Wheat Intolerance: Celiac Sprue
Sprue means that you cannot absorb nutrients from the food that you eat, causing vitamin and mineral deficiency, diarrhea and cramping. There are two major types of sprue. Celiac sprue means that a component of food called gliadin or gluten causes your own immunity to attack and damage the inner linings of your intestines so that you cannot absorb many components of food. You may also develop a blistery skin rash. Tropical sprue means that you have an infection that causes the same results. Usually your doctor will draw blood to see if you have antibodies against gliadin and endomysial cells (8), and perhaps biopsy the inner lining of your intestines. Your doctor will test for infection. Those with...
The Basics of Celiac Disease
We should be very careful with what we eat. Food is one source of acquiring diseases that might lead to a more serious medical condition. There are more common diseases that result from too much intake of unhealthy foods such as Diabetes and cancer. At some point, these terms are quite alarming through will be discussing a different disease as we go along. Are you familiar with the celiac disease? Celiac disease is a medical condition characterized to be a disorder in the digestive system of a person that might lead to more serious conditions including the damage on the lining within the small intestines. This is mainly caused by too much gluten intake of the body. Gluten is a substance found in...
Celiac Disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder, much like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Autoimmune disorders attack the body's own tissues: nerves, brain, gut, thyroid gland, etc. Think of an autoimmune disorder as a raging fire! Every time you throw gasoline onto the fire, what is going to happen? MORE FIRE! Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is also an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks and destroys its own thyroid gland. Persons