Clear Focus Nutrition

05/31/2019

Do you ever have people confuse celiac disease with an allergy? Wheat allergy is different than celiac disease which is an autoimmune disease. Here is an excellent info graphic that outlines the difference thanks to my dietitian friend .table. Check her out if you have littles with food allergies. ❤️
Wrapping up the last day of and !

05/19/2019

Have your first degree relatives been screened for celiac disease? If not, read on.⠀⠀⠀⠀
Celiac disease is massively underdiagnosed. 1.5M Americans are currently UNDIAGNOSED with celiac disease which puts them at risk for developing other medical issues like autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, nutrient deficiencies and certain types of cancers.⠀⠀⠀⠀
You or your family members can get screened for celiac disease AT HOME with a convenient test kit through .health. This is a step towards getting diagnosed. Available to residents of the USA. ⠀⠀⠀⠀
For $10 OFF your test for the rest of May and use my affiliate link. https://imaware.health/celiac-disease/at-home-blood-test/?aff=7&utm_campaign=IMAWARE_10_OFF_44992ef1⠀⠀
P.S. - .health now has a Monitoring Test - for previously diagnosed who want to check in on their autoimmune / biomarker levels. Recommended annually for newly diagnosed and every 2-3 years for those diagnosed 5+ years ago. $10 OFF with link
https://imaware.health/celiac-disease/at-home-monitoring-test/?aff=7&utm_campaign=IMAWARE_10_OFF_44992ef1 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

05/13/2019

Thanks for choosing me to be your momma, my sweet boy ❤️

05/12/2019

To all the celiac and gluten sensitive mommas. Whether it’s you that are eating gluten free or your child, it’s a lot of work. Planning ahead, prepping, cooking. The mental load it huge. This lifestyle affect the whole family and the responsibility usually falls on the mother. Relate?⠀⠀
I see your sacrifice. Going without so your kids can have a normal meal at a restaurant, calling ahead and triple checking the restaurant is able to accommodate your child’s needs, planning ahead for school birthday parties and pizza lunches so they don’t go without, making fantastic gf meals the whole family can enjoy....I see your work. ❤️⠀⠀
I honour you today mommas. Happy Mother’s Day!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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05/11/2019

Do you have people that question whether celiac disease is all in your head? Share this visual with them to help explain. Most of the time, when you get comments like that, people are just speaking from a place where they just don't understand. Knowledge is power!⠀⠀⠀⠀
Repost from one of my favourite gluten free instagrammers . ⠀⠀⠀⠀
This is how celiac disease is diagnosed. A sample of the lining of the small intestine is taken and looked at under a microscope. If the villi (those finger-like projections) are blunted or shortened, then you will be diagnosed with celiac disease.⠀⠀⠀⠀
Fortunately with a strict gluten free diet, those villi eventually will regrow, look and function normally again.⠀⠀⠀⠀
What did you wish other people knew about celiac disease? Let's start the discussion for !⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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04/28/2019

Did you grieve when you went gluten free? Tell me about it below 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻⠀⠀
Grief is normal. Adjusting to eating gluten free is a really, really hard adjustment. Just as with a loss of loved one...you need to grieve the loss of a way of eating, which is extremely personal.⠀⠀
There are no short cuts through this, you need to feel your way through it. I wish I could tell you how long it takes, but it’s different for everyone. Grief can feel like waves, some days are okay and then another big waves comes and knocks you down. How long did it take you to feel mostly “okay” with eating this way? Or maybe you still are grieving. ⠀⠀
Suggestions:⠀
1. Allow yourself to feel sad. It’s normal.⠀
2. Connect in some way with others with celiac disease. Peer support helps.⠀
3. Do something kind (and non food related) for yourself. Have a nap, watch an episode of your favourite show, talk to a friend, move your body in the sunshine.⠀
4. Try to tune into your body and notice how it feels when you remove gluten. Often that’s a huge motivating factor when people start eating gluten free. After a while you couldn’t pay them to go back, seriously.⠀⠀
Be kind on yourself. ❤️ What you are doing is very hard. Hang in there and take it one day at a time. 😘 You’ve got this.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

