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Celiac.com 12/17/2020 - Celiac.com's simple five-step gluten-free food and dessert guide will have you preparing a top-notch gluten-free Christmas meal with minimum stress. For people with celiac disease or gluten-intolerance, preparing a great gluten-free Christmas dinner has never been easier! Our gluten-free Christmas food and dessert guide lays out an easy step-by-step process that guarantees a great result. We’ve got some classic gluten-free recipes, along with links to great gluten-free resources to help make your gluten-free Christmas and holiday celebrations the best ever. Four Simple Steps to a Perfect Gluten-free Christmas Dinner: Prepare a gluten-free Christmas ham Make great gluten-free scalloped potatoes Au Gratin Make great gluten-free side dishes Make great gluten-free pies and desserts Serve gluten-free beer, wine, and booze Step One - Choose a Great Ham One of our favorite ham purveyors is Beeler's Pure Pork, which raises all their Heritage Duroc pigs without antibiotics. Beeler's delivers naturally gluten-free pork products of exceptional taste and quality. Of course, there are a number of purveyors of quality ham, including: Fossil Farms Berkshire Pork Bone-In Smoked Ham Melissa Cookston's Memphis BBQ Double-Smoked Spiral Cut Ham D'Artagnan Berkshire Pork Bone-In Spiral Ham Diestel Farms Whole Black Forest Ham at Williams-Sonoma Omaha Steaks Duroc Boneless Country Ham Nueske’s Spiral Sliced Bone-In Ham with Honey Glaze Step Two - Make Great Scalloped Potatoes The perfect potatoes to serve with ham. This recipes combines thinly sliced potatoes, Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses and cream with a few herbs and spices to deliver a tasty variation on traditional scalloped potatoes. It will help to fill the house with warmth and delicious aromas on a cold day, and goes great as a side to most diner entrees. Ingredients: 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into ⅛-inch-thick slices 1½ cups heavy cream 1¼ cup grated Gruyere cheese, plus more for broiling ½ cup grated Parmesan, plus more for broiling ½ tablespoon butter 2 bay leaves 2 sprigs fresh thyme, plus more to finish 3 garlic cloves, chopped ½ teaspoon onion powder Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper Directions: Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Wash and slice potatoes and put into a large bowl. In a saucepan, heat the cream with the bay leaves, thyme, garlic, and some salt and pepper. While the cream heats up, use butter to grease a casserole dish. Use a fork or slotted spoon to remove the bay leaves and thyme. Pour the heated cream into a large bowl with the potato slices. Mix gently to coat the potatoes. Add Gruyere and Parmesan and mix into the potatoes. Season with a little bit of salt and pepper. Toss gently to mix. Spoon a little bit of cream into the bottom of the casserole dish. Then spoon the potatoes in. Level out the potatoes for uniform cooking time. Pour the remaining cream at the bottom of the bowl over the top. Top with some Parmesan, a bit of Gruyere, and fresh thyme leaves. Cover the dish with aluminum foil, but pull back one corner for the steam to escape. Bake for 25-30 minutes until potatoes are bubbling and tender. Put under the broiler and broil on high until the top is browned, about 2 minutes. Serve hot. Step Three - Make Great Side Dishes Here are four of our favorite side dishes to serve with a ham dinner. Baked Rice With Spinach and Parmesan Cheese Black-eyed Peas Parmesan-Roasted Cauliflower Honey Glazed Baby Carrots Step Four - Make gluten-free Christmas pies and desserts Scroll down and follow the Pumpkin Pie recipe below, or follow the links to some of our best loved gluten-free desserts and baked goods (Note: King Arthur Gluten-Free Multi-Purpose Flour will work well in place of regular wheat flour most of these recipes, so feel free to substitute as you like): Holiday Pumpkin Bread (Gluten-Free) Orange Walnut Bread (Gluten-Free) Pumpkin Pie Banana Nut Bread #3 (Gluten-Free) Gingerbread #2 (Gluten-Free) Decadent Gluten-Free Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies Quick Cranberry Coconut Cookies (Gluten-Free) Molasses Spice Cookies (Gluten-Free) Snickerdoodles (Gluten-Free) Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies (Gluten-Free) Soft Sugar Cookies (Gluten-Free) Frosted Pumpkin Bars (Gluten-Free) Sugar & Spice Madeleines (Gluten-Free) Lebkuchen (German Ginger Cookies - Gluten-Free) Three Ingredient Gluten-Free Pie Crust Danish (Gluten-Free) Pumpkin Cheesecake with Butter Pecan Crust (Gluten-Free) Apple Crisp #2 (Gluten-Free) Tasty Apple Crisp (Gluten-Free) Gluten-free Chocolate Cream Pie Pumpkin Cheesecake with Almond Meal Crust Pumpkin Cheesecake with Butter Pecan Crust Traditional Gluten-free Apple Pie Low-Fat Pumpkin Flan Gluten-free Apple Crisp Gluten-free Gingerbread Gluten-free Orange Walnut Bread Candied Orange Peels Step Five - Serve Great Gluten-Free Wine, Beer and Booze Wine is gluten-free. To serve gluten-free beer, consult our Oktoberfest Beer Guide! Gluten-free vs. Gluten-removed Beers. All distilled spirits are gluten-free, but some people prefer to buy booze made from gluten-free ingredients. Here's a list of gin, whiskey, and vodka brands that are made from gluten-free ingredients. GLUTEN-FREE GIN Cold River