April 2021

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Note from Alice: Join me in Stepping Beyond Celiac

After being diagnosed with celiac disease, exercise is usually the last thing on anyone’s mind. A strict gluten-free diet is the only treatment that those of us with celiac disease currently have, and the shift to learning how to manage the diet can be exhausting. Aside from that, many newly-diagnosed with celiac disease have experienced weight loss, and may be anxious to get back to a healthy weight as soon as possible. I know what that’s like: at the height of my celiac disease symptoms, I was a mere 105 pounds, certainly not getting enough energy or nutrients for my body. I, like so many others, was terrified of losing any more weight, terrified of stressing my already sick body. But we should not be afraid to step beyond after our diagnosis.

Just as food is the fuel for our lives, aspirations and activities, movement is a conduit through which we interact with our surroundings and expand our experiences. Exercise encourages the body to become strong and resilient. Exercise such as weight lifting encourages new bone growth in the body, and a jog in the park encourages blood flow to the brain, clearing away headaches, lifting your mood and easing anxiety. We in the celiac disease community are forced to focus on diet so much that exercise is often left behind, but exercise and diet are both important parts of health and wellness.

The human body is incredible. That may not be how most people feel after being diagnosed with celiac disease, but perhaps a year, a month, even a week after going gluten-free many of us can appreciate how resilient the human body is. In my own personal journey, from being so sick and malnourished at the height of my illness to finally healing from that—it felt astounding. I wanted to start living my life again.

To celebrate what my body can do and what research has done for celiac disease, I am proudly participating again this year in our annual Step Beyond Celiac 5K. I encourage everyone in our community to sign up and walk, run, jump, bike or roll 3.1 miles closer to a cure for celiac disease with me. The proceeds of our Step Beyond Celiac races fund innovative celiac disease research driving treatments toward a cure, and the 5K allows you the time and space to appreciate all that your body is capable of.

Please join me this May in taking 3.1 miles at your own pace. Reflect on your celiac disease journey, raise money for research and embrace how far your mind and body have come. Sign up before April 17 to receive a race t-shirt and help step beyond celiac disease with me!

Together for a cure,
Alice

Gluten-Free Cooking with Chef Oonagh Williams

Oonagh Williams holds a culinary arts degree and spends her time cooking and educating the public on gluten- and allergy-free diets. She herself has celiac disease and food allergies. She teaches cooking classes, hosts dinner parties, and offers one-on-one help. Buy her Delicious Gluten-Free Cooking e-book and connect with her on Facebook.

Research News

Neurological and Psychological Symptoms of Celiac Disease Exposed by Go Beyond Celiac

Despite there being over 300 symptoms of celiac disease, many doctors still only focus on gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea when diagnosing and treating a patient with celiac disease. Recent data collected from our Go Beyond Celiac Gluten Exposure Survey highlights a number of neurological and psychological symptoms patients report experiencing after eating gluten, indicating that doctors would do well to think outside the gut when working with patients with celiac disease.

Celiac disease drug that targets the immune system shows early promise

A new celiac disease drug that targets the immune system with nanoparticles looks promising in stopping damage to the intestines after ingesting gluten. The study concluded that the drug, TAK-101, prevented gluten from triggering an immune reaction in those who have celiac disease. Read our summary of the results on our website.