Ep 242 Celiac with a Man Brain

Let’s start the blog with the show notes for this Episode –

On this episode I’m speaking with a co-host from my other podcast, Gluten Free Weigh In. Aaron has been diagnosed for about one year and I wanted to speak to him about being a man with celiac disease. Overwhelmingly, most celiacs I’ve known are women. We talk about why more men aren’t seeking diagnosis, as well as how most of the resources available are directed towards women. Aaron is in a unique position to discuss this subject matter with me, not only because he’s a man, but he is also a behaviourist, with a Master’s degree in Behaviour Education. Aaron is very animated and honest and will almost certainly challenge some of your perceptions of living with celiac disease. 

Sue’s Websites and Social Media

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com

Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com

Celiac Kid Stuff – https://www.celiackidstuff.com

Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com

Instagram – @suesgfbaking

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL

Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com

Other Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com

My Thoughts

I always felt I could empathize with newly diagnosed celiacs because I’d been there, I’d struggled with the diet, had to feed my celiac daughter and keep her safe, along with learning all the ins and outs of social situations. I had no idea how different the male celiac experience would be. 

Yes, the diet is the same regardless of gender or age, but as someone who often counselled the newly diagnosed, the diet is only the beginning. Social situations, family situations, workplace relationships and the, all important empowerment that keeps us safe, I realize now, present themselves very differently for men and women.

We all have gender biases whether we admit it or not. I think it’s better to admit your bias, that way you can start to see past your ingrained thoughts and sometimes underlying prejudices to appreciate gender differences. This clearly hit home for me when Aaron talked about recipes. As a baker, I have my favourite recipes at hand, I have my Mom’s stack of recipes, and even some from each of my Grandmothers (in their own handwriting). These recipes are part of what makes me, me. I can get over that a man likely doesn’t come with a family legacy of recipes, but the concept of a man not being familiar with reading or following a recipe is very foreign. I may be a bit of a food nerd, but when I get a new cookbook, I read it like a novel. I don’t expect others to do the same, but idea of a recipe and all its connotations is something I interact with everyday.

Some of the moments that made me stop and think in this episode were: are there any male dieticians (there must be); men don’t send food back in a restaurant, or even make a fuss very often; men are reluctant to go to a doctor thinking they should be able to “suck it up” and either get over it, or learn to deal with it; and even once well established on the gluten free diet, will likely not share that information with other casual acquaintances, like people at work.

I’m still trying to come to terms with these and other revelations. In our day and age of being gender accepting, I can see it’s also very important to have gender recognition when living with, or helping someone adjust to a diagnosis of celiac disease and coping with the gluten free diet.