Gin is distilled from potatoes. The company’s website says that, like their world-famous vodkas, their gluten-free gin is made with whole Maine potatoes and the pure water of Maine's Cold River. Cold River uses a recipe that “dates back to the early days of British gin,” and contains their own “secret blend of seven traditional botanicals that are steeped for the perfect amount of time to infuse the essential flavors.” GLUTEN-FREE WHISKEY Queen Jennie Whiskey, by Old Sugar Distillery is made entirely from sorghum. The idea of a whiskey made from gluten-free grains is sure to excite anyone with celiac disease who longs for a wee dram. The company’s web page says that Queen Jennie is made with 100% Wisconsin Sorghum, and is “Less sour than a bourbon and less harsh than a rye.” GLUTEN-FREE VODKA Corn Vodka—Deep Eddy, Nikolai, Rain, Tito’s, UV Potato Vodka—Boyd & Blair, Cirrus, Chase, Chopin, Cold River Vodka, Cracovia, Grand Teton, Karlsson’s, Luksusowa, Monopolowa, Schramm Organic, Zodiac Monopolowa is one of my favorites, and is usually available at Trader Joe’s. Cold River gluten-free vodka is triple-distilled in a copper pot still, from Maine potatoes and water from Maine's Cold River. Tito’s award winning vodka is six times distilled from corn in an old-fashioned pot still, just like fine single malt scotches and high-end French cognacs. Tito’s is certified Gluten-free. Gluten-Free Christmas Food and Dessert Resources Our Guide to the Best Gluten-Free Thanksgiving and Holiday Foods, Desserts & Cocktails Which Turkey Brands are Gluten-Free? Christmas Turkey Brine Recipe (Gluten-Free) Gluten-Free Christmas Ham Celiac.com's Best Gluten-free Christmas Stuffing Recipe (Gluten Free Christmas Dressing) Gluten-free Apple Pie and 20 Recipes for Festive Gluten-free Christmas Treats Gluten-Free Christmas Pumpkin Mousse 10 Celiac Disease Tips for Surviving a Christmas Gathering List of Safe Gluten-Free Candy List of Gluten-Free Easter and Passover Candy Are M&M's Gluten-Free and Safe for Celiacs? Get the Gluten-Free Word on Dove, Ghirardelli and Other Chocolates Are Snickers Candy Bars Gluten-Free?

Celiac.com 12/15/2021 - The journey from symptoms to questions, to the search for a proper celiac disease diagnosis can be long, confusing, and frustrating. For many people with celiac disease, the pre-diagnosis phase is the most challenging part of the journey. A glance at our popular online forum shows that questions about pre-diagnosis, testing and symptoms of celiac disease abound among celiac sufferers. To help make the journey a bit easier, we've put together this list of helpful things to know about per-diagnosis and testing for celiac disease. Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis & Testing Celiac Symptoms We'll start first with symptoms, because, for most patients, celiac symptoms are often what get the ball rolling toward testing and diagnosis. Classic celiac-associated gastrointestinal symptoms include malnutrition, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating, weight-loss, or low body weight, among others. Interestingly, most people with celiac disease show no symptoms, but are diagnosed on the basis of referral for elevated risk factors. For people who do show symptoms, it is increasingly common to find atypical symptoms, such as being overweight, especially in children. In fact, most children with celiac disease now show atypical symptoms. An absence of symptoms, or the presence of atypical symptoms can make diagnosing celiac disease even more difficult, as patients often need a referral from a physician, who may have trouble justifying one if she can't point to clear symptoms. To make matters worse, celiac disease is often confused with numerous other diseases, which can cause delayed diagnosis, or even misdiagnosis. Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis When people talk about "pre-diagnosis" of celiac disease, they are usually talking about the testing phase. Usually, a person will have symptoms of one sort or another that will lead them to a physician, who will then request testing for celiac disease antibodies. In some cases, confirmation by biopsy is still the go-to procedure for officially confirming celiac disease, however, in Europe they are now diagnosing celiac disease via a blood test only when it detects a 10-fold increase in IgA antitissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibody levels above the reference range, in combination with EMA positivity, without the need for a duodenal biopsy. So in many cases, celiac disease can now be diagnosed by blood test alone, without the need for a follow-up biopsy, especially in children, first-degree family relatives, and even in many adults. Celiac Disease Blood Antibody Testing Traditionally, doctors will order a test to measure blood levels of anti-transglutaminase antibodies, or tTG2, which are higher in people with celiac disease. tTG2 proteins are among the proteins that trigger the immune reaction the causes inflammation when celiac eat wheat, rye, or barley. Celiacs have hundreds times more tTG proteins than non-celiacs. Testing begins with a test called Immunoglobulin A (IgA). If the results are normal, then a Tissue transglutaminase, antibody, IgA test is given. A weak positive should lead to the following tests: Endomysial antibodies (IgA) and; Gliadin (deamidated) antibody, IgA. If the initial Immunoglobulin A (IgA) test is low, then these two tests should be done: Tissue transglutaminase antibodies, IgA and IgG profle. Gliadin (deamidated) antibodies evaluation, IgG and IgA. If the initial Immunoglobulin A (IgA) test is deficient then these two tests should be done: Tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibody, IgG. Gliadin (deamidated) antibody, IgG. In fact, trials show the tTG blood test to be 95 percent sensitive (meaning it detects celiac disease 95 times out of 100), and 95 percent specific (meaning it gives a false positive result just 5 times out of 100). A Possible Future for Celiac Blood Tests One Blood Test Can Now Diagnose Celiac Disease without Biopsy New Screening Method Offers Faster and Easier Detection of Celiac Antibodies FDA Approves New Test for Celiac Disease A New York startup company, Aesku NY, has received FDA approval for tests to detect celiac disease. Patients who screen positive would require further testing for a specific diagnosis. However, the tests are designed to be cost effective, and efficient, potentially increasing the availability of a reliable screening method for diseases that are best caught and treated early. Blood Test Results Normally the results you get will be either negative, weak positive, or positive. Any positive blood test, even if others are negative, could indicate celiac disease. Read more about the Interpretation of Celiac Disease Blood Test Results Confirmation In some cases, biopsy is still the go-to procedure for officially confirming celiac disease. This is the case even in Europe when tTG levels are below 10x the reference range for celiac disease. There is some research to indicate that children, on average, may have less villi damage than adults, which is why blood test results are so important. Genetic Testing Genetic tests for celiac disease and gluten sensitivity are readily available. Testing can be performed on either blood or mouth swab samples. Tests can be done at home and mailed to the lab for analysis. A good testing laboratory will provide an accurate prediction of celiac disease risk, and will also provide information about the statistical risk to your children, your likelihood of developing more severe celiac disease, whether one or both of your parents had the risk gene, and for some laboratories, you may determine your risk of gluten sensitivity without celiac disease. Get the Facts About Celiac Disease Genetic Testing Genetic Test Results No DQ2 & DQ8 Can Still Mean Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) Data collected by Dr. Ken Fine of Enterolab supports the fact that the absence of DQ2 and DQ8 does not exclude the risk of gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity, though it now looks likely that one or both of those genetic white blood cell patterns are required for celiac disease to develop. DQ Type Can Influence Celiac Risk and Severity Both the DQ type, and number of copies you have, help to determine the risk, and also the potential severity of celiac disease. Two copies of DQ2 carries more risk than one copy of DQ8 or only partial DQ2. Even a single copy of DQ2 alpha subunit ("half DQ2 positive") carries risk for celiac disease, but most of the commonly used laboratories for Celiac genetics do not test for or report the presence of this component of the celiac genes. The odds of developing celiac disease based on HLA-DQA/DQB genotypes is as follows: DQ2+DQ8 1:7 (14.3%) DQ2+DQ2 OR DQ2 Homozygous DQB1*02 1:10 (10%) DQ8+DQ8 1:12 (8.42%) DQ8+DQ8*02 1:24 (4.2%) Homozygous DQB1*02 1:26 (3.8%) DQ2 only 1:35 (2.9%) DQ8 only 1:89 (1.1%) General Population - Genotypes unknown 1:100 (1%) ½ DQ2*DQB1*02 1:210 (0.5%) ½ DQ2*DQA1*05 1:842 (0.05%) No HLA-DQA/DQB susceptible alleles 1:2518 (0.04%) Testing for celiac disease should be done using FDA-approved HLA test kits. HLA-DQA/DQB genotyping typically provides detection of DQ2 (DQA1*0501, DQA1*0505, and DQB1*0201/*0202) and DQ8 (DQB1*0302) For example: HLA-DQ2(DQA1*05/DQB1*02) Positive or Negative HLA-DQ8(DQA1*03/DQB1*0302) Positive or Negative Conclusion For anyone in the pre-diagnosis phase of suspected celiac disease, the keys to effective screening and diagnosis lie in testing and diagnosis, with or without biopsy. If you have questions about specific issues, be sure to check into our celiac disease forum.

Celiac.com 05/02/2020 - Many people with celiac disease have questions and concerns about Covid-19 and the global pandemic. Celiac.com has put together a list of resources for information and resources specific to people with celiac disease. We've also included a few good general resources for general Covid information. We will continue to update this page as new information becomes available. Please share any insights, tips, or other information in the comments below. Celiac and Gluten-Free Covid-19 Resources Celiac.com Articles Celiac Disease Foundation Gluten Intolerance Group Do People with Celiac Disease Face Higher Covid-19 Risks? Researchers Seek Data on Celiac Disease andCOVID-19 Viral Pneumonia Risk Join Celiac.com's Forum Discussions Covid-19 Coronavirus More Susceptible to Celiacs? Covid 19 and gluten-free product shortage General Covid-19 Resources Center for Disease Control (CDC) Covid2020.com Covidy.com City and County of San Francisco