Celiac Awareness Month : My Gluten-free Self Empowerment Story

my celiac story: from sick to national athlete and community advocate.

May is Celiac Awareness Month here in Canada, so I thought I would share a little bit about my self-empowerment journey through constant illness to a thriving athlete, community champion and advocate living the glutenfee life.

Glutenfree garage

 

https://glutenfreegarage.ca

 

The 11^th annual
GLUTEN FREE GARAGE

Sunday May 26, 2024 ♥︎ 10am to 4pm

ADMISSION
$15+HST in advance 
Tickets now on sale!

TIMED ENTRY: For this year’s festival, we are offering timed-entry tickets with 3 different time slots: 10am-12pm (morning); 12pm-2pm (lunchtime); 2pm-4pm (afternoon). Time slots are specifically for entry to the indoor part of the event for capacity and safety reasons. All ticket holders will have access to the outdoor area for the entire day.
TOTE BAG: Advance ticket holders get a tote bag at registration the day of the event for all of their gluten-free goodies.
FOOD DRIVE: Please bring a non-perishable gluten-free food donation for our food drive! This year’s food drive is being run by Celiac Canada with proceeds going to local food bank The Beeton Cupboard for clients who require a gluten-free diet.
CHILDREN: There is no entry fee for kids aged 12 and under.

DAY-OF TICKETS
$20 at door / free for kids 12 and under
Day-of tickets may not be available if we sell out in advance.

By attending GFG, you grant permission to GFG to use any images taken at the event.

ARTHUBS WYCHWOOD BARNS
601 Christie Street, Toronto, M6G 4C7
Located on the site of the historic Wychwood streetcar barns at Christie St. south of St. Clair, Wychwood Barns has been home to Gluten Free Garage since its inception. GFG takes place in the light-filled Covered Street Barn, which is over 7,600 square feet, outdoors on the Christie Courtyard and in The Stop’s Covered Courtyard. This unique space is home to The Stop Community Food Centre’s Farmers’ Market every Saturday morning and hosts many other popular food events.

We acknowledge Toronto as a sacred gathering place for many Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island. We recognize the long history of First Nations and Métis Peoples in Ontario and show respect to the Mississaugas of New Credit.

PARKING
Wychwood Barns has no onsite parking. There is street parking around the venue and a few Green P parking lots on St. Clair. The venue is TTC accessible.

HOW TO GET HERE
Major intersection: St. Clair Ave West and Christie St
(2 blocks south of St. Clair West) 

 

 

Celiac Canada

celiac.ca

Celiac Disease

Overview

Celiac disease (CD) is a common disorder that is estimated to affect about one percent of the population. It is a condition in which the absorptive surface of the small intestine is damaged by a substance called gluten. Gluten is a group of proteins present in wheat, rye and barley and their cross bred grains. The damage to the intestine can lead to a variety of symptoms and result in an inability of the body to absorb nutrients such as protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, which are necessary for good health.

Symptoms

Patients with CD can present with a variety of symptoms.

Classical (typical) symptoms include:

• chronic diarrhea
• abdominal pain
• malabsorption
• weight loss

 

However, many patients now present with non-classical (atypical) symptoms including:

• anemia
• osteoporosis
• extreme fatigue
• oral ulcers
• liver enzyme abnormalities
• constipation
• infertility
• dental enamel defects
• neurological problems, etc.
  
  

Children can present with:

• constipation
• chronic diarrhea
• swollen belly
• gas
• pale, foul-smelling stools
• nausea and vomiting
  
  

Inability to absorb nutrients can result in:

• short stature
• irritability
• failure to thrive (infants)
• anemia
• delayed puberty
• damage to tooth enamel
• neurological symptoms such as headaches, learning disabilities, lack of muscle coordination and seizures, etc.
  
  

Celiac disease occurs commonly in patients with other autoimmune disorders such as thyroid disease and type-I diabetes. It can also run in families, both in first and second degree relatives. Therefore, screening of these high risk individuals should be considered.

