Navigating Italy with Coeliac Disease: A Gluten Free Travel Guide with Catalin Varela

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A Gluten Free Podcast
Episode 246

My guest on today’s episode is the creator of The Celiac In Italy and Celiacs In Europe, Catalin Varela. We’ll talk about her coeliac disease diagnosis, the differences between the US and her current home of Florence in Italy and the resources she’s created to help the gluten free community travel throughout Italy and Europe.

What we’ll cover:
* Catalin’s coeliac disease diagnosis and her symptoms pre-diagnosis
* Neurological symptoms of coeliac disease
* Catalin’s misdiagnosis of cancer
* Catalin’s family friend prompting to test for coeliac disease
* Cutting out more things other than gluten from the diet to help improve Catalin’s health
* Catalin’s training in integrative nutrition
* How Catalin’s 6 month travels around the world changed her perspective and approach to coeliac disease and the gluten free diet
* Catalin’s degree in medical anthropology and writing her thesis on how people living with coeliac disease approach their disease and the gluten free diet differently depending on where they live in the world
* What Catalin found from her thesis
* Why Florence is a great place for people living with coeliac disease
* Biggest differences in approaches to coeliac disease and the gluten free diet within the US compared to Italy
* Catalin’s experience of eating out and making her own food in Florence
* How Italy compares to neighbouring countries in Europe in terms of gluten free options and coeliac disease awareness
* Navigating buying gluten free food in supermarkets in Italy
* The use of gluten free wheat starch in Italy in gluten free products
* The misconception of being able to eat gluten when you have coeliac disease in Italy and Europe
* Wheat being imported into Italy from Canada
* Gluten free food subsidy for people living with coeliac disease in Italy
* The nuances of the gluten free subsidy for italian residents with coeliac disease
* The cost of gluten free food in Italy
* Catalin’s thoughts on the population screening for the study of coeliac disease and Type 1 diabetes
* Catalin’s work with the Italian Celiac Association (AIC)
* Celiacs and Europe and the consulting services offered
* Clients sharing their gluten free travel stories after their consultations
* Tips for travelling to Italy with coeliac disease

Links
Use our code GFFAM for 10% off booking a consultation with Celiacs In Europe
Follow Celiac In Italy on Instagram 
https://celiacinitaly.com/
https://celiacsineurope.com/
Follow Celiacs In Europe on Instagram
https://www.aglutenfreefamily.com.au/blog/how-to-travel-gluten-free-in-europe-and-the-one-resource-that-makes-it-easier

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📸 Photo credit: WEHI. 1G Royal Pde Parkville 3052 VIC Australia. https://www.wehi.edu.au/

This podcast reflects personal experiences and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for individual guidance. 

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