Health

Name: Cassie*
Age: 16

Q: How long have you been gluten free?
 A: Almost one year, and my stomach-aches are very rare now!

Q: Why are you on a gluten free diet?
 A: I was diagnosed with celiac last October using the blood test – I didn’t Read More »

Breakfast is one of the easiest meals to make at home, but it also the one this Examiner used to enjoy ordering out.  It seems now that breakfast is the one meal with limited gluten-free choices, so we tend to eat this meal at home.  Who can afford to spend more than $10 for eggs, bacon and potatoes when they can be prepared at home for a fraction of the cost. 

Brunch menus tend to vary, but when we go out to brunch we are looking for more than just egg dishes, meat, potatoes and fruit.  A traditional brunch menu should offer a gluten-free version of what you would normally expect: pancakes, toast, French toast, eggs Benedict, Read More »

Going gluten free isn’t the easiest task in the world but with some research and a variety of stores to go to, it can be an exciting adventure.

Stock it so its ready to go when you are! Photo: Decoratorchoice.net

Delicious food doesn’t always have to contain gluten—I swear! First, it is important to decide what is most important to you. If baked goods are your thing then you need to stock your pantry with all the essentials to make what you want. Here is a great gluten free pantry list I was given by a Certified Nutritionist:

Gluten Free Must Haves

Pantry:

Broths/stocks
Beans and lentils Read More »

Brown rice syrup is the go-to for many gluten-free bakers.  Gluten-free recipes everywhere call for the stuff and indeed, it lends a perfectly sweet flavor to cakes, cookies, muffins, and scones.  But the syrup is controversial in the world of gluten intolerance and Celiac Disease because in some cases, it contains gluten.

Some, though not all, brown rice syrup is actually fermented in a process that employs barley.   Read More »

Larabars are simple, quick bars that are great to grab for any on-the-go lifestyle.  Larabars are made from unsweetened fruit, nuts and spices.  It doesn’t get any simpler than that.  They are gluten-free, vegan, kosher and non-gmo. 

This spring Larabar introduced 4 new flavors to their line: Carrot Cake, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough & Chocolate Chip Brownie.  The ingredients in each are as follows: Read More »

Our well-being is uniquely tied to the condition of our colon, which is commonly unhealthy at diagnosis of celiac disease. To keep our colon healthy, we need to understand what happens there on a microscopic level.  Hundreds of varieties of intestinal microbe populations called “flora” live there, numbering in the billions.  To put these numbers into focus, dead bacteria make up about a third of each bowel movement.  Our resident microbes, whether beneficial or harmful, play a decisive role in nourishing or damaging the cells that form the intestinal lining.  Probiotic and prebiotic foods and supplements restore and feed our friendly microbes. Read More »

Celiac Sprue Association Logo

Recently, I had lunch at PF Changs in Irvine.  Unfortunately, my lunch did not go as planned as I ended up having an allergic reaction after dining there.  This was quite unfortunate, considering about a year ago I gave PF Changs a glowing review for their committment to catering to food allergies and developing a gluten-free menu that would be free of any cross contamination. 

It’s inevitable that every now and then when dining out you will run into something that may cause a reaction, so the key is to take as many preventative measures as possible to reduce the risk. Read More »

I reported this week on a new iPHONE application, My Grocery Master, which allows users to locate gluten-free foods and brands according to zip code. The application claimed to not only allow users to locate gluten-free and lactose-free food items in popular grocery stores nationwide, but it also claimed to help users locate the product via detailed driving directions, all for an annual fee of $4.99.

While this iPHONE application (also available for iPAD and iTOUCH) purported to aide gluten-free consumers in their quest for all things allergen-free, it seems the app isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Read More »

Below is an important letter by Cleo Libonati, celiac disease author and speaker. She explains why you must be your own health advocate if you wish to be healthy and receive optimal care.

Dear Friend,

For the past three years, I have met with HMOs, pharmaceutical companies, politicians, doctors, dietitians, celiac support groups, and patients across the United States. One thing is abundantly clear. Doctors are not recognizing celiac disease and do not realize how little they know about the disorder.

In 2004, the National Institutes of Health called for education of physicians and other healthcare providers about celiac disease. To date, few efforts have been undertaken and none has succeeded.

The result is missed diagnoses, inadequate follow-up, unnecessary surgeries, improperly prescribed medications and needless pain. During my presentations, I meet many people who think they are receiving good treatment and cannot understand why no one has told them their persisting symptoms are due to simple nutrient deficiencies. Read More »