There is no cure for celiac disease. But, there may soon be a new therapy to go along with a gluten-free diet.
A Phase II medical research study to test a potential therapy for people with celiac disease is underway and signing up participants at CeliacTrial.com.
Alessio Fasano, MD. Co-founder of Alba Therapeutics
The investigational drug, Larazotide Acetate, was developed by Alba Therapeutics. It passed Phase I trials and is now being studied to determine how effective it is in different doses and whether side effects develop. Alba Therapeutics was co-founded by celiac disease researcher, Dr. Alessio Fasano, director of the Celiac Disease Center at the University of Maryland.1
The therapy is based on Dr. Fasano’s discovery that tight junctions between cells in the intestine can be opened or closed and that gluten relaxes these junctions. It is this process that leads to gluten improperly crossing into the body, thereby eliciting an immune reaction that leads to inflammation and damage characteristic of celiac disease.
“The reality is that the paracellular space is a gate, not a wall or fence. And if material gets through that space – even if it is only 1 to 5% of what normally travels through the cell – it could be associated with disease.”
-Alessio Fasano, MD1
Dr. Fasano discovered the potentially therapeutic utility of down-regulating intestinal permeability of celiac disease.1 In other words, he discovered that
Running out of gluten-free and dairy-free lunch ideas for your kids lunchboxes for school or summer camp? This can be a particular challenge when most traditional options revolve around bread and cheese. Of course you can always use gluten-free bread to make the traditional turkey or peanut butter and jelly, but why not think outside the standard lunch box fare and prepare a fresh salad? Children are often big fans of Caesar salad for the creamy dressing, pleasantly non-bitter romaine lettuce and the crunchy croutons. I love to use Easy Lunchboxes since it’s easy to keep everything separated; the croutons would be a bit mushy if I put them on in the morning!
I usually make this dressing with Parmesan cheese but have had a few people request a dairy-free version. I adapted this recipe, which is a fan favorite, by eliminating the cheese and adding
Who doesn’t dream of a really good old-fashioned chocolate chip cookie? The kind you used to make when you were a kid? This is a very easy and quite tasty recipe from Chef Sunshine Best of Your Safe Kitchen in Chicago, IL. Chef Sunshine presented this recipe at the 2008 Gluten Free Cooking Expo and it was loved by all.
Ingredients for Flour Blend:
3/4 cup white bean flour
3/4 cup tapioca flour
3/4 cup arrowroot flour
Ingredients for Cookies:
2 1/4 cups Flour Blend (above)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup shortening, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
Seashore Celiac Support Group CSA #96 is pleased to announce its 11th annual 100% Gluten Free Picnic in conjunction with Central Jersey Celiac/DH Support Group and Cel-Kids Network CSA#58.
Now bigger and better than ever!!
When: Sunday June 24, 2012 (Rain or Shine), 1 to 5 pm
Gluten-free Chocolate Truffle Cookies Image 2012 (c) Teri Lee Gruss
What makes these gluten-free cookies so good? They are moist and delicious and taste like brownies! But what really sets this recipe apart is the small amount of flour, sugar and butter called for, especially compared to most cookie recipes.
Based on a recipe for “Chocolate Truffle Cookies with Sea Salt” from Ghirardelli Chocolates, our recipe calls for a healthy measure of chopped walnuts and we’ve omitted the additional sea salt called for in Ghirardelli’s original recipe.
After baking be sure to let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for at least 10 minutes before using a spatula to remove them to a wire rack. Place the cooled cookies in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for an extra chewy brownie-like texture and
New Apple Cinnamon Chex Photo credit: General Mills
General Mills has added another flavor of gluten-free Chex to its lineup: Apple Cinnamon. This addition makes six flavors (Honey Nut, Rice, Corn, Chocolate, and Cinnamon) that are gluten free and on supermarket shelves around the country.
Apple Cinnamon Chex Has:
No artificial colors or flavors
Sprinkled with real apple and cinnamon
8 grams of sugar per serving
9 grams of whole grain (at least 48 grams recommended daily)
When the first batch of gluten-free Chex cereals were released I had more luck finding them at Walmart than at the grocery store, but if you just can’t wait to find them locally you can order them at Amazon.com and at GlutenFreely.com online where they are on sale now.
The gluten-free food industry is exploding due to increased diagnosis of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. Celiac disease is estimated to affect 1 in 100 people, while gluten sensitivity is believed to affect up to 10% of the population. The gluten-free market is one of the fastest growing industries, with 20%+ growth per year with US sales increasing from under $1 billion in 2006 to over $2.5 billion in 2011. With the potential market so large, more and more major corporations are getting into the act.
Smart Balance recently acquired Udi’s Healthy Foods, the industry leader in the gluten-free breads and baked goods category, for $125 million. This follows Smart Balance’s 2011 acquisition of Glutino Foods, which was at the top of the gluten-free snack industry when purchased. With this recent buy, Smart Balance is fast becoming
You can either serve this heated as a vegan chocolate fondue (minus the pomegranate) or chilled and made into a velvety mousse. By adding 1 Tbsp nut butter for every 1 Tbsp chocolate mousse, it also makes a great alternative to store bought chocolate/nut butter!
It is wonderful to see individual states supporting celiac disease awareness. This April, Alaska became the latest to pass a resolution recognizing May as Celiac Awareness Month. Governor Sean Parnell and Senator Cathy Giessel are applauded for their efforts to advance celiac disease awareness.
Gov. Parnell & Sen. Giessel with the Celiac Awareness Month Resolution
(Juneau) – A resolution to proclaim May 2012 as Celiac Disease Awareness Month, SCR 16, was signed by the governor, Sean Parnell, today.
Sen. Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, an advanced nurse practitioner, sponsored SCR 16 after being approached by a constituent of hers, Brandy Wendler, also a nurse practitioner, who was diagnosed 4 years ago. Together, they wanted to bring greater public awareness to a disease that is much more common than many realize, and often goes undiagnosed. Mrs. Wendler reported, “Statistics tell us that 1 in 133 people have Celiac Disease, which is three million Americans, yet 97% of them do not know it.” May is also
Responding to popular demand, Harvester Brewing is bringing their Red Ale into year-round production. The Red Ale was originally released as one of the Experiment Ale series of seasonal/rotating beers. The Red Ale will have its own label, joining the Pale Ale and Dark Ale in the year-round line-up.
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