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A Gluten Free Podcast
Episode 246

My guest on today’s episode is the creator of The Celiac In Italy and Celiacs In Europe, Catalin Varela. We’ll talk about her coeliac disease diagnosis, the differences between the US and her current home of Florence in Italy and the resources she’s created to help the gluten free community travel throughout Italy and Europe.

What we’ll cover:
* Catalin’s coeliac disease diagnosis and her symptoms pre-diagnosis
* Neurological symptoms of coeliac disease
* Catalin’s misdiagnosis of cancer
* Catalin’s family friend prompting to test for coeliac disease
* Cutting out more things other than gluten from the diet to help improve Catalin’s health
* Catalin’s training in integrative nutrition
* How Catalin’s 6 month travels around the world changed her perspective and approach to coeliac disease and the gluten free diet
* Catalin’s degree in medical anthropology and writing her thesis on how people living with coeliac disease approach their disease and the gluten free diet differently depending on where they live in the world
* What Catalin found from her thesis
* Why Florence is a great place for people living with coeliac disease
* Biggest differences in approaches to coeliac disease and the gluten free diet within the US compared to Italy
* Catalin’s experience of eating out and making her own food in Florence
* How Italy compares to neighbouring countries in Europe in terms of gluten free options and coeliac disease awareness
* Navigating buying gluten free food in supermarkets in Italy
* The use of gluten free wheat starch in Italy in gluten free products
* The misconception of being able to eat gluten when you have coeliac disease in Italy and Europe
* Wheat being imported into Italy from Canada
* Gluten free food subsidy for people living with coeliac disease in Italy
* The nuances of the gluten free subsidy for italian residents with coeliac disease
* The cost of gluten free food in Italy
* Catalin’s thoughts on the population screening for the study of coeliac disease and Type 1 diabetes
* Catalin’s work with the Italian Celiac Association (AIC)
* Celiacs and Europe and the consulting services offered
* Clients sharing their gluten free travel stories after their consultations
* Tips for travelling to Italy with coeliac disease

Links
Use our code GFFAM for 10% off booking a consultation with Celiacs In Europe
Follow Celiac In Italy on Instagram 
https://celiacinitaly.com/
https://celiacsineurope.com/
Follow Celiacs In Europe on Instagram
https://www.aglutenfreefamily.com.au/blog/how-to-travel-gluten-free-in-europe-and-the-one-resource-that-makes-it-easier

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📸 Photo credit: WEHI. 1G Royal Pde Parkville 3052 VIC Australia. https://www.wehi.edu.au/

This podcast reflects personal experiences and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for individual guidance. 

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A Gluten Free Podcast
Episode 245

On today's episode we share the story of Isla's coeliac disease diagnosis told by her mother Isla and how they made the goal to run a marathon for coeliac disease awareness.

What we'll cover:
* Reflecting on Glenn and Harley's story a few weeks ago
* How I found the story of Isla and her mum, Kirsty
* Isla's coeliac disease symptoms
* The pizza that changed everything
* Trying to find the problem behind Isla's health issues
* Isla being dismissed by health professionals
* Isla's consistent sicknesses
* Daycare employee suggesting to keep a food journal for Isla
* Doctor testing for coeliac disease and confirming via repeated blood test
* Relief after Isla's coeliac disease diagnosis
* The worry and alertness still lingering
* The transition to gluten free life for Isla
* How Isla and Kirsty found the Edinburgh Marathon
* The support around Isla's fundraiser for Coeliac UK
* The amount of awareness needed around coeliac disease in the UK and throughout the world
* My closing thoughts

Links
Follow @coeliacmamma on Instagram
Read our blog post on Isla's fundraiser
Original article: Musselburgh girl 'smashes' junior marathon for Coeliac UK
Join A Gluten Free Podcast Facebook Group 

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This podcast reflects personal experiences and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for individual guidance. 

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A Gluten Free Podcast
Episode 244
 
My guest on today’s episode is Associate Professor, gastroenterologist and world-leading coeliac disease researcher, Jason Tye-Din. We’ll talk about the latest updates on the Interleukin 2 blood test, updated advice around oats as part of a gluten free diet and all the other incredible research he and his team at WEHI are currently undertaking.

