Holisticwellnesswithin

Many people with celiac disease focus on avoiding gluten in food, but what we put on our lips matters too.

Lip products such as lipsticks, balms, and glosses are easily ingested throughout the day. Small amounts are transferred when we eat, drink, lick our lips, or even when the product naturally wears off.

For someone with celiac disease, even trace exposure to gluten can trigger an immune response that damages the small intestine.

Some cosmetic products may contain gluten-derived ingredients such as wheat germ oil, hydrolyzed wheat protein, barley extract, or other wheat derivatives. While the skin itself does not absorb gluten into the bloodstream, products applied to the lips can be accidentally swallowed.

Because of this, many celiac organizations recommend choosing gluten-free labeled lip products to reduce the risk of unintentional exposure.

For individuals with celiac disease, maintaining strict gluten avoidance is essential not only for symptom management, but also for protecting long-term intestinal health and preventing complications such as nutrient deficiencies, bone loss, and increased risk of autoimmune conditions.

Small details like lip products can make a meaningful difference.

Your gastrointestinal (GI) tract responds to what you feed your microbes.

When you nourish your gut microbiome with the foods it thrives on, you help create a healthy gut environment and a more supportive immune system.

In a randomized controlled trial published in Cell (Wastyk et al., 2021), participants who increased fermented food intake over 10 weeks experienced a significant increase in gut microbiome diversity. Around 19 inflammatory markers decreased, including IL-6 and multiple immune signaling pathways involved in chronic inflammation.

The high-fiber group (that did not consume fermented foods) in the same study did not show the same increase in microbiome diversity during that timeframe.

Why does this matter for gut health and immune health?

Your gut microbiome directly regulates immune function. Research shows gut bacteria influence T-cell development, cytokine production, systemic inflammation, and overall immune balance. Lower microbial diversity, which is often associated with an American-style diet high in ultra-processed foods, is linked with autoimmune disease, metabolic dysfunction, and chronic inflammatory conditions. Greater microbiome diversity is associated with stronger immune regulation and resilience to chronic disease.

In the study, participants gradually increased to about 6 servings of fermented foods per day (½ cup yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, cottage cheese, or kombucha counted as one serving). Intake was increased slowly over 4 weeks and maintained for 6 more.

For most people, 1–3 servings per day is a realistic starting point. This typically means incorporating 1 & 1/2 cups of fermented foods daily.

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.

References
Wastyk HC et al. Cell. 2021;184(16):4137–4153.e14. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2021.06.019
Belkaid Y & Hand TW. Cell. 2014;157(1):121–141. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2014.03.011
Zmora N et al. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019;16:35–56. doi:10.1038/s41575-019-0193-8
Lloyd-Price J et al. Genome Med. 2016;8:51. doi:10.1186/s13073-016-0307-y

Things about your menstrual cycle you probably were not taught in high school:

1. While you’re bleeding, your body is already starting over.
Estrogen and progesterone drop, which triggers your bleed.
At the exact same time, your brain sends out FSH to start maturing new follicles in your ovaries.

Yes. You are building the next egg while on your period.

2. Your cycle is actually two cycles happening together
The uterine cycle (what your uterus is doing)
The ovarian cycle (what your ovaries are doing)

3. Around mid-cycle, estrogen rises and thickens your uterine lining. Then it peaks. That peak triggers a surge in LH, which tells your o***y to release an egg.

4. Ovulation is not a week.
It’s a 12 to 24 hour event.

5. After ovulation, progesterone takes over.
It stabilizes the uterine lining and prepares your body for pregnancy.
If pregnancy doesn’t happen, progesterone drops… and your next period begins.

6. Your mood shifts, cravings, bloating and energy all shift because of decreased or a sudden drop in progesterone

7. While you’re on your period, your ovaries are already getting ready for ovulation.
FSH rises, multiple follicles start developing, and one becomes dominant, producing estrogen as it matures.