| Celiac disease is a condition where the body has | | | | her adjust to this life changing event. What she |
| an immune reaction in the small intestines when | | | | realized is that there are many options that are |
| consuming the protein gluten. Gluten can be found | | | | available to individuals with this condition. She has |
| in products that contain wheat, oat, rye, or barley | | | | found gluten free breads, bakeries that produce |
| such as: breads, pasta, cookies, and cakes. Oats | | | | gluten free cookies and cakes. Even gluten free |
| may contain gluten; however there is no formal | | | | bread crumbs that she uses for breading shrimp, |
| ruling on this. Therefore, it is recommended that | | | | chicken cutlets, and so on. Gillian's Foods |
| you avoid foods with oats as well. | | | | (gilliansfoods.com) sells both plain and Italian bread |
| The continued consumption of the gluten protein | | | | crumbs (we have no affiliation with this company). |
| can cause a decrease in the body's ability to | | | | Our next challenge was going out to dinner as |
| absorb the necessary nutrients the body needs. If | | | | you never really know what is going into every |
| left unchecked, celiac disease can cause damage | | | | meal. We now try and only go to places where |
| to the nervous system, bones, liver and other | | | | there is a gluten free menu such as Outback, |
| vital organs. Currently there is no known cure for | | | | Caraba's or Chili's to name some casual chain |
| this disease. However, it can be controlled with | | | | restaurants. Our local restaurants now know us |
| diet. | | | | and are always more than willing to prepare meals |
| My wife was diagnosed with celiac disease about | | | | for her that are gluten free. You can look up the |
| two years ago when she went for an endoscopy. | | | | menus of most restaurants on-line to see if they |
| When we initially learned of this condition, our first | | | | have a gluten free menu. |
| concern was what can she eat, everything seems | | | | Finally, for those of you with celiac disease who |
| to have flour or oats in them? Will she be able to | | | | are looking to watch your diets and or lose |
| go out to dinner, how will she cook for the family, | | | | weight may turn to the vegetarian way of life. |
| and where can we find gluten free products? | | | | There are many vegetarian diets that you can |
| What my wife found was that there are many | | | | explore that will help you lose weight and stay |
| websites and associations dedicated to celiac | | | | healthy by avoiding products with gluten. |
| disease (here are a couple) to help individuals like | | | | |