Since many patients with CD do not present with classical symptoms, delays in diagnosis can occur.

Dermatitis herpetiformis is “celiac disease” of the skin.

The patients present with severely itchy blistering rash. The diagnosis can be confirmed with a skin biopsy. Treatment consists of strict gluten-free diet and, in some cases, medications. Learn more about Dermatitis Herpetiformis here: Dermatitis Herpetiformis

Diagnosis

(1). Screening
In the past, physicians had to rely on clinical symptoms and signs alone to suspect the diagnosis of CD and select patients who would require further investigations for confirmation. Now, highly effective blood tests are available to screen for CD. The IgA-tissue transglutaminase (TTG) antibody is the currently recommended test for screening. The patients must be on a regular (gluten-containing) diet at the time of testing to make the results valid.

(2). Biopsy
The definitive diagnosis of CD is made by a small intestinal biopsy. The biopsy is performed via endoscopy by gastroenterologists. Again, it is important that gluten not be removed from the diet before the biopsy is completed as it may impair the confirmation of the diagnosis.

Treatment

At present, there is no permanent cure for CD but it can be effectively treated with a gluten-free diet. The adherence to the gluten-free diet must be STRICT and LIFE-LONG. Gluten-free diet can be challenging and complicated and a consultation with a registered dietitian with expertise in gluten-free diet is essential.

Individuals with celiac CD need to vigilant about hidden sources of gluten and cross contamination in food products. Careful label reading each time when buying products is important.

Since celiac disease is a chronic disorder, regular long-term follow-up with the physician and dietitian is recommended. Learn more about managing celiac disease here: Manage Your Celiac Disease

Developed by the CCA Professional Advisory Council
June 2016

Join host and author Jessica Danford as she shoots the shit about the everyday hardships of life. Topics such as; anxiety, self-doubt, addictions, and mental health struggles.

Life of the party, recovering people-pleaser, breaking free of a restrictive professionalism mentality. A passionate community advocate digging in to tackle all the shit that comes to mind as your head hits the pillow or the clock strikes 3 am.

Embark on a journey of exploration into a vast world of physical, emotional and mental health. Deal with your past trauma, learn coping skills and discover self-empowerment techniques. You will leave each episode motivated, empowered and inspired to take action in becoming who you want to be without the BS.

JOIN THE MAILING LIST for updates, resources and bonus content 

*****
Holy shit! I wanna hear all the shit that happens. That time you were a shit disturbed or all about your shitty buzz. Tell me all the deep shit you think and feel. Remember when shit hit the fan or that time you got shit-faced. We all know shit happens and we all have shit to do so drop your bullshit on my shit list and maybe I'll shoot the shit with you!

COMPLETE THIS FORM and tell me all the shit that keeps you up at night!

 

Be sure to connect with me on Instagram at my personal account @JessicaDanford or the podcast page @shitthatkeepsmeup.atnight

 

 

WAYS TO WORK WITH ME:

Self Empowerment Studio:

https://www.trainerize.me/profile/jessicadanford/Jessica.Danford/

Join me on the Bodi Platform :

https://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/ca/d/BODiBBPPack?referringRepID=1973378

 

 

Shop with me on Amazon :

Self Empowerment Studio amazon shop:

https://www.amazon.ca/shop/gfreewifey

Amazon Kindle registration link

https://amzn.to/3x7QrVS

Audible Registration

https://amzn.to/3jMfqe3

Amazon Fitness Hub

https://amzn.to/3RKkRqD

MY AMAZON READING LIST

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Where to grab one of Jessica’s Books

GfreeWifey Community Cookbook: Helping you transition to a gluten-free life

https://www.blurb.ca/b/9463281-gfreewifey-food-bank-community-c

Great Canadian Woman

https://jessica-danford.myshopify.com/cart/39407784427681:1?channel=buy_button

She Moves Mountains

https://jessica-danford.myshopify.com/cart/39842528460961:1?channel=buy_button

 

Some Brands I work with with special offers for you!

 

LULULEMON:

My top picks at lululemon

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