Coeliac Awareness Month

It is currently Coeliac Awareness Month and working as a Nutritionist I have come across many people who aren’t very sure what coeliac disease is. I’ve even heard it called ‘celeriac disease’ at one time (the person and I had a good giggle about it when I corrected them!).

If you have coeliac disease, eating gluten triggers an immune response in your small intestine. Over time, this reaction damages your small intestine’s lining and prevents it from absorbing some nutrients (malabsorption).

The intestinal damage often causes diarrhoea, fatigue, weight loss, bloating and anaemia, and can lead to serious complications. (1)

Gluten is a dietary protein found in 3 types of cereal:

  • Wheat
  • Barley
  • Rye

Gluten is found in any food that contains those cereals, including:

  • Pasta
  • Cakes
  • Breakfast cereals
  • Most types of bread
  • Certain types of sauces
  • Some ready meals

In addition, most beers are made from barley. (2)

As diet-related health (including intolerances and allergies) are becoming more acknowledged in the modern age, so is our awareness and education surrounding how to best support residents who come into our Nellsar Care Homes with special dietary requirements.

We have a number of residents in our Homes who are coeliac and our teams work incredibly well at monitoring and building personalised menus around their needs.

Being gluten-free isn’t as difficult now as it was years ago. You are able to go to any supermarket and buy a wide variety of gluten free (GF) products, which is fantastic for the GF consumer!

Our Nellsar catering teams are able to access support at any time and provide for special diets.

If you would like to find more tips on how to make the switch to a gluten free diet, here is a link to an article on the 12 essentials for a gluten free pantry: www.jamieoliver.com/features/gluten-free-pantry-essentials

Referenced links to information:

1)  www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/celiac-disease/symptoms-causes
2)  www.nhs.uk/conditions/coeliac-disease

 

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Nellsar has 13 Care Homes throughout Kent, Surrey and Essex

Care Home in Bromley

Bromley Park Care Home
BROMLEY

Meyer House Care Home in Maidstone

Meyer House Care Home
DARTFORD

Sonya Lodge Care Home in Dartford

Sonya Lodge Residential
Care Home DARTFORD

The Old Downs Care Home in Dartford

The Old Downs Residential
Care Home DARTFORD

St Winifreds Care Home in Deal, Kent

St Winifreds Care Home
DEAL

Loose Valley Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lukestone Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lulworth House Care Home in Maidstone

Lulworth House Residential
Care Home MAIDSTONE

Hengist Field Care Home
SITTINGBOURNE

Woodstock Residential
Care Home SITTINGBOURNE

Abbotsleigh Care Home Staplehurst Kent

Abbotsleigh Care Home
STAPLEHURST

Princess Christian Care Home Surrey

Princess Christian Care Home
SURREY

Silverpoint Court Residential
Care Home ESSEX

Bromley Park Care Home
BROMLEY

Meyer House Care Home
DARTFORD

Sonya Lodge Residential
Care Home DARTFORD

The Old Downs Care Home in Dartford

The Old Downs Residential
Care Home DARTFORD

St Winifreds Care Home
DEAL

Loose Valley Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lukestone Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lulworth House Residential
Care Home MAIDSTONE

Hengist Field Care Home
SITTINGBOURNE

Woodstock Residential
Care Home SITTINGBOURNE

Abbotsleigh Care Home Staplehurst Kent

Abbotsleigh Care Home
STAPLEHURST

Bromley Park Care Home
BROMLEY

Care Home in Bromley

Meyer House Care Home
DARTFORD

Sonya Lodge Residential Care Home
DARTFORD

The Old Downs Residential Care Home
DARTFORD

St Winifreds Care Home
DEAL

St Winifreds Care Home in Deal Kent

Loose Valley Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lukestone Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lulworth House Residential Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lulworth House Care Home in Maidstone

Hengist Field Care Home
SITTINGBOURNE

Woodstock Residential Care Home
SITTINGBOURNE

Abbotsleigh Care Home
STAPLEHURST

Princess Christian Care Home
WOKING

Silverpoint Court Residential Care Home
CANVEY ISLAND