02/18/2019

Remember starting out on a gluten free diet? I sure do. It was overwhelming! And stressful. And frustrating. Are you there now I your journey, let me know below. You aren’t alone!
Gluten free veterans, how long did it take you to find your groove? Let me know below too.
I love thinking about meals in building blocks. It makes healthy eating straight forward and simple! This strategy makes planning meals nutritious and helps ground you when you feel overwhelmed and wonder what to eat!

02/17/2019

Big deal everyone. Check your cupboards.

Nature's Path Foods Inc. is recalling various EnviroKidz brand cereals from the marketplace because they may contain wheat and gluten which are not declared on the label.

02/14/2019

Happy Valentines Day to my lovely people ❤️ I hope you are celebrating with some yummy gluten free 🥘 food. And chocolate! And maybe wine?! Tell me your plans!
Many thanks to those of you who noticed my absence online and reached out with kind words. That means so much ❤️ I hope to ease back in with more content to support you.
Repost

01/23/2019

You aren’t what you eat. I see people place value on themselves based on what they do or do not eat. Flip the script and reframe. “I eat.”⠀
Thanks for the great post. Check her out for all things IBS.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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01/22/2019

Gluten free but still have tummy trouble? Tell me your story below. There are lots of reasons for that.
I have a free guide on this in my 3 Day Gut R&R Meal Plan. 👍🏻I talk about the top 7 reasons people with celiac may still have digestive symptoms.
https://clearfocusnutrition.ca/3daymealplan/

Eating low FODMAP foods can be helpful to achieve some symptom relief. This beautiful pic is from . Sharlyn has a wonderful account if you are interested in IBS.
Still experiencing symptoms? Tell me your story below. 👂🏻

01/21/2019

Into podcasts? New to gluten free? This is for you!⠀
Another episode from Sue Jennet with A Canadian Celiac Podcast .⠀⠀
This is a wonderful and short education piece for family members and friends who want to learn more about the gluten free lifestyle.⠀⠀
Link in bio. 👉⠀⠀
Tag a friend that needs to listen to this!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

01/20/2019

Gluten free friends! Question: do you pay attention to colours of your food?
Reposted pic from
Each colour contains different antioxidants and different vitamin and mineral profiles. During healing the more diverse, vibrant, nourishing, whole foods you can throw at your body the more capable it will be to heal itself.
Which colour sticks out the most?

01/18/2019

A Canadian Celiac Podcast explores information, research, lifestyle issues and personal stories of individuals who have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

01/18/2019

You can now screen yourself at HOME for celiac disease! Check out .health for an innovative and empowering new test kit.⠀⠀
Seriously. This is huge! And so empowering.⠀⠀
Before starting a gluten free diet, you can test yourself for celiac disease and receive results back within 5 days. It's easy, fast, affordable and CREDIBLE with leading researchers backing this test. Tag a friend or family member who needs to do this!⠀
Want to learn more? Check out my affiliate link in my bio or read my article on what I suggest when your doc refuses to test you for celiac disease. Link also in bio.⠀⠀
Available currently in the United States.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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01/17/2019

Here is a great podcast episode that covers the essentials of eating gluten free. You’ll hear me on this one. 👂🏻
Listen to it yourself if you are new to this lifestyle or share with friends or family.⠀
Here’s the link: http://bit.ly/GlutenFreeBasics⠀
Check out A Canadian Celiac Podcast for great information about this lifestyle. Episode #53 - you'll hear me chatting with Sue all about getting started! .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

01/16/2019

Best. Digestion. Visual. Ever! Love this!

There is a lot missing in the small and large intestine though...that's where the real magic happens!