What we’ll cover:
* Introducing Jason and our previous episode together
* How coeliac disease is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects all parts and organs of the body
* How the Interleukin 2 diagnostic tool works
* Interleukin 2 blood test being used in various other coeliac disease research trials
* Interleukin 2 blood test used in the Gluten Threshold Study to determine if T cells are being activated when participants are ingesting very low levels of gluten
* Interleukin 2 (IL-2) blood test soon to be used in a trial involving children
* Updates around this blood test and implementation plans
* Non-biospy approach in diagnosing coeliac disease and how IL-2 could play a part in this
* Working on a salivary coeliac disease test
* How the IL-2 test might work in people with potential coeliac disease
* Gluten Threshold Study and how IL-2 was used in the study
* The response from the Gluten Threshold Study
* World Health Organisation reference threshold for gluten and possibility to clear up confusion around ‘may contain gluten’ statements
* Defining an action level in a standard serve of food
* Jason’s advice on enzymes that claim to break down small amounts of gluten
* Importance of not using symptoms as a measure of being glutened or not
* Possible adjunct management drugs and other therapeutics other than a strict gluten free diet for people with coeliac disease
* Advice for oats as part of a gluten free diet for Australian adults and children living with coeliac disease
* ENDIA (Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity Study) updates
* Eotaxin and brain fog coeliac disease study
* Pros and cons around population screening of coeliac disease
* NSW school children being tested for coeliac disease and Type 1 diabetes
* International Celiac Disease Symposium 2026 in Melbourne

Links
Contact the nurses to be involved in WEHI studies - [email protected]
Professor Jason Tye-Din’s previous podcast appearance
Suitability of Oats as part of a gluten free diet for Australians living with coeliac disease
ENDIA study
https://www.icds2026.org/
Coeliac Disease Research Lab
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📸 Photo credit: WEHI. 1G Royal Pde Parkville 3052 VIC Australia. https://www.wehi.edu.au/

This podcast reflects personal experiences and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for individual guidance. 

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A Gluten Free Podcast
Episode 243

On today's episode we have an inspiring story from the UK about a young girl named Harley. It’s told from the perspective of her father Glenn Hansen, detailing how his daughter’s personal struggles with coeliac disease led her to climb the mountain top to raise funds and awareness, figuratively and literally!

What we'll cover:
* How I found out about this news story within our gluten free community from a former podcast guest and a podcast listener connecting me with Glenn, the father of Harley
* Harley's coeliac disease symptoms leading up to her coeliac disease diagnosis
* Avoiding the gluten challenge and diagnosing off raised coeliac disease antibody levels
* How Harley, Glenn and the family have adjusted to gluten free life for Harley
* Struggles Harley and the family have
* How much Harley and the family have learned since her coeliac disease diagnosis
* Harley beginning to advocate and educate others about her coeliac disease and gluten free diet
* How the idea for the climb came about
* Preparing Harley for the climb
* Raising money and awareness through the climb
* Response from the coeliac disease and gluten free community within the UK and throughout the world

Links
Harley’s Just Giving page
Read Harley and Glenn's climb for Coeliac UK
Original news report leading up to the climb
News report after the climb
A report about the response from the post climb article
Facebook page on Harley’s training

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This podcast reflects personal experiences and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for individual guidance. 

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A Gluten Free Podcast
Episode 242

My guest on today’s episode is Gastroenterologist and Director of the Coeliac Disease and Immune Health Research Program at Wesley Research Institute, Dr James Daveson. We’ll talk about the Gluten Threshold Study results, how these results could inform international gluten free standards and the need for follow up larger scale studies.

What we’ll cover:
* Aim of the study and what prompted it
* Using Interleukin 2 to measure immune response in participants
* How the Interleukin 2 test was used as a biomarker in this specific trial
* Exploring the question of inadvertent gluten ingestion in causing damage to villi in people with coeliac disease
* Carlo Cattassi’s study in 2007 looking at the minimum amount of gluten causing an autoimmune response
* James and his team looking at what is happening for people with coeliac disease consuming 10 mgs of gluten and under
* The hawthorn effect
* Specifics of the trial and how the study was run
* Dropping the dose of gluten to see where the autoimmune response was occurring at lowering levels
* Findings from the study
* How the results could possibly change labelling and ‘gluten free’ standards and guidelines not only in Australia but worldwide
* Codex Alimentarius food labelling laws
* Shortcomings from this trial
* The potential heterogeneity of coeliac disease (various scales of severity of the disease)
* Eliciting dose of gluten for people with coeliac disease
* Varying symptoms of the participants throughout the Gluten Threshold study before and after the gluten challenge
* Mistakes and surprises in the Gluten Threshold Study
* Symptom scores
* Anticipatory nausea and priming
* The possibility of the immune system being primed before the ingestion of gluten for people with coeliac disease
* The trauma of living with an autoimmune disease or other IBD conditions
* Possible follow up studies from The Gluten Threshold Study
* How this study could be used to a more universal approach to the ppm of gluten
* Digestive Diseases Week in Chicago and how the response from the Gluten Threshold Study
* The interest in novel therapeutics for people with coeliac disease to help people’s guts alongside a gluten free diet
* Enzymes that claim to break down inadvertent gluten ingestion for people with coeliac disease
* Information on how to read the results of the Gluten Threshold Study, participate or help fund future studies and follow Wesley Research Institute on socials

Links
Gluten Threshold Study Results
Wesley Research Institute: Coeliac Disease and Immune Health
Follow Wesley Research Institute on Instagram and Facebook
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This podcast reflects personal experiences and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for individual guidance. 

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A Gluten Free Podcast
Episode 241

On today's episode I share 5 protocols I've added to my health routine since my coeliac disease diagnosis. When you're diagnosed with coeliac disease, it's not all just about going gluten free. There's so much more we can do to help our physical and mental health.

What we'll cover:
* Cold therapy and ice baths
* My episode with Benjamin Berry on the podcast
* The benefits of yoga, especially when I'm having a flare up
* Going to the gym or exercising in some capacity
* Importance of strength training for bone health
* Meditation and sound baths
* Recent collaboration of yoga, sound bath, Wim Hof breathing and ice baths

Links
Episode with Certified Wim Hof Instructor, Benjamin Berry
Wim Hof breathing video
Founder of The Bone Clinic, Belinda Beck episode
Boho Beautiful meditation
10 Minute guided meditation by Annie & Justin
Yoga, sound bath, Wim Hof breathing & Ice baths event

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This podcast reflects personal experiences and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for individual guidance. 

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A Gluten Free Podcast
Episode 240
 
My guests on today’s episode are my fellow gluten free podcasters from both Australia and the US. We’ll talk about the recent comments made by Robby Hoffman on the Call Her Daddy Podcast, how the gluten free community has responded and how we can improve coeliac disease and gluten free awareness moving forward together.

What we’ll cover:
* Gluten free podcasting hosts introducing themselves
* Giving context to the discussion between Robby Hoffman and Alex Cooper
* Initial thoughts and feelings from us
* Discussing Robby and Alex’s influence and level of awareness around coeliac disease
* Ignorance stemming from a lack of experience dealing with coeliac disease yourself or knowing a loved one who does
* Difference of laughing with versus laughing at the gluten free community
* Gluten Is A Joke Documentary coming out soon to talk about coeliac disease and the gluten free diet to help people be informed
* When humour doesn’t land from a comedian, using shock value
* How jokes, ignorance and misinformation is hurting our gluten free community
* The response from the coeliac and gluten free community following Robby and Alex’s comments on the podcast
* Reaching out to the podcasting hosting sites and sponsors to complain
* The importance of working together as a gluten free community
* How we can move forward together and combat the torment and misinformation within society around coeliac disease and the gluten free diet
* The positive side of living a gluten free life
* The importance of one-on-one conversations
* Closing thoughts and calls to action

Links
Robby Hoffman's Controversial Jokes on Call Her Daddy Spark Strong Internet Reaction
The Good Gluten Free Grub Podcast & follow Lorin on Instagram
You Had Me At Eat & follow Jules Shepard on Instagram & follow Erica of Celiac and the Beast on Instagram
The Gluten Free Advocate Podcast & follow Ashley on Instagram
Gluten Free News & follow Andrea on Instagram
The Healthy Celiac Podcast & follow Belinda on Instagram
The Celiac Project Podcast and follow Mike on Instagram 
Join A Gluten Free Podcast Facebook Group 

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This podcast reflects personal experiences and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for individual guidance. 

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Episode 239
My guest on today’s episode is Carpentry Teacher, fellow coeliac and podcast listener, Braeden Crosswell-Snow. We’ll talk about being a male with coeliac disease, how to manage cross contamination in a shared kitchen as a family and being open and honest throughout our coeliac and gluten free journeys.

What we’ll cover:
* How Braeden and I connected at our Gluten Free Evening event
* Braeden’s coeliac disease diagnosis
* How Braeden dealt with being diagnosed with coeliac disease and navigating gluten free life as a tradie and on site with other tradies
* Braeden’s ADHD diagnosis
* How Braeden approaches honesty in his coeliac disease
* Braeden’s gluten free wedding
* Navigating a shared kitchen at home with Braeden’s family who eats gluten
* Braeden’s children being tested for coeliac diseease
* Braeden’s last beer
* Braeden’s love of cooking
* How coeliac disease and gluten free life has motivated Braeden’s love of making food
* How Braeden navigates finding gluten free food at musical festivals in Sydney
* Tips for people travelling to gigs or festivals
* Resources Braeden has found helpful since his coeliac diagnosis
* The biggest change Braeden wants to see in the coeliac and gluten free space

Links
Follow Braeden on Instagram
Join Braeden's 'GF Living' Discord
Join A Gluten Free Podcast Facebook Group 

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Email: [email protected] 

This podcast reflects personal experiences and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for individual guidance. 

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A Gluten Free Podcast
Episode 238

On today's episode of A Gluten Free Podcast I'll share the story of Amanda's son Joshua's coeliac disease diagnosis. Amanda was puzzled by some strange symptoms Joshua was experiencing until one health professional thought to test for coeliac disease and finally they were able to obtain an answer.

What we'll cover:
* The last coeliac story we heard
* Amanda reaching out to share the story of her son, Joshua's coeliac disease diagnosis
* Amanda's gratefulness for Joshua's coeliac disease diagnosis
* Joshua's fussy eating on a trip to San Francisco
* GP testing Joshua for coeliac disease via blood testing
* Joshua's puzzling coeliac disease symptoms
* Amanda's confusion with Joshua's symptoms
* Amanda's reaction at the improvement in Joshua since his diagnosis and going gluten free
* Josh himself talking
* My reflections on Joshua's coeliac disease diagnosis story 

Links
How To Navigate Coeliac Disease In Children with The Coeliac Connection Founder & Author of the Ebook 'Surviving the First year of Childhood Coeliac Disease', Jo Wynne

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This podcast reflects personal experiences and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for individual guidance. 

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A Gluten Free Podcast
Episode 237
 
My guest on today’s episode is the creator of The College Celiac, Casey Cromwell. We’ll talk about how she navigated celiac disease as a teenager in college, creating much-needed comedy-focused gluten free content online and not only providing support for the gluten free community but finding support and healing from this community herself.

What we’ll cover:
* Casey’s coeliac disease symptoms
* Casey’s celiac disease diagnosis
* The biggest struggle for Casey during her diagnosis
* Casey’s advice for someone going through a coeliac disease diagnosis right now
* Defining Fibromyalgia and Casey’s symptoms in the lead up to diagnosis
* The gluten free diet’s role as a possible management strategy for Fibromyalgia
* Casey’s college experience as a coeliac in the first year
* Making gluten free food in a shared kitchen setup
* Preventing cross contamination
* Navigating the social elements in college with coeliac
* How Casey included herself in social events around food without feeling left out
* Casey’s experience of getting glutened at college
* Casey’s inspiration behind starting her blog and how it transitioned into her current content
* Connecting with the coeliac and gluten free community through Casey’s content
* How Casey comes up with her memes and content
* Casey’s relationship with being online and how being a gluten free content creator has become her full time job
* The positives to come out of Casey’s coeliac and content creation journey
* Resources Casey recommends for people living with coeliac disease
* Biggest change Casey would like to see in the coeliac and gluten free space

Links 

Follow College Celiac on Instagram, TikTok & Facebook
Casey Cromwell YouTube Channel
Gluten Free With Casey   
Beyond Celiac
National Celiac Association
Gluten.org
The Loopy Whisk

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This podcast reflects personal experiences and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for individual guidance. 

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