| Millions of Americans (about 1% of the U.S. | | | | muffins. There are numerous restaurants |
| population) suffer from an inherited auto-immune | | | | committed to offering, not only baked goods like |
| disorder called Celiac Disease where the lining of | | | | bread and other gluten free foods, but delectable |
| the small intestine is damaged from ingesting | | | | gluten free desserts such as fudge cake, |
| gluten, a protein found in grains like wheat, barley | | | | guaranteed to satisfy the most discriminating |
| and rye. | | | | palate. |
| The symptoms of gluten intolerance are long and | | | | Conscientious manufacturers are even offering |
| well documented. And the only successful | | | | chips and snacks in varieties of flavors - |
| treatment is deceivingly simple. The solution is to | | | | gluten-free and trans- fat free - that are so |
| just stop eating gluten for the rest of your life! | | | | delicious, even the so-called normal among us are |
| However, many of the victims of this insidious | | | | indulging, and are not even aware they are |
| condition are finding that solution to be anything | | | | consuming healthy snacks. The Gluten Challenge is |
| but simple. | | | | to find these establishments and producers of fine |
| Scrupulously reading labels is the first | | | | foods. |
| recommendation for beginners who have just | | | | The internet offers a seemingly endless list of |
| discovered help is at hand by living on a | | | | options. Try plugging in Gluten Free Restaurants |
| gluten-free diet. The idea is that without gluten, | | | | and you'll get pages and pages of travel guides to |
| your intestinal wall will heal and your symptoms of | | | | national chain restaurants with gluten free menus |
| the gluten allergy will eventually disappear. | | | | and smaller, specialty restaurants featuring |
| However, avoiding all things gluten seems like an | | | | everything you ever wanted in a gluten free |
| insurmountable task since finding the right foods | | | | entrée or dessert. Googling Gluten Free Foods |
| without gluten that still carry enough protein to | | | | yields everything from lists of what you can |
| foster good health can be a big challenge indeed. | | | | safely eat to a myriad of options for recipes you |
| The secret is to look closely, haunt the health | | | | can use to make your favorite meals at home. |
| food stores, and read everything you can get | | | | The Gluten Intolerance Group of North America is |
| your hands on. Only then will you begin to see | | | | another source of information. Their mission "...is |
| another side to life. Like Alice in Wonderland, celiac | | | | to provide support to persons with gluten |
| patients are beginning to enter and enjoy a | | | | intolerances, including celiac disease, dermatitis |
| healthier, happier, gluten-free world. | | | | herpetiformis, and other gluten sensitivities in |
| A Wonderland is emerging where more and more | | | | order to live healthy lives." |
| manufacturers and individuals committed to | | | | Millions of Americans who suffer from celiac |
| healthy living are producing delicious, nourishing | | | | disease have ultimately found a solution to |
| gluten-free products. It is said that 7th century | | | | changing their lives forever by avoiding foods that |
| Buddhist monks in China discovered a way to | | | | contain gluten. Their journey is a process of |
| make gluten free flour by searching for a protein | | | | continual discovery and as they inquire and learn, |
| source to use in their vegetarian diets. | | | | they have actually started an emerging dietary |
| Now modern bakeries provide an amazing array | | | | revolution. They, along with the rest of us |
| of goods made from gluten free flour resulting in | | | | (wittingly or unwittingly) are enjoying a whole new |
| gluten free breads, cookies, scones, rolls and | | | | gluten free world. |