01/14/2019

Most people are shocked when I tell them the percentage of people that are nutrient deficient at diagnosis of celiac disease.⠀⠀
Fact: 87% of newly diagnosed people with celiac disease are deficient in at least one or more vitamins or minerals.⠀⠀
Question: Did you have a nutrient deficient at diagnosis of celiac disease? Tell me about it below.⠀⠀
One of the top reasons I see people not feeling better after going gluten free are some untreated nutrient deficiencies.⠀⠀
To learn more about nutrient deficiencies find the link for the article in my bio.⠀ https://clearfocusnutrition.ca/vitamin-supplements/⠀
For the FREE Gut R&R Meal Plan and to learn about the top 8 reasons why people with celiac disease have persistent symptoms, find the link here https://clearfocusnutrition.ca/3daymealplan/⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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01/11/2019

Question: do you stop and actually LISTEN to what your body is telling you?⠀⠀
I'm not talking about when it's screaming at you, or when your symptoms are so significant that you can't ignore them anymore.⠀⠀
Your body tells you things all the time.⠀⠀
One of the most important things I aim to teach my clients is to stop and LISTEN to that body. Why? Because there is no other way to know what it needs.⠀⠀
Sure we have a hard rule....you need to eat gluten free when you are celiac or gluten intolerant but any additional strategies around eating are going to come down to trial and error.⠀⠀
For example: should I eat corn? Should I take a probiotic? Should I take psyllium fibre for constipation? Should I eliminate FODMAPs?⠀⠀
Answer: It depends on how your body responds.⠀⠀
Every body is highly individual! A one size fits all approach doesn't work. Be cautious about what you read online and let your body be your guide.⠀⠀
What has your body told you lately? Mine reminded me that kale is not my friend 🤨 ouch. Going to stick with spinach smoothies.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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01/10/2019

Question: what is your gluten free "red button"? One of them for me is when others tell me that "eating this way is a choice". Like when you go to a restaurant and they ask if it's an allergy or preference.⠀⠀
Dude. This is not my preference. If I had my way I'd be gobbling up cinnamon buns and all sorts of gluten containing foods.⠀⠀
I eat this way because the alternative, eating gluten, comes with symptoms that are so life impacting it's not worth it for me.⠀⠀
I have non-celiac gluten sensitivity and while gluten doesn't cause gut damage as it does in people with celiac disease, my symptoms can be just as significant when I am accidentally glutened.⠀⠀
Reframe: Though I may feel annoyed when others try to rationalize my diet restriction, really that's their stuff. I don't need to justify my lifestyle or convince them that I'm worthy of their understanding. Stick with what works for you and let those comments go.⠀⠀
What do you think?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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01/09/2019

Question: Have you heard of FODMAPs before?⠀⠀
I work with people that have celiac disease and also experience persistent gut issues and symptoms.⠀⠀
One strategy that is often talked about with IBS and gut symptoms is eating low FODMAP.⠀
FODMAPs are certain types of carbohydrates found in certain foods that have been shown through research to cause digestive issues in sensitive people (with IBS).⠀⠀
How it is INTENDED to be used is as a tool. It's a learning strategy. Foods that are common triggers are removed for a period of time and then carefully tested to see how you uniquely respond. It takes a lot of work and effort but in the end....you'll know which foods cause you grief and in what amounts.⠀⠀
That being said, I usually don't jump straight into FODMAPs with my clients. There are other strategies that we need to try first before launching into an elimination diet. And even if we do FODMAPs, I find there are other strategies that need to be put into place to see really good symptom management.⠀⠀
Celiac with persistent digestive symptoms? Grab a copy of my Free 3 Day Gut R&R Meal Plan which talks about 8 common reasons people with celiac disease have continued digestive symptoms.⠀ https://clearfocusnutrition.ca/3daymealplan/ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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01/08/2019

Excellent progress 😊

Evidence supports use of triple criteria to diagnose celiac disease in children without the need for invasive endoscopies. Jury still out on applying them to adults.

