Another International Coeliac Day but in different circumstances all around us. This has not stopped us from reminding ourselves on our mission to keep raising awareness on coeliac disease. After all that is what AOECS, CYE and many other organisations around the world work hard for 💪

We’re very excited to have joined together to pass on a simple message: Stay Safe, Stay United.

---

Find out more about this year’s message in AOECS’ Press Release:

Calling everyone to join together to embrace coeliac disease and increase awareness: International Coeliac Day Saturday 16 May 2020

1 to 2 in every 100 people across Europe are estimated to have coeliac disease, an autoimmune disease caused by a reaction to gluten which is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye.

It can therefore be assumed, that more than 7 million people are affected by coeliac disease across Europe, with only approximately 25% of those currently medically diagnosed.

Coeliac disease can be present with a wide range of mild to very severe symptoms, including bloating, diarrhoea, nausea, wind, constipation, tiredness, mouth ulcers, sudden or unexpected weight loss (but not in all cases), and anaemia, with the only treatment being a strict daily gluten-free diet for life. If left untreated, coeliac disease can lead to a number of serious complications later in life, including anaemia, osteoporosis, unexplained infertility, neurological conditions such as gluten ataxia and neuropathy and, although rare, there is an increased risk of small bowel cancer and intestinal lymphoma.

Coeliac disease can be diagnosed in both men and women, from weaning, to later in life in all countries. What unites AOECS members is the same treatment – a safe gluten free diet and lifestyle that coeliac patients must adhere to.

No matter where they live, the challenges remain the same:

• How to get a correct diagnosis as early as possible?
• How to manage the ongoing COVID-19 crisis as a chronically ill person, having coeliac disease?
• How to get safe gluten free food from shops or when eating outside home?
• How to provide children and elderly people safe gluten free and nutritional valued food in the education and social care institutions?
• How to support coeliac patients and their families better psychologically and financially?
• How to raise the awareness of the coeliac disease and what it means living with it?

International Coeliac Day 2020, takes place today, Saturday 16 May with a collective moment shared across online communities, putting people and support at the forefront of social media activity by using the hashtags #coeliacunited or #celiacunited.

“The global coeliac community is more important than ever. A worldwide group of people living with a common cause. Together we can raise awareness, together we become stronger!

We call for all those with coeliac disease, to join their national coeliac societies and support their activity, because they are the voice, which can be heard by authorities, food producers, retailers, caterers and healthcare professionals. By working with them, we will see real change that benefits our communities.” says Tunde Koltai, Chairperson of AOECS.

Association of European Coeliac Societies founded in 1988 is an independent, non-profit umbrella organization of national coeliac societies. It currently has 36 members from Europe, and associate members from Israel, the US and Jordan, representing patients with coeliac disease and related conditions. The membership of a national coeliac society has a direct impact on coeliac patients’ wellbeing including the provision of advice and information, events, access to safe food, research all helping to increase the awareness of the coeliac disease among the general public and healthcare professionals.

The world is currently experiencing the pandemic of coronavirus (Covid-19). Citizens from all countries are under quarantine, which is consequently associated with the interruption of their routine. In situations such as this, boredom can occur, which is associated with a greater energy intake, as well as the consumption of higher quantities of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.

Likewise, continuously hearing or reading about the virus can be stressful. Stress drives people towards overeating, mostly not so healthy food such as sugary “comfort foods”. You may have heard how people are changing their buying habits with time during the lockdown: they started with toilet paper but nowadays they go more for chocolate, chips, beer or other snacks.

During these times of isolation, it is very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle! No foods or dietary supplements can prevent you from being infected by the coronavirus but to have a strong immune system, it is important to maintain a healthy diet. Here are some tips to achieve it:

Adequate intake of important nutrients

To guarantee you are having adequate intake of important nutrients, have a varied gluten-free diet, varying foods within each and across all food groups. As the food-based dietary guidelines may vary from country to country, you may find your country information here: Food-based dietary guidelines.

Size of portions

Whilst being at home, our daily physical activity can be affected. That is why we must control the size of the portions we consume and eat consciously.

Fresh fruits and vegetables

Fresh fruits and vegetables provide vitamins and minerals as well as fiber. Also, these foods are naturally gluten-free so there is no excuse to eat them!

