Gluten-free: celiac disease

If you have a gluten-free diet (or are thinking of going gluten-free), make sure you get all the essential nutrients with Vega One.

Gluten-free is more than just a fad. With May being National Celiac Awareness Month, it's important to remember that for people living with celiac disease, eliminating gluten from the diet can have many benefits, including better digestive and immune health, and even improved mood. Thanks to greater awareness among the general population and improvements in product labelling and control, more and more gluten-free options are available on health food store shelves, making it easier than ever to eat gluten-free.

Celiac disease vs. gluten sensitivity

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder. When exposed to gluten, the immune system treats its own cells as foreign invaders like a cold or virus, and attacks the lining of the intestine. Unfortunately, this unnecessary immune attack has serious effects on the villi of the small intestine, and thus affects the digestive system. Villi are the finger-like structures that line the intestines and help absorb nutrients. Over time, the villi become flattened, causing a wide range of symptoms, including absorption problems, nutrient deficiencies and severe gastrointestinal disorders. Fortunately, celiac disease can be treated without drugs or surgery. By adhering to a strict gluten-free diet, most people with celiac disease live symptom-free lives.

Some people may not be clinically diagnosed with celiac disease.but, due to a sensitivity to gluten, would have more energy, better immunity and less gastrointestinal pain by avoiding gluten. It's much more difficult to diagnose gluten sensitivity or intolerance, but by speaking with a healthcare professional specializing in food allergies (such as a gastroenterologist, naturopath or nutritionist specializing in the FODMAP or LEAP diet), there may be an avoidance diet that can help determine the exact sensitivity involved.

Gluten-free at the grocery store

Gluten is a protein found mainly in wheat, barley, rye and seitan, but it also lurks in many processed foods as a coloring agent or preservative. In both the U.S. and Canada, a product labeled gluten-free must contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm). If you have any questions about the gluten content of a product, don't hesitate to call the manufacturer.

At Vega, we put a lot of thought into what we put into our products, but we also put a lot of thought into what we don't want to put into them. Formulated by Brendan Brazier, professional Ironman triathlete and best-selling author specializing in performance nutrition, all Vega products are gluten-free and made without dairy, soy, artificial colors or flavors.

Vega One nutritional powder

Vega One is a complete and convenient gluten-free nutritional powder that contains all the essential elements for your daily health. With excellent taste and no artificial preservatives, sugars, flavors or colors, Vega One is not only gluten-free, but also dairy- and soy-free. Vega One is made exclusively from plant-based ingredients, and a single serving provides 50% of the daily value of vitamins and minerals, 15 g of protein, 6 g of fiber, 1.5 g of omega-3s, plus high concentrations of antioxidants, probiotics and green foods. Vega One is ideal for people wishing to avoid gluten, as it avoids two essential components that become limited when wheat is eliminated: fiber and vitamins and minerals.

Fiber

If you search the grocery aisle, you'll find that many processed gluten-free foods are low in fiber. On the other hand, there are gluten-free foods that are naturally rich in fiber: legumes, seeds, nuts, vegetables and fruit. The flours and stabilizers needed to create gluten-free cookies, crackers, breads and cereals are often low in fiber. Make sure that wheat substitutes contain at least 3 grams of fiber. Each scoop of Vega One contains 6 grams of fiber, 25% of your daily requirement. The fibers used in Vega One are soluble and insoluble, and come from inulin, chia seeds and flax.

Vitamins and minerals

As celiac disease reduces gastric absorption, people with celiac disease are advised to take a multivitamin. Gluten-free diets are often low in iron, folic acid, niacin, vitamin B12, calcium, phosphorus and zinc. Vega One contains 50% of the daily value of all vitamins and minerals, in vegan forms. Who'd have thought a multivitamin could taste so good?

Mix a scoop of Vega One in 1-1 ½ cups of ice water, juice or plant-based milk, shake, and enjoy. Better yet, add Vega One powder to your favorite smoothie recipe for a delicious, highly nutritious smoothie. Start with this gluten-free lemon meringue smoothie recipe

Lemon Meringue Smoothie

Ingredients

- 1 serving Vega One, French vanilla flavour

- 1 cup plant milk

- 2 tablespoons lemon juice

- zest of ½ lemon

- ½ cup ice

Preparation

1. Place all ingredients in the blender in the order given and close the lid securely.

2. Blend for 30-45 seconds or until desired consistency.

3. Pour into glasses and enjoy immediately!