01/08/2019

Did you get diagnosed with other medical issues along with celiac disease? Let me know below. 👇🏼⠀⠀
My husband had anemia and was diagnosed with an abdominal tumour at the same time as celiac disease. Thankfully the tumour was a diagnostic error (unfortunately it sure did leave emotional scars).⠀⠀
Common medical issues that can go along with celiac disease are: non-responsive or refractory celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth), microscopic colitis, pancreatic insufficiency, gastroparesis, peptic ulcers, among others.⠀⠀
LISTEN to you body. If you feel like something isn't right, speak up and talk to your doctor. Start tracking your symptoms to get a clear idea of what you are experiencing. With my clients, symptom tracking is a powerful strategy to bring awareness to what the body is telling them.⠀

Swipe a free guide on 8 common reasons people with celiac disease still have digestive symptoms and a 3 day gut R&R meal plan! https://clearfocusnutrition.ca/3daymealplan/ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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01/07/2019

Like if you relate to this!⠀

Gluten in people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity is PRO-inflammatory. Meaning it causes inflammation in the body which includes the brain.⠀

In some people that are sensitive, it can cause mood swings, anxiety spikes, depression, irritability, sleep disturbances, trouble concentrating, headaches, brain fog, migraines, paranoid thoughts, etc.⠀

Does this describe you? I've love to hear below. Gluten (accidentally eaten) is a major anxiety trigger for me and definitely affects my sleep. I need more of it but I can't sleep as well. It sucks.⠀

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01/05/2019

Exciting...
“NexVax2 is being developed by ImmusanT Inc. to protect celiac disease (CeD) patients who carry the HLA-DQ2.5 immune to reprogram the T cells responsible for celiac disease by stopping triggering a pro-inflammatory response due to inadvertent gluten exposure.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to the Celiac Disease therapeutic vaccine candidate, Nexvax2.

01/04/2019

Which sounds better? Gluten free diet or gluten free lifestyle?⠀⠀
Gluten free isn't a diet. At least not in the way that I use it in my practice. The people I serve require this way of eating long term in order to manage their medical conditions.⠀⠀
"Diets" as I see them are a set of rules around food that:⠀
1. Focus on restriction ⠀
2. Are a form of self punishment⠀
3. Are a way to measure our worthiness (I'm "good" or "bad" because I am eating this way)⠀
4. Lead us away from being intuitive with our bodies⠀⠀
Although eating gluten free is a "rule", it's the ONLY hard rule that I ask people to follow. Otherwise I coach people to LISTEN to their bodies.⠀⠀
Nutrition therapy is a different way to look at this. Nutrition therapy through eating gluten free is an evidence-based intervention that we use to manage celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. ⠀⠀
I am going to be mindful in 2019 in shifting away from using the term "diet" in my social media posts and communications online. What do you think? Does that feel good for you too?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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01/03/2019

Has this happened to you before? Tell me below. 👇🏼⠀⠀
Definitely has happened to me before. I ended up crying in my car afterwards. I hear this echoed again and again and again from my clients too. I hear their pain and frustration.⠀⠀
As a patient, it's pretty vulnerable to sit in the office and ask for help with a chronic problem.⠀⠀
It's really upsetting and scary (when help is needed) to be brushed off or worse, have BLAME placed back on you. Insinuating that it must be something you are doing wrong. I see this all the time with my celiac, gluten sensitive and IBS people. It does hurt.⠀⠀
I see you. ❤️ I feel your pain.⠀⠀
I like to think that it's not from a lack of caring, just a lack of knowledge or ability to offer help in the way you need.
To learn common reasons why you have symptoms still while eating gluten free swipe my free Gut R&R Meal Plan. https://clearfocusnutrition.ca/3daymealplan/⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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01/02/2019

Question: are you into resolutions? Let me know below. Repost from
This year I’m taking a gentle approach and chose the word blossom to represent that. Those of us with autoimmune disease and food sensitivity....being gentle on ourselves is a huge gift 🎁❤️