Tag Archives: Celebrities

Tennis Star Novak Djokovic Is Gluten-Free and Even Cooks for Himself

496589-novak-djokovic-us-open-2016-afp[1]Novak Djokovic is a dominating force on the world tennis stage, having won 11 Grand Slam titles, 26 Masters and five world tour titles. Now he is playing in the 2016 US Open and ranked No. 1.

But in 2009, Djokovic thought his career was over, almost before it began. Plagued by fatigue, breathing difficulties and stomach spasms, Djokovic could barely get through a match.

A nutritionist, Dr. Igor Cetojevic, noticed his poor play and tested him for food sensitivities. Gluten, dairy, and tomatoes came up positive and Djokovic changed his diet to avoid those foods. Within two weeks, he started feeling better and more energetic. He grew leaner, stronger and the wins started piling up.  Read More »

Food Stars Go Gluten Free

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With Restaurant Week upon us in Washington DC I can’t help but think about how far the restaurant industry has come in the past few years when it comes to serving gluten-free customers!  Between the increase in demand for gluten-free products from the celiacs, the gluten intolerant and the fad dieters to the efforts of nonprofits like National Foundation For Celiac AwarenessCeliac Disease Foundation and the Gluten Intolerance Group, people living gluten-free can enjoy the delicious foodie culture that has spread across the country!

Which star chefs and popular restaurants have joined the gluten-free bandwagon? A lot! Read More »

Actors, Athletes, News Anchors, and More Follow the Gluten-free Diet

JenniferAnistonWhether people are eating gluten free for medical reasons or non-medical reasons, the plain fact is more and more people are following the examples set by celebrities and athletes who attribute eating gluten free to losing weight and for its ability to increase athletic performance. Whatever the reason, celebrities, athletes, reporters, etc. continue to follow a gluten-free diet, so it is time to update the lists I started back in 2010.

I think it is important to separate out those who are eating gluten free for medical from those who eat gluten free for or non-medical reasons, so there are five lists below: Celebrities with Celiac Disease, Celebrities with non-celiac gluten sensitivity/wheat intolerance, Celebrities who eat gluten free by choice, Athletes with Celiac Disease, and Athletes who eat gluten free by choice. These lists were compiled using multiple sources. Read More »

Dean McDermott Eats Gluten on Food Network Appearance

dean mcdermott celiac disease eats gluten

McDermott chows down on gluten when he has celiac disease and should be avoiding it. Photo Credit: GlutenDude.com

I was enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon with my daughter who was grounded and couldn’t watch her normal shows. We sat down together to watch Food Network to find Dean McDermott on an episode of Guy’s Big Bite. Dean McDermott has celiac disease, so I was shocked to see him sample dishes that contained gluten. Read More »

One Grain More – Les Mis Food Allergy Parody

The Les Misérables food allergy parody that will knock your hypoallergenic socks off!

With the amazingly popular hit musical Les Miserables coming to theaters oh so soon (only 26 days, but who’s counting?!), I thought it would be appropriate to share this funny and amazing “One Grain More” video made by four people who are struggling to cook gluten free.  I loved the line, “This never ending road to gluten free,” boy does that seem true sometimes!

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Lady Gaga Jumps on the Gluten-Free Diet Bandwagon – Perhaps With Good Reason

John Libonati Gluten Free Works

lady gaga gluten free

Is Lady Gaga Going Gluten Free For Her Health??

According to a news release on MSN.com, Stefani Germanotta (a.k.a. Lady Gaga) is the newest celebrity to say she’s going gluten-free. She made the announcement on the latest leg of her ‘Born This Way Ball’ tour.

She is described as doing so in order to “make sure she is in the best shape for the grueling workout.”

Then the article drops a bombshell… “Her aim is to drop 10 lbs in a month.”

This is where celiac disease experts, bloggers and media know-it-alls usually start lobbing grenades.

Why the Big Deal?

Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity are serious medical conditions that require a gluten-free diet. Many people diagnosed with one or both disorders chafe at the fact that they cannot eat what they want. While a diagnosis is important, medical professionals and the media emphatically make the groundless claim that the gluten-free diet can be bad for your health unless you are medically diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

Lady Gaga is reported to have neither celiac disease nor gluten sensitivity in the MSN article. The article emphasizes her aim to use the diet to get Read More »

Miley Cyrus is Gluten-free, Casein-Free and The Latest Victim of Media Viciousness

John Libonati Gluten Free Works

Miley leaving her gym after a workout.

Miley Cyrus, the ultra popular nineteen year old singer and actress is the latest celebrity to fall victim to the media for being too healthy and too in-shape. And it’s all because she is gluten-free and casein-free.  Actually, the real reason is because many media “reporters” are vicious and misinformed. Their lack of concern for the truth and focus on sensationalism damages people like Cyrus, the gluten-free community and our society as a whole.

Here’s what went down…

Photos were taken of Miley leaving a pilates studio and looking SUPER fit and healthy. The media began by raving about Miley’s figure – how in-shape, fit and toned she looks. It was all “Yay Miley! We love Miley!” This was a win-win for everyone. Miley is famous, so the story sold. People got to see someone they recognize who was succeeding and looking Read More »

Celebrities Who Eat Gluten-free…the Numbers are Growing!

Gluten Free Works Jennifer Harris

Billy Bob Thornton Gluten FreeIn light of the recent article by Huffington Post entitled “Famous and Gluten Free?” it seems like the perfect time to update my article on celebrities who have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease to include those who are also gluten sensitive, wheat intolerant, or those who choose to eat gluten-free foods.

The term gluten free is being used in the media quite often.  Sometimes it is use appropriately and other times the gluten-free diet is touted as a ‘fad diet’, ‘weight-loss diet’, ‘dangerous diet’, etc. Jeopardy recently used gluten free foods as a category.

It is also apparent that TV shows want to get in on the action and openly ‘mock’ the disease and perpetuate the ‘fad diet’ aspect.  Gossip Girl, 2 Broke Girls, and Man Up are the recent offenders and it seems Read More »

Gluten Free Spells Success for Big Time Athletes

Finally it seems that athletes have become savvy to the benefits of a gluten free diet.  As the general population has started to become more aware of the prevalence of gluten sensitivities and Celiac Disease, there has been a noted increase in the number of athletes turning to the gluten free lifestyle in an attempt to maximize their training and find greater success in their respective sports.

Among the most notable athletes making the gluten free switch are Raul Ibanez of the Philadelphia Phillies, Cedric Benson of the Cincinnati Bengals, and tennis player Novak Djokovic, the 2011 winner of Wimbledon who went on an unprecedented 43-match win streak.  Most significant about their decision to go gluten free is the marked improvement in all three athletes after the switch. Read More »

Actress Dana Delany Now Gluten-free: Diagnosed with Gluten Intolerance

Dana Delany, the Emmy Award winning actress best known for her roles in China Beach, Desperate Housewives and the new ABC series Body of Proof, revealed she was diagnosed with gluten intolerance in this month’s edition of Prevention Magazine

“I don’t like meat, so I don’t eat it. I just prefer vegetables, tofu, and fish. And recently I was told by my endocrinologist that I am gluten intolerant. I’m not supposed to eat bread or pasta, which is really hard when you don’t eat meat. But I’m trying gluten-free pasta, bread. It makes you less bloated and sluggish when you cut it out of your diet.” Read More »