Celiacs: Why You Should Encourage Your Family To Get Tested For The Celiac Gene.

Celiac Disease is an inherited, auto-immune disorder that affects 1 in 133 people in America. If you have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, more than likely, you inherited the disease from an immediate family member. When you doctor discusses your diagnosis, your doctor may ask you about your family's medical history of Celiac Disease. If you are unsure, you must discuss your family's history with your family.

Since the disease is hereditary, it is essential to encourage your family members to get tested for the Celiac gene. Early detection can help nip the disease in the bud, before the disease is followed by life-threatening complications. The longer you wait to be tested and diagnosed, the more damage is being done to your small intestine, making your body susceptible to illness. Undiagnosed Celiac Disease can cause dangerous complications, such as: Osteoporosis, Cancer, and infertility in women.

When I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, two years ago, I encouraged my father to get tested for the gene. To this day, he has not gone to the doctor to be tested for the gene. I'm going to keep encouraging the rest of my family, including my father, until they give in and get tested.

I encourage all my Celiac brothers and sisters, to encourage their family members to be tested for the gene. You never know, you could be saving their life! Trust me, if they have the gene, they will thank you for encouraging them to be tested.

(photo courtesy of: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/illustrations/pedigree.jpg)

Celebrities who have Celiac Disease

Getting diagnosed with Celiac Disease can be pretty tough (believe me, I remember how hard it was for me). You may be the first among your family and/or friends that has been diagnosed as Celiac. It can be lonely (even though my grandmother had it, and I was partially raised by her, she had been gone for a few years when I was diagnosed. I had no one). What gave me some comfort was that I was not alone. Some of the celebrities I look up to were also Celiac Disease sufferers. People like Elizabeth Hasselbeck and Emmy Rossum had been living with the disease for years before I was diagnosed. I researched both and learned a lot from them. Also, learning that my first celeb crush has 2 Celiacs in his family really helped me feel less alone. Here is a list of celebs who have diagnosed Celiac Disease: Elizabeth Hasselbeck (public figure) Emmy Rossum (actress) Wil Wheaton's mom and sister Meg Cabot (author) Sarah Joy Brown (actress) Joe C (rapper who frequently performed with

To Eat Gluten Free Oats, or Not To Eat Gluten Free Oats?

When you're diagnosed with Celiac Disease, you are given a list of what food you cannot eat. Wheat, Barley, Rye, and Oats. However, you find that there is such a thing as gluten free oats. You wonder if it is safe for you to chance eating it. You think to yourself: "It's gluten free, so it cannot be too bad, right?" Depending on how sensitive your Celiac is, it may be bad. While a majority of Celiacs may be able to stomach gluten free oats, and granola, there are a small percentage of us that cannot handle GF oats and granola. I fall into the sensitive category. I loved eating oatmeal, before I was diagnosed with Celiac. After I was diagnosed, I was lost. It was not until a month or two after my diagnosis, where I discovered gluten free oats. I picked some up, and started eating it every morning for breakfast. It was not until day 3 of eating GF oats, where I began to feel sick. My stomach was cramping, I was fatigued, I was nauseated. I thought I had been "

South Park's Gluten-Free Ebola Episode

photo credit: southparkdigital Greetings Celiac Warriors! Recently, South Park did a gluten free episode that got a lot of attention in the gluten free and Celiac communities. For the most part, the reaction has been positive. Many folks, including myself, found it hilarious. You may be wondering what the episode was about. I'm going to give you the cliff notes version: The episode starts off with the kids returning to school after their start up company fails. Then the show cuts to the teachers lounge where the teachers are discussing Mr. Mackey who has gone gluten free. Mr. Mackey comes back and starts blaming all the world's problems on gluten. A co-worker becomes annoyed by all the gluten free talk and starts screaming at Mr. Mackey to shut up. Mackey states that behavior problems are due to gluten consumption. A female teacher expresses interest in going gluten free. Later on, the boys are on the radio promoting an "epic" party. Callers ask the boys i

Celiac Warrior Gal

Search This Blog