Do people with gluten intolerance need wheat-free and gluten-free skin care? The science on this issue is unclear; no one seems to know if the gluten allergens can be absorbed dermally. But for anyone with gluten intolerance or who has experienced allergic reactions to wheat/gluten, it is probably safer and healthier to be prudent in their choice of skin care. For those wishing to play it safe, it is handy to know that Grateful Body's complete skin and body care line is formulated without the use of any wheat or gluten containing ingredients.

Both celiacs and those with minor gluten intolerances have used our products with great success. One especially common symptom of gluten intolerance is dry skin. In fact, we are beginning to understand that chronically dry skin can be an early indicator of gluten-intolerance. If you have skin that tends to be dehydrated and feels parched or rough, Grateful Body has several recommendations for you. First, we suggest our Moisturizer for Dry Skin, Moisture Monsoon Restorative and Midnight Oil. If you wish to experiment with these products, use this code: GLUTEN15. This will give you 15% off these three products and you can use this code as often as you wish. If you know others who might be suffering from the many symptoms of Celiac disease and gluten-intolerance and would benefit from using gluten-free products, you are welcome to share this code with them. Read more about these products at www.gratefulbody.com

We also have a few other suggestions for celiacs and those with minor gluten intolerances.* To help ease gastrointestinal problems try drinking fennel and ginger tea. You can add a drop or two of St John's Wort tincture in the tea to help with the mood changes that accompany celiac disease. To help prevent or relieve the painful oral symptoms of a gluten reaction, try gargling with a concoction of warm fenugreek tea with a small amount of aloe vera juice and apple cider vinegar added. Also, you might try supplementing your morning breakfast with a small (1 oz.) glass of unsweetened bilberry juice.

For those of you learning to adopt to a gluten-free lifestyle here are a few helpful resources: http://glutenfreemommy.com/ and http://www.livingwithout.com/

Quite often, celiacs write us to ask if we can recommend a cosmetic/make-up line that is gluten-free and meets Grateful Body’s strict ingredient standards. We honestly haven't found such a product line. But if you have any suggestions about a cosmetic line or other ideas that have helped you please write to us at skincare@gratefulbody.com and tell us about it!

*These tips are not meant to be taken as medical advice. Please consult your doctor before adding supplements to your regimen or making any major dietary changes.

Alison