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Navigating the Emotional & Psychological Phases Of Allergies with Simone Albert
Navigating The Emotional And Psychological Phases Of Allergies
Join us for a Q&A session with Simone Albert talking about her new book ‘Beyond the Allergy Diagnosis – A Guide to Understanding and Navigating the Emotional and Psychological Phases of Allergies’ and all things relating to what can sometimes be a heavy burden when first diagnosed with a chronic condition and how over time and moving through grief and acceptance to a thriving quality of life not just surviving.

Simone Albert
Simone is a wellbeing expert, counsellor, speaker and nurse whose passion is to support families. She specialises in helping and guiding parents, children, tweens and adolescents living with a chronic condition, in particular allergies, live a more relaxed, safe, resilient, confident and fulfilled life with thriving mental health.
Simone combines over eight years of university studies with close to thirty years of professional work in hospitals, clinics, private practice, including over fourteen years of personal experience as a family living with the chronic condition of allergies.
A conversation about Coeliac Disease with Olivia from Yum Gluten Free
A conversation about Coeliac Disease with Olivia from Yum Gluten Free
Have you heard of the well renowned online platform, Yum Gluten Free? Managing director & publisher Olivia Jackson Battye shares with us how her journey with Coeliac Disease begun, how she transitioned her household into a Gluten Free safe space, how to support someone dealing with Coeliac Disease and why she started Yum Gluten Free.

Olivia Jackson Battye
Managing director & publisher of Yum GF
After nine years of unexplained symptoms, Olivia was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease in 2010. She has always been a lover of food, health and wellness and has channeled this diagnosis into a passion for spreading awareness about the harmful effects of gluten on those with Coeliac Disease. With her background in public health and nutrition, she is passionate about increasing awareness for Coeliac Disease, sharing practical tips and tricks for managing strict dietary restrictions and connecting gluten free products to consumers everywhere!
Why it is important to be tested and diagnosed with coeliac disease – Georgia Hexter
Why it is important to be tested and diagnosed with coeliac disease.
Georgia Hexter @oftengood
Georgia Hexter @oftengood

You’re experiencing a lot of symptoms that sound (and feel!) like coeliac disease, and you usually feel your best when you’re avoiding gluten-containing foods, so it must be celiac disease, right?
It is common that people confuse symptoms in response to fructan malabsorption for coeliac disease, and vice versa! Fructans are a carbohydrate structure made up of chains of fructose, that are poorly digested and absorbed by some people, particularly those with IBS. Fructans are found in rye, barley, oats and wheat, and which are also gluten-containing foods.
Symptoms of fructan malabsorption include increased flatulence, bloating, and diarrhea, similar symptoms to that of coeliac disease. It is common for people to cut out gluten, and begin to feel better as the fructan load of their diet has reduced, and therefore come to the conclusion that is must be coeliac disease..
Part of the low FODMAP diet often includes choosing gluten free breads, biscuits and pasta, but it is important that your GP has tested for coeliac disease before your commence a low FODMAP diet in order to ensure we aren’t confusing coeliac disease of IBS.
When testing for coeliac disease your gastroenterologist will be looking for the damage caused to your body when you are eating a gluten including diet. If you have stopped eating gluten containing foods your body may begin to heal, resulting in unreliable, and falsely negative results. This might mean you continue to include small amounts of gluten, or not consider cross contamination, and therefore have improvements in symptoms but still be exposed to gluten, and still be damaging your gastrointestinal tract.
If you have begun a gluten free diet before testing it isn’t the end of the world! It just means that a normal, gluten containing diet much be resumed for at least 6 weeks before your tests. This usually includes a gluten challenge, in which a minimum equivalent of four slices of wheat-based breads should be consumed each day. Speaking to a dietitian to receive support and guidance on your gluten challenge can be really helpful!
A clear diagnosis is important! If it is IBS then cross contamination with gluten containing products, and inclusion of small amounts of wheat-containing products is typically ok. Fructans are part of the FODMAP family, and management of fructan malabsorption often involved a low FODMAP diet and structured reintroduction in order to understand what other foods may trigger symptoms, and how much of each of the FODMAP groups, and the overall FODMAP load you can tolerate.
On the other hand, a strict gluten free diet must be adhered to if coeliac disease is the reason behind the symptoms and discomfort. Either way, the help and support of an accredited practicing dietitian can be incredibly helpful!

Georgia Hexter
Georgia is a Melbourne based private practice dietitian, nutritionist and recipe creator, and the face behind @oftengood on Instagram!
She is passionate about making healthy eating fun, accessible and achievable for all people. Georgia follows an ‘all foods fit’ approach to nutrition, and promotes mindfulness, intuitive eating and joyful movement.
Georgia is committed to empowering and inspiring her clients to improve their health and wellbeing through sustainable nutrition and lifestyle changes. She specialises in Eating Disorders, Disordered Eating, and improving food and body relationships, and follows a non-diet approach.
Georgia also assists clients in managing gut issues including Coeliac disease and IBS, and Chronic Disease Management. Georgia is committed to providing evidence based, collaborative, nurturing and client-centred care, and her skills lie in building client confidence and capacity to take charge of their health.
What does FODMAP really mean? – Rebecca Ponsford
What does Fodmap really mean?
What does FODMAP actually mean? Who is the Low FODMAP Diet for and how does it work? Rebecca, Accredited Practicing Dietitian from FODMAP Nutrition and Dietetics has broken down FODMAP and brought it back to basics. In this live Q & A for the Free From and Allergy Community, Rebecca gives an overview of what FODMAPs are and the foods they are found in and the three phases of the diet. You’ll hear answers to common questions and tips for FODMAP success.

REBECCA
Rebecca is an Accredited Practising Dietitian, graduated from Monash University in 2018.
She works predominately in the space of gut health and digestive disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome. She has expertise in the practical implementation of the Low FODMAP Diet and also has a strong interest in the link between mental health and gastrointestinal health.
Rebecca is passionate about supporting people to achieve their health goals and develop healthy relationships with food where they can eat with ease.
Living with Coeliac and being an elite athlete with Brooke Stratton
Living with Coeliac and being an elite athlete - Brooke Stratton
Living with Coeliac and being an elite athlete with Brooke Stratton
Brooke will be sharing an insight into her career thus fur, her diagnosis of coeliac disease touching on some of the struggles she faced prior to diagnosis, the challenges that come with being an elite athlete living and travelling with coeliac disease and how her diagnosis has changed her life for the better.

Brooke Stratton
Brooke is an Olympian, the current Australian record holder in the long jump and a 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medallist.
Brooke was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease in 2013 and has been fortunate enough to be an ambassador for Coeliac Australia for several years.
Different GF Flours- Stacey from Natural Spoonfuls
Different GF Flours
Stacey from Natural Spoonfuls shares her favourite Gluten Free Flour choices. There are many different flour options that do not contain gluten. They do behave slightly different from wheat flour, so a bit of adjusting is required. Stacey gives her tips & tricks on how best to use these flours when cooking. Head to Stacey’s website to make any of the mentioned recipes or say hello on Instagram.

Stacey Hatfield
Stacey from Natural Spoonfuls is an accredited Health Coach & Aspiring Nutritionist, who passionately advocates embracing nature to nourish one’s life. She has a delicious recipe collection with many GF friendly options that can be found on her online blog. Stacey inspires others to live nutritious, balanced and nourishing lives. She also loves a good nature walk in rain, hail or shine, any excuse for her to wear her cosy Kathmandu puffer jacket! Stacey mostly hangs out on Instagram @naturalspoonfuls