For Patients

The NIH Consensus Conference on Celiac Disease identified six key elements in the management of people with Celiac Disease:

               Consultation with a skilled dietitian
               Education about the disease
               Lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet
               Identification and treatment of nutritional deficiencies
               Access to an advocacy
               Continuous long-term follow up by a multidisciplinary team.

People newly diagnosed with Celiac Disease are strongly urged to get in touch with a patient support group for help with the practical issues of life on a gluten-free diet. The resources presented may be helpful as you get started.

Articles from the CCA New Member Manual

These four articles provide the basic information you need to get started coping with your Celiac Disease and the gluten-free diet.

The full New Member Manual includes 80 pages of information on life with Celiac Disease, with special information for children, seniors, and students living away from home. It includes sections on understanding the gluten-free diet, tips on eating outside the home, baking good tasting gluten-free food, and having a full life, despite your dietary limitations. This manual is provided to all new members of the Canadian Celiac Association.

• Getting Started – The Basic GF Diet
  A basic list of foods allowed on a gluten free-diet. Taken from an article by Shelley Case and Melinda Dennis.

• Cross Contamination
  Cross-contamination happens when gluten gets into gluten-free product. This article give suggestions on how to avoid cross-contamination of your GF food at home and away from home.

• Celiac Disease
  A description of Celiac Disease, its many different symptoms, and the diagnosis process.

• Dermatitis Herpetiformis
  A description of Dermatitis Herpetiformis, the skin form of Celiac Disease.

Pocket Dictionary

The CCA is very proud of its most popular publication, the Pocket Dictionary – Acceptability of Foods and Food Ingredients in the Gluten-Free Diet. It provides easy information on the "Acceptability of Foods & Food Ingredients for the Gluten-Free Diet". This pocket-size dictionary is an easy-to-carry, complete resource to help you navigate the ingredient list of food products and quickly decide about their acceptability in the gluten-free diet. Thousands of people have used the first version of the dictionary to help understand ingredient labels while they shop.

Developed by a Registered Dietitian and peer-reviewed by members of the Professional Advisory Board of the Canadian Celiac Association, this dictionary is the result of extensive research into ingredient manufacturing practices and food labeling laws in the United States, Canada and Europe.

The revised 2nd edition of the Pocket Dictionary includes:

• More than 300 foods and food ingredients and over 300 food additives listed in alphabetical order for easy reference

• Food ingredients classified in three straightforward categories: 'ALLOWED', 'NOT ALLOWED' or '? CHECK'

• Many food ingredients found in a wide variety of ethnic products

• Simple to understand descriptions of each item

• Concerns about manufacturing practices, when required, alerting reader to any deviations or reasons for concern

This book can be ordered from the Canadian Celiac Association. Call 905-507-6208 or download a product order form.

Printable Brochures

These brochures, produced by the Canadian Celiac Association, have been reformatted so that they can be printed on a standard office laser or inkjet printer.

• Celiac Disease – What Is It?
  A summary of the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and genetics of Celiac Disease.

• Go Gluten–Free
  A brief introduction to the gluten-free diet, including gluten-containing foods, hidden sources of gluten, and tips on reading labels.

• Celiac Disease – Myths & Facts
  Corrects many of the myths that exist about Celiac Disease, including diagnosis concerns and the gluten-free diet.

• Celiac Disease – Teacher's Information
  Describes Celiac Disease including its symptoms, diagnosis and treatment and offers tips for teachers who have students with Celiac Disease in their classrooms.

• Celiac Disease – Senior's Living with Celiac Disease
  Describes special nutrition, medication, exercise, and travel for seniors with Celiac Disease. Also includes tips for family and caregivers.

• Dermatitis Herpetiformis – A Skin Disorder
  An overview of Dermatitis Herpetiformis, a skin form of Celiac Disease. This brochure describes the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.