Be Free For Me Blog

With the New Year here  it seems that everyone is chatting about better health and overall wellness. But besides getting regular exercise, and watching every single gluten-free morsel we eat, is there anything else we can do?

One of my New Year’s resolutions is to learn as much as I can about increasing my overall wellness. I actually carry a notebook and have been making note of things to research, things to discover more about, that will increase my overall health.  One of the things I jotted down last week was “probiotics”. What are they? How do they help celiacs? What is the best way to get them – by food, or by supplements? And (the one that I have trouble understanding) if probiotics are bacteria how could that possibly be a good thing?!

That is why I was thrilled when Jamieson Direct, a manufacturer of quality natural healthy products for over 50 years,  and the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness or the NFCA  (I love this organization!) contacted BeFreeForMe to let us know they were having a teleseminar  regarding probiotics and their role in gastrointestinal health… including the gluten-free diet, IBS, celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.

This is a live seminar (which means I can ask all my questions!) and it will be hosted by Dr. Daniel Leffler, a world-renowned gastroenterologist and celiac disease expert, who is also the Director of Clinical Research at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and on the faculty at Harvard Medical School (many of us may know him from his speaking engagements at national celiac conferences or from the book he authored, Real Life with Celiac Disease: Troubleshooting & Thriving Gluten Free) and Shelley Case, a registered dietitian who is a leading international expert on gluten-free nutrition and celiac disease, the author of  The Gluten-Free Diet: A Comprehensive Resource Guide, and member of the Medical Advisory Boards of the Celiac Disease Foundation and Gluten Intolerance Group in the United States and the Professional Advisory Board of the Canadian Celiac Association (many of us know her from her Ask Shelley Case columns on BeFreeForMe.com).

The seminar will take place on Wednesday, February 1 , 2012 from  8pm – 9:30pm ET. It is free to attend, but the spaces are limited, so make sure that you sign-up soon.

Ten lucky participants of the teleseminar will be randomly selected to win a gift pack containing Dr. Leffer’s book, Real Life with Celiac Disease: Troubleshooting & Thriving Gluten Free), Shelley Case’s book, The Gluten-Free Diet: A Comprehensive Resource Guide, and a 2-Month supply to Jamieson Probiotics.

But… the BeFreeForMe.com members are a lucky, lucky, lucky crowd. We have a sneak peak to win the gift packs on this WIN-It-Wednesday blog!

Here is the scoop…

One (1) winner will be randomly selected to win a gift pack that is mentioned above from the replies / entries received on this blog post before Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the replies / entries received between Wednesday, January 18 and Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and let us know your commitment to stay “well” this new year  (Me? #1. – I will never skip a breakfast in 2012 and; #2. – I will try to keep things “simple” to keep the stress levels down !)

Good luck, Be well, See you at the teleseminar on February 1st  … and as always.
Be Free!

Do you have questions about celiac disease or the gluten-free diet that you need quick and easy to understand answers? Do you wish that for once a doctor and dietitian were partners in helping you solve problems and issues concerning the gluten-free lifestyle?

Well fret no more my gluten-free friends! Dr. Daniel Leffler, MD, MS and Melinda Dennis, MS, RD and LDN have teamed up and co-authored a new book published by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Real Life with Celiac Disease: Troubleshooting & Thriving Gluten Free is packed with usable and must-know information about living and thriving on a gluten-free diet.

In their book, Dr. Leffler and Ms. Dennis, both from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, have teamed up with over 50 international experts on celiac disease that share stories of patients who have questions or problems related to celiac and gluten-related disorders.

Even though I read this book while laying on the Rhode Island beach side, the wealth of knowledge and useful information included in this book made me feel as if I were attending an international celiac conference, where each contributor on the agenda speaks about engaging and important information about celiac disease in easy-to-understand terminology.

Dr. Leffler is also currently conducting a research study involving having first-degree relatives of celiac disease test themselves for celiac disease using a new “finger-stick” blood test kit. Research results of this testing will hopefully be beneficial in two ways: First, family members who tested positive for celiac disease will be assisted in arranging appropriate medical follow-up to lead to an earlier diagnosis & care of the disease; and second, this research will allow the medical community to more readily reach & treat more potential people with celiac disease, and also allow these medical researchers the ability to conduct more efficient studies of the disease. The test kits being used in Dr. Leffler’s test are distributed by GlutenPro and is called Biocard/CeliacSure. It is similar to the standard celiac blood test TTG used in doctor’s offices, but is super consumer-friendly. It involves using just a fingerstick blood test and is able to be read directly by patients in less than 10-minutes right in their own homes.

