a Gluten-Free Diet
Updated March 22, 2023 Following a gluten-free diet? Feeling a pinch in your pocketbook? A valid concern since many gluten-free foods usually come with a higher price tag. Luckily, eating gluten-free does not have to break the bank! Here are five ways to decrease food costs when following a gluten-free diet. Cut Costs on a Gluten-Free Diet 1. Focus on whole Read More
4-Week Basic Gluten-Free Meal Plan
Updated January 5, 2021 New to gluten-free? Check out this 4-week menu plan! This Starter Kit is designed as a guide to help you navigate the first month of your child’s diagnosis. It contains basic information about gluten-related disorders, dietary treatment, and contains a month’s worth of meal plans and shopping lists to help you Read More
The 10 Stages of Going Gluten-Free
Published November 16, 2020 Not yet in love with the gluten-free diet yet? Don’t worry – you’re not alone! Getting motivated to switch to a gluten-free diet can be challenging. Whether a medical necessity, a sensitivity or a choice, eliminating gluten from your diet may bring up a whole slew of emotions. We’re here to make living gluten-free easier for everyone – from those who choose Read More
Gluten-Free Living: Basics & Beyond
Click here to read this free issue of Gluten-Free Living: Basics & Beyond e-magazine
The Tools to Replace in Your Gluten-Free Kitchen
WOODEN UTENSILS Wood can be tricky to thoroughly clean. Wood fibers could harbor gluten particles and enter your food with the next stir. CUTTING BOARDS Be cautious with cutting boards. If they are pitted or scratched, gluten could settle into crevices. It’s better not to risk using your former bread board for your new gluten-free Read More
Transitioning Your Child to a Gluten-Free Diet
Published February 9, 2023 Download the Printable Version of this Educational Bulletin Transitioning your child to a gluten-free diet can feel overwhelming and confusing at times. You may feel unsure of how to keep your child safe while still allowing them to experience the joys of being a kid. You can rest assured that with Read More
Is It Always About Gluten? What are FODMAPs?
Published January 16, 2020 If you have celiac disease, the answer is “yes.” But for non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), it’s not so clear cut. If you think you have NCGS, your healthcare provider may have suggested you have an issue with “FODMAPs” instead. Here, we explain what FODMAPs are, why some people have issues digesting Read More
Talking to Friends & Family About Living Gluten-Free
Published January 15, 2020 As you may have experienced, some friends, family members, and co-workers are overwhelmingly supportive of you and your dietary restrictions, but others… not so much. Here is a helpful guide on how to navigate some of these more difficult situations. Try to approach these conversations with a serious, but informal tone. Read More
Celiac Disease in Children
Download the Printable Version of this Educational Bulletin Published June 6, 2022 What is celiac disease? Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that results from the response of the immune system to the ingestion of gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. This immune response causes inflammation, and damage to the Read More
What is Celiac Disease?
Download the Printable Version of this Educational Bulletin Published December 14, 2022 What You Need to Know Celiac disease is a chronic, autoimmune disease which is the result of an immune system response to the ingestion of gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley) in susceptible individuals. This response to gluten damages the Read More
Restaurant Card
Published July 27, 2021 Print friendly version click here.
Healthy Weight Gain in Celiac Disease
Download the Printable Version of this Educational Bulletin Published August, 2021 The term “weight management” generally brings to mind the issue of how to lose weight, or at least how to prevent gain. But sometimes there are health-related reasons to gain weight, and one scenario where this may be the case is in celiac Read More
35+ Alternative Gluten-Free Grains and Flour Substitutes
Published January, 2022 If you are eating gluten-free, particularly for medical reasons, you must avoid gluten-containing grains, including wheat, barley, and rye plus all varieties and derivatives of these grains, such as spelt and malt. Despite these food eliminations, there are many wonderful gluten-free grains and grain substitutes to enjoy. Although commonly known as “grains,” Read More
Gluten-Free Pantry Essentials
Download the Printable Version of this Educational Bulletin Published October 16, 2019 There has been a burst of gluten-free products appearing on grocery store shelves over recent years, but it can still be difficult to know where to start in building up your first gluten-free pantry. Having a good selection of gluten-free items on Read More
Easy to Find & Easy to Fix Meals and Snacks
Download a Printable Version Published June, 2022 Hungry for a quick bite? Not sure what is safe to eat? Here are some easy-to-find and easy-to-fix foods that make perfect snacks and quick, simple meals to get you started on a gluten-free diet.* Snacks: Fresh fruit Broccoli and tomatoes with ranch dip Carrots and hummus Peanut Read More
Getting Started on a Gluten-Free Diet: A Step-By-Step Guide
Updated March 1, 2021 Click here to download the printable version. The following content is intended to be used as a preliminary guide for those who are newly diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Not all aspects of the gluten-free diet are as clear cut as portrayed here. For specific guidance about the gluten-free diet for yourself or Read More