For those who are Celiac or think they may have issues with gluten, an event for you is headed to the capital city.
The Newfoundland Chapter of the Celiac Association will be hosting a Gluten Free Forum and Food Fair on June 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the St. John’s Community Market.
Gluten is a group of proteins found in wheat, rye and barley, which damages the absorptive surface of the small intestine causing a multitude of health issues.
Adrianna Smallwood is a registered dietitian and works on the Executive for the Celiac Association, says there is a lot of misinformation about Celiac disease in the medical field and that on average it takes 10 to 12 years to get a diagnosis.
She says besides a bad belly and bloating, there are many symptoms to watch out for including: anemia, headaches, brain fog, trouble concentrating, dermatitis herpetiformis (an itchy skin rash), fertility issues in women, and multiple gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms. She says at www.celiac.ca you can find about 40 different symptoms.
The Gluten Free Forum will have guest speakers including:
Dr. Jeff Critch – Pediatric Gastroenterologist: talking about signs, symptoms, how you go about getting diagnosed, and how you go about taking care of yourself long term.
Adrianna Smallwood- Registered Dietitian: speaking about the nutritional implications and what you need to pay attention to.
Alysha Renouf – Clinical Psychologist: talking about the mental health aspect of Celiac, the seclusion, feeling of being left out during social events.
Michael R. McIsaac – Kinesiologist: speaking about maintaining muscle mass and bone health as osteoporosis is a concern.
Smallwood says there are many serious health concerns if a person continues to eat gluten who shouldn’t be, such as certain GI Cancers, iron deficiency, osteoporosis, osteopenia, fertility issues in women, babies born early, miscarriages and in children, failure to thrive and stunted growth, just to name a few.
There will be national vendors from across Canada on hand as well as gluten free food vendors. For more information visit the Facebook event: Gluten Free Forum and Food Market