Good information from fantastic contributors all compiled into one fabulous book are the reasons why I am so happy to have GlutenPro sponsor this week’s WIN-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com.

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us a little pointer, piece of advice or inspirational tidbit you would pass along to someone just diagnosed with celiac disease to help them troubleshoot and thrive with their new lifestyle (or if you are just diagnosed, something you would love to learn about). My tidbit? If celiac disease runs in your family… Get tested! Symptoms or no symptoms!

A total of SIX (Yes… 6!) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a copy of Real Life with Celiac Disease: Troubleshooting & Thriving Gluten Free. (Check out the rave reviews on Amazon.com this book has received!) Three (3) winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, June 14th, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST, and three (3) more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, June 15th and Tuesday, June 22, 2011 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

Good luck, Keep thrivin’… and as always…

Be Free!

This past weekend I got a chance to bond once again with everyone at my local Greater Boston celiac support group, the Healthy Villi, during our spring conference. Like many folks around the country I find that these local celiac support groups give me the chance to re-connect with like-minded people, as well as share and discover new ideas, concepts, and solutions for living the gluten-free life.

And at every one of these meetings I always take home such a wealth of knowledge & information from Dr. Daniel Leffler, the Director of Clinical Research at the Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Lucky for us at the Healthy Villi, Dr. Leffler (who is also  the co-editor of the book, “Real Life with Celiac Disease: Troubleshooting & Thriving Gluten-Free”) has become our “resident” go-to celiac expert –  always willing to help us,  give us answers, and most importantly support us.

But at this last meeting it was our time to give back… to support Dr. Leffler. The team at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center asked us to help with a research study. To potentially help celiacs everywhere. For once it was our chance to give back.

The research study we were asked to participate in involves having our first-degree relatives test themselves for celiac disease using a new “finger-stick” test kit. Research results of this testing will hopefully be beneficial in two ways: First, family members who tested positive for celiac disease will be assisted in arranging appropriate medical follow-up to lead to an earlier diagnosis & care of the disease; and second, this research will hopefully get these tests, which are currently approved in Canada, on the fast-track to get the final nod of approval by the USA so the medical community can more readily reach & treat more potential people with celiac disease, and allow these medical researchers the ability to conduct more efficient studies of the disease.

The test kit being used in Dr. Leffler’s test is distributed by GlutenPro and is called Biocard/CeliacSure. It is similar to the standard celiac blood test TTG used in doctor’s offices, but is super consumer-friendly. It involves using just a finger-stick and is able to be read directly by patients in less than 10-minutes right in their own homes. (Note: they can also be purchased on-line through the GlutenPro website).

My thoughts? The Biocard/CeliacSure tests will be a phenomenal help in getting more people diagnosed quickly & more efficiently with a celiac disease diagnosis. For years I have begged my Dad to go to the Doctors and get tested for celiac disease once I and other family members were diagnoses with the disease. He has every symptom in the book. But to get an old Italian guy, set in his bread-and-pasta-loving-ways to the doctor for this test is next to impossible. Begging, pleading and praying have yet to yield a trip to the doctor’s office to get the test and results of celiac disease that I suspect.

Maybe he is scared of going to the doctor? Maybe he is afraid of letting his traditional Italian bread and pasta recipes go? Maybe he is afraid of the change the disease demands? Maybe his positive diagnosis would be his way of feeling responsible for my, and other family members, celiac diagnosis?

Whatever the reason, I am going give my Dad one of these test kits so he can test himself – no doctor, no stress, no appointment needed. Then, regardless of the results, I’m going to treat him to a big delicious gluten-free Italian pasta dinner… and a great big thank you hug.

Just wondering… Your thoughts? Why won’t your relatives get diagnoses with celiac disease?

Do you have questions about celiac disease or the gluten-free diet that you need quick and easy to understand answers? Do you wish that for once a doctor and dietitian were partners in helping you solve problems and issues concerning the gluten-free lifestyle?

