#17 - 🔬 Ontario Makes Celiac Testing Permanent!

Hey readers! 🌟 Exciting news from Ontario this week as the government makes celiac blood testing a permanent part of their health insurance coverage after years of advocacy. This is a huge win for thousands awaiting diagnosis and those needing ongoing monitoring! Let's dive into this week's most important celiac and nutrition research developments.

Ontario Makes Celiac Blood Test Permanent — The Ontario government has permanently added the celiac blood test to OHIP coverage, removing barriers to diagnosis and monitoring. – Canadian Celiac Association

Celiac Canada Advances Advocacy on Affordability and Food Safety — Celiac Canada continues pushing for tax reforms to ease the financial burden of gluten-free food costs and improve access to safe food for vulnerable Canadians. – Canadian Celiac Association

Calls for EU allergen regulation to expand — A recent study found that nearly half of food anaphylaxis cases involve allergens not currently regulated by the EU, with goat's and sheep's milk, peas and lentils, buckwheat, and pine nuts linked to severe reactions including fatalities.

Targeting Gluten: Researchers Delete Proteins in Wheat — UC Davis researchers have successfully deleted specific gluten proteins in wheat that are harmful to people with celiac disease, potentially developing safer wheat varieties. – Trina Kleist

Causal Relationship Between Cataracts and Gastrointestinal Diseases — A Mendelian randomization study reveals that celiac disease has a causal relationship with increased cataract risk, suggesting the need for targeted screening in at-risk populations.

Researchers discover a new metabolic compound that regulates body weight — Scientists have identified BHB-Phe, a novel compound that activates neurons in the brain to suppress feeding and reduce body weight in mice, opening potential new pathways for obesity treatment. – Taylor Barnes

GLP-1s can boost gut health — GLP-1 receptor agonists used for weight loss can positively influence gut microbiome by boosting beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia muciniphila, though users should maintain adequate fiber intake to support gut health.

Sugary drinks linked to hair loss — A literature review found that consumption of sugary drinks and alcohol increases the risk of hair loss, while foods rich in antioxidants like soy, broccoli, and kale support hair growth. – Donna Eastlake

UPFs linked to impaired fertility — Ultra-processed foods reduce sperm count, motility, and reproductive hormones in men, with phthalates in UPFs potentially contributing to these fertility issues.

Low FODMAP diet increases GLP-1 and relieves IBS symptoms — A low FODMAP diet effectively increases GLP-1 levels and alleviates symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, leading to significant improvements in gut health. – Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta

Optimizing Gluten-Free Grass Pea and Quinoa Instant Flours — Researchers have identified optimal conditions for enhancing gluten-free instant flours through sprouting and extrusion, with a 75:25 ratio of sprouted quinoa to grass pea significantly improving nutritional and functional properties.

Celiac Disease in Children: Treatment and Follow-Up — BeyondCeliac.org outlines that the only effective treatment for children with celiac disease is a lifelong 100% gluten-free diet, emphasizing the importance of a multidisciplinary healthcare team and regular follow-up care.

Pediatric Celiac Disease - Conditions and Treatments — Children's National Hospital provides comprehensive information on celiac disease in children, highlighting the genetic autoimmune nature of the condition and the importance of strict gluten-free diet management.

It's Celiac Disease, not Celiacs/Celiac's Disease — A Reddit post emphasizes the importance of using correct terminology: "celiac disease" (American English) or "coeliac disease" (British English), not "celiacs" or "celiac's disease."

Yeast Extract: Can it be "hidden" under natural flavor? — The FDA confirms that yeast extract must be explicitly declared on ingredient labels and cannot be hidden under "natural flavor," providing important information for those with celiac disease. – Tricia Thompson

Manufacturers of Labeled Gluten-Free Food, Please Read — Gluten Free Watchdog reminds manufacturers that when using wheat-derived ingredients in gluten-free products, proper labeling must indicate that the wheat has been processed to meet FDA gluten-free standards. – Tricia Thompson

NIH Launches NOURISH: Autoimmunity Challenge Prize Competition — The NIH is launching a $150,000 prize competition in September 2025 to generate innovative ideas on integrating diet and nutrition studies into autoimmune disease research, encouraging collaboration among patients, caregivers, scientists, and advocacy groups.

Vacation Pros - Rachel the Celiac Travel Pro — After seven years of running a celiac-focused travel agency in Canada, Rachel is relocating to Ireland and sees this transition as an opportunity for new adventures while continuing to share travel advice for those with celiac disease.

Meet Our 2025 London Marathon Runners: Valerie's Story — Valerie McLeod, diagnosed with celiac disease at age seven and living gluten-free for over 50 years, is running the 2025 London Marathon to raise awareness and funds for Coeliac UK. – Coeliac UK

Volunteers' Week – Meet Brenda Bowler — Brenda Bowler, diagnosed with celiac disease 18 years ago, now volunteers with Coeliac UK to organize local meet-ups in Norwich, creating a supportive community where people can share experiences and tips for gluten-free living.

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