Newly Diagnosed With Celiac Disease? Healthy Tips For Gluten-Free Living

Being diagnosed with celiac disease can come as a shock, but the shock typically doesn't set in until later when you realize how many foods and items contain gluten. What used to be a quick trip to the grocery store to pick up a few things becomes a tedious chore that takes forever. The reason for this is because you have to look at the ingredient lists of each package.

If you are extremely sensitive to gluten, you soon learn to call companies to inquire on the spot about their food manufacturing processes. You learn to avoid food completely unless you are absolutely certain the food doesn't contain gluten or didn't come into contact with gluten anywhere along the way during processing and packaging.

Here are a few tips that can help you navigate your way to living and eating healthy with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

Invest In Healthy Eating, Gluten-Free Recipe Books

Instead of spending all that time reading, re-reading, calling, and double-checking ingredients lists that may not be correct, cook your own healthy meals using real food that is naturally gluten free, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Stay completely away from boxed foods that are processed. Not only is there a chance that they accidentally contain gluten, but they typically have chemicals and preservatives that are not healthy.

Learn how to eat for nutrition and how to create your own meals by investing in healthy eating recipe books, many of which are ebooks and can be downloaded online and printed at your convenience. So search online or click here to find some options. When looking for a healthy eating ebook, obviously you'll want to purchase one that focus on gluten-free menus and recipes.

Also, look for ones that explain nutrition and teach you how to eat healthy to fulfill your daily vitamin and mineral requirements. That way, you won't need to take supplements, because they typically contain gluten as a filler or binding agent.

Find an Apothecary for Your Medication Needs

Gluten is also used as a binding agent or filler in some over-the-counter and prescription medication. However, since you may not be able to avoid taking medication, especially prescriptions, it's important to find a local apothecary. An apothecary is a special pharmacist who is licensed to formulate medication to meet the needs of the people who require their services.

One of the first things you'll need to do is remove all the gluten-containing medication and supplements from your home or put them in a place where you won't accidentally mistake them for ones that your apothecary specifically formulates for you. Also, take a close look at your first-aid kit to make sure it doesn't have anything in it that contains gluten.

Switch to Gluten-Free Dental Care

In addition to learning to eat healthy, gluten-free food and finding an apothecary to meet your medication needs, you may also need to switch to gluten-free dental care. Just like with the food and medication, you don't want anything put into your mouth that contains or may contain gluten. Surprisingly enough, some toothpastes, polishing pastes, mouthwashes, and other dental care products can contain gluten.

Fortunately, with proper, healthy eating habits and a gluten-free diet, your teeth should become stronger and less susceptible to the enamel damage that often occurs with celiac disease. The reason for this is because your small intestine will finally be able to absorb nutrients with your gluten-free diet. Also, due to no longer ingesting gluten, you'll have fewer vomiting episodes that erode dental enamel.

Call your dentist and ask him or her if they use gluten-free products or not. If they do, then you'll need to either switch to a new dentist who provides gluten-free dental care, or you can politely ask your current dentist to stop using products that contain gluten.