Well fret no more my gluten-free friends! Dr. Daniel Leffler, MD, MS and Melinda Dennis, MS, RD and LDN have teamed up and co-authored a new book published by the (AGA). American Gastroenterological Association“Real Life with Celiac Disease: Troubleshooting & Thriving Gluten Free” is packed with usable and must-know information about living and thriving on a gluten-free diet.

In their book, Dr. Leffler and Ms. Dennis, both from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, have teamed up with over 50 international experts on celiac disease that share stories of patients who have questions or problems related to celiac and gluten-related disorders.

Even though I read this book while laying on the Rhode Island beachside, the wealth of knowledge and useful information included in this book made me feel as if I were attending an international celiac conference, where each contributor on the agenda speaks about engaging and important information about celiac disease in easy-to-understand terminology.

If you want to get a sneak-peak and listen to Dr. Leffler speak about celiac disease and the gluten-free diet click on this link to hear an audio-post of the webinar featuring Dr. Leffler that was hosted by riceworks Brown Rice Crisps.

Also, to get a copy of the book “Real Life with Celiac Disease: Troubleshooting & Thriving Gluten Free” click here to order your copy. It really is a great addition to any gluten-free or celiac personal library.

Good information from fantastic contributors all compiled into one fabulous book are all reasons why I am so happy to have the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and “Real Life with Celiac Disease: Troubleshooting & Thriving Gluten Free” be this weeks WIN-It-Wednesday sponsor on BeFreeForMe.com

Two (Yes, 2!) LUCKY BeFreeForMe members will receive a free copy of the book, “Real Life with Celiac Disease: Troubleshooting & Thriving Gluten Free”.

How can you win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us a little pointer, piece of advice or inspirational tidbit you would pass along to someone just diagnosed with celiac disease to help them troubleshoot and thrive with their new lifestyle (or if you are just diagnosed, something you would love to learn about). My tidbit? Don’t worry… trips to the supermarket WILL get shorter as you learn your gluten-free way around supermarkets!

All entries must be received by Tuesday, July 27th at 12:00 midnight.

Good luck, Keep thrivin’… and as always,

Be Free!

Just a quick reminder to everyone to sign up for Dr. Daniel Leffler’s FREE webinar that will take place this TUESDAY night, July 13th.

This week’s webinar is the last of three-part summer series of webinars that are presented by riceworks brown rice crisps and sponsored by BeFreeForMe.com.

Dr, Daniel Leffler, MD, MS, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Division of Gastroenterology at BIDMC, has just launched his book Real Life with Celiac Disease (I got a sneak peak and it is a great resource!). Join Dr. Leffler this Tuesday July 13th to learn about a wide range of topics from his new book including screening and diagnosis, associated conditions, food allergies and intolerances, complications, nongastrointestinal manifestations, and what the difference is between celiac disease and a gluten intolerance.

This is a great way to learn more about celiac disease and the gluten-free diet, lifestyle and living!  

I hope to see you all there!
Be Free!
Kathleen

Shelley Case amazed me once again this evening by sharing information and answers about the most common gluten-free questions we all have. She answered questions that are so common-place, yet so confusing. Some topics she touched upon include how you know if seasonings and spices contain gluten, or why does weight gain occur after going gluten-free.

Tonights webinar was the second of a three part summer series sponsored by riceworks Brown Rice Crisps. Close to 500 registered participants listened as Shelley detailed the answers to questions that we all have wondered or need to know.

My favorite part of the webinar was when Shelley reviewed so many gluten-free grain alternatives and ways to use them. After this segment, I had to wonder if Shelley has a second calling as a chef or baker… her ideas on using these gluten-free grains sounded so very tasty!

If you missed the webinar tonight, or the one on June 15th, click on the www.glutenfreesnacksforme.com or www.glutenfreediet.ca websites for a free download of both of these informative webinars.

Also, remember to tune in on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 when Doctor Daniel Leffler, MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Division of Gastroenterology at BIDMC, who has just launched his book Real Life with Celiac Disease, is the guest on riceworks third webinar of summer series.

Be Informed, Be Healthy… and as always,

Be Free!
Kathleen