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What if there’s gluten in the products you’re using?
What if there’s gluten in the products you’re using?
http://blog.ecostore.co.nz/2013/05/24/what-if-theres-gluten-in-the-products-youre-using/
The usual treatment for Coeliac disease is a gluten-free diet, however many people overlook other possible sources of gluten that may be present in their homes – Research and Development Manager for ecostore, Huia Iti.
For many of us it probably doesn’t matter if there’s gluten in our shampoo or mouthwash but for people with Coeliac disease or a heightened sensitivity to gluten it could make a lot of difference.
Coeliac disease is a condition affecting the intestines that is often triggered by intolerance to gluten. Its symptoms include diarrhea, fatigue, and weight loss. Coeliac disease affects the healthy function of the tiny, finger-like structures called villi, which line the inside of the intestines and help break down and absorb the nutrients contained in your food.
Gluten is a form of protein found in foods processed from wheat, barley and rye and can react with the villi in small intestine lining, causing the villi to become fat and inflamed and affecting their ability to absorb nutrients. The usual treatment for Coeliac disease is a gluten-free diet, however many people overlook other possible sources of gluten that may be present in their homes and which come into regular contact with their skin. The skin is the body’s largest organ and being porous, it can absorb some of the chemicals applied to it. Some common household items that may contain gluten are:
• Lipstick and lip balm
• Sunscreen
• Certain medications and antibiotics
• Adhesives on stamps and envelopes
• Toothpaste and mouthwash
• Soap and shampoo
Cross-contamination can also be a problem when you’re trying to follow a strict gluten-free diet, so here are a few tips to avoid it:
• Use different utensils and cookware for foods containing gluten
• Avoid oats – although oats themselves don’t contain gluten, they can often be contaminated with gluten from wheat products, due to being grown in close proximity and processed using the same equipment
• Keep processed foods to a minimum. Some processed foods can be contaminated with gluten due to being processed on the same lines as foods containing gluten
• Read the labels on your skin and body care products, if unsure ask the company concerned whether their products contain gluten.
If you’ve had any experience or luck trying to find gluten free products, we’d love to hear about it, please tell us your story in the comments field below. Meanwhile here are a couple of other useful links for anyone wanting to know more about coeliac disease:
http://www.coeliac.org.nz/index
http://www.celiac.org/index.php
Melanie Rands - ecostore
Green, healthy living made easy.
Melanie Rands co-founded New Zealand company ecostore with her husband Malcolm Rands in 1993 from their home in a permaculture eco village in Northland. For 20 years ecostore has been creating plant and mineral based cleaning products, body and baby care products with no nasty chemicals, that are healthier and safer for you as well as the planet. Melanie shares her experience and interests in healthy living, reducing exposure to nasty chemicals and making a difference to the environment along with invited experts on the ecostore blog. When she is not writing, blogging or tweeting for ecostore Melanie writes poetry, plays in the garden and is learning how to stay upright on a stand up paddle board.
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