We know these times lead you to buy frozen or canned fruits and vegetables, which also contain vitamins and minerals. However sometimes other ingredients such as sugar, salt, or preservatives are added to these products. Make sure to read the labels so you can choose the options that are best for you and your family in order to limit intake of these ingredients.

Gluten-free grains, nuts and healthy fats

Eat plenty of whole gluten-free grains, legumes, nuts, and healthy fats such as in olive, sesame, peanut, or other oils rich in unsaturated fatty acids.

Limit the consumption of fats, sugar, and salt as, during present times of stress, people tend to over consume this kind of very palatable foods.

Plan your shopping list

Organize your shopping list and include your whims on it when you go to the supermarket, it is better to know what you want than to buy without planning beforehand.

Good food hygiene

Practice good food hygiene. There is no evidence that the disease can be spread through contact with the food purchased. However, it is always good to remember how you can guarantee food safety: separate raw and cooked foods, cook thoroughly and keep food at safe temperatures, use safe water to wash your hands and foods.

If you want to consult more information regarding this topic, check this: Five Keys to Safer Food Manual

Plain water over sweetened beverages

Drink plain water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages, making sure to stay well hydrated, as the recommended is 6-8 glasses a day for most adults.

Limit your alcohol intake

Another way many people try to handle stress is through having an alcoholic drink so limit its consumption. These drinks have little nutritional value, are oftentimes high in calories, and excess consumption is linked to numerous health problems. If you drink alcohol, do it in moderation.

Organize your pantry

Use these days at home to organize your home pantry: check what you have there and the expiry date / preferred consumption to eat those before.

Buy in a responsible way

Remember to buy food in a responsible way. No need to buy excess amounts. The supplies chain works normally so it won’t be a problem to find gluten free food.

We’re living through a terrifying, uncertain time right now, and it’s easy to get carried up in the cycle of negative thoughts. It is important to take care out there, we’re all in this together!

Information taken from:

• Nature.com: Nutritional recommendations for COVID-19 quarantine
• FAO: Maintaining a healthy diet during the COVID-19 pandemic

Information in this article has been provided by AOECS member societies and their Scientific Advisory Lists.

---

The world is facing a new illness – Coronavirus (COVID-19) – that mostly affects the lungs and airways. As this is a new disease, there is no research, so far, linking coeliac disease and this new virus. Nevertheless, we know that there’s a lot of concern about its relation and many fake news around this topic. As members of Coeliac Youth of Europe (CYE), we wanted to provide you with trustworthy information.

Firstly, let’s be positive! According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the majority recover from the virus without the need for special treatment. The most common symptoms are fever, tiredness, dry cough, aches, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea.

However, severe manifestations can take place, and this usually occurs in the elderly and in individuals who have diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, advanced diabetes and chronic respiratory disease. Likewise, people with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention because, apart from developing more symptoms, they can spread the virus in their social circles.

In this regard, thus far, it hasn’t been stated that having coeliac disease increases the risk of infection or the severity of the disease.

Though, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if coeliacs are taking corticosteroids and other immunosuppressant medications, they are at increased risk for COVID-19. “While not typically used for coeliac disease, these medications are often used to treat other autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, which those with coeliac disease are at higher risk of also having.”

If coeliac disease is carefully controlled and there’s strict compliance with the gluten-free diet, the coeliacs’ immune system is in a similar state to the rest of the population and, consequently, the vulnerability to COVID-19 should not be distinct from that of the general population.

This way, how should you prepare for COVID-19? We have some recommendations for you:

• We know it can be hard to find gluten-free products in the supermarket during these times. Try to ask the store manager about what time they receive the gluten-free deliveries and arrange that; if you live in a small town and need to go a bit far away to buy gluten free food, bring some medical information with you to explain to the authorities if needed.
• Do not panic and buy more than what you need as other celiacs may need to buy gluten free food too. The supply food chain is still working as always to provide supermarkets and groceries.
• Remember you won’t have any problem finding gluten free food by nature, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, milk, eggs, and so on.
• Avoid being exposed to COVID-19 so keep your distance between yourself and other people, particularly if the virus is spreading in your community; follow the recommendations made for each government, try to go out as less as possible (once a week to buy food or go to the pharmacy). Stay home, stay safe.
• Frequent hand washing! This is very important particularly before eating and after sneezing, coughing, blowing your nose and going outside: if soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content.
• Get a small stock of your prescription medications and have a small supply of gluten-free cold and flu type medications.

Stay safe, this will pass, and stay positive 💪✌