I've always been a big believer in vitamins. I take them. My kids take them (despite our pediatrician telling me years ago that I was wasting my money). And when our son was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, it added several more reasons to continue investing in our kids' heath with vitamins.
After all, people with Celiac, whose digestive systems have been compromised (in some cases, for many years), need to heal their gut. And it doesn't hurt to have a bit of extra support in that department, beyond the gluten-free diet. Couple that with the fact that gluten-free breads and cereals are not fortified with added vitamins and minerals the way "regular" breads and cereals are, and you see how people on gluten-free diets can greatly benefit from supplementing.
Perhaps you're already taking what you believe is a good multivitamin. Perhaps you've added targeted supplements for bone health, cardiovascular support, or digestive support. Hopefully you've confirmed with the manufacturers that all your supplements are gluten-free. And chances are, you're spending a good bit of money on all those pills.
Have you ever wished someone would "put it all together" and formulate a supplement geared to Celiacs and others following gluten-free diets...one that includes everything you need in areas you may be deficient...and one that promotes optimal health and vitality?
Recently, that wish came true for many with the launch of a product aptly named CeliAct. I had the good fortune of being introduced to the two men at Eagle Therapeutics who launched this revolutionary formula, and I want to share with you what makes CeliAct so special -- and so targeted to Celiacs.
A Multivitamin for Added Assurance -- Because of the imperfection of most people's gluten-free diets -- as well as the time it can potentially take for the intestine to full heal -- basic nutrients are needed on a daily basis. In a study done at the University of Naples, a group of 400 men and women with Celiac who had been following a gluten-free diet for at least two years were studied. Around 50% showed intestinal damage, and nearly 25% showed a "severely damaged" intestine, meaning nutrient absorption was severely compromised. Another study showed that more than half of Celiac patients who'd been following a GF diet for over 10 years STILL showed a higher total plasma homocysteine level than the general population, indicating B vitamin deficiencies. CeliAct includes a full range of vitamins and minerals, including key B vitamins to counteract anemia, the leading co-morbidity among Celiacs.
Bone Density Support -- Built into the multivitamin are calcium, magnesium, and Vitamin D. These nutrients are critical, as one study published in Nutrition in Clinical Practice showed that up to 40% of newly diagnosed Celiacs have osteopenia and 26% have osteoporosis. While thsese are newly diagnosed patients, bone density is something that takes a lot of time to improve. Exacerbating this is the fact that many Celiacs are lactose intolerant, making recovery time even longer.
Intestinal Healing Nutrients -- With a study by the Mayo Clinic showing that only 37% of subjects showed mucosal recovery after two years on a gluten-free diet (and only 66% showed recovery after five years), it's wise to supplement with nutrients like zinc, glutamine, and citrus bioflavonoids to promote cellular repair and the healing of the intestinal lining.
Probiotic Defense -- Celiac patients are vulnerable to dysbiosis, an overabundance of harmful bacterial strains in the gut. Supplementing good bacteria into your diet is one of the most important things you can do to increase intestinal strength, assist in digestion, and treat leaky gut syndrome. Specific research shows one of the three probiotics in CeliAct, called Bifidobacterium Lactis, can especially help people with Celiac. What else makes CeliAct's probiotics so special? Well, they've been shown to be extremely resilient at room temperature, meaning that even without refrigeration they're loaded with viable organisms (unlike many probiotics on the market that don't have any viable organisms in them once the customer takes them!).
Enzymes to Promote Proper Digestion -- When your food isn't properly broken down, you don't get the essential nutrients you need. CeliAct vegetarian digestive enzyme blend contains a range of different digestive enzymes to give Celics the extra boost they need in digesting carbs, fats, and proteins.
Best of all, these five components are rolled into ONE formula...you only need to take 3 tablets, twice per day. Say goodbye to multiple bottles and handfuls of vitamins! There's just one more thing the folks at CeliAct recommend...and which couldn't be put into this main formula: Fish Oil.
Interestingly, fat is the #1 nutritional deficiency for people with Celiac. But I'm not talking about any old fat...but rather the "good" fats found in fatty fish. These keep intestinal inflammation in check, which is essential for healing and optimal nutrient absorption. And a healthy fat intake is important for producing new cells, fighting infection, and making healthy skin and nails as well. CeliAct Fish Oil gives you the extra "healthy" fat you're probably lacking, without the fishy aftertaste. If you know much about fish oil, you probably know that the source of the fish oil is critical, since some fish can be sources of contaminants like mercury. CeliAct's formula contains only oil from small fish sourced from cold, Norwegian waters in order to avoid high mercury levels.
Of course, it goes without saying that these supplements are completely gluten-free. In fact, the products are batch-tested using the hightest sensitivity possible (less than 3 ppm). And right now, CeliAct is offering friends of GlutenFreeTravelSite and Gluten Free Travel Blog a FREE bottle of Fish Oil with the purchase of CeliAct (a $13.95 savings). Simply choose "CeliAct + Fish Oil" on the order form, for $54.95. Then use offer/promo code ActGFTS, when prompted. The $13.95 will be subtracted from your final cost on the last page of the checkout process, making your total for BOTH formulas only $41.
For those of you with kids with Celiac Disease (like me!), you'll be happy to hear that a CeliAct formula geared to kids is in development. Stay tuned...
I tried this offer and it did not give me the discount...is it over?
Posted by: Jeanne | September 01, 2011 at 10:01 AM
You have really done great job. Thank for posting the blog.
Posted by: Mineral Vanadium | October 16, 2011 at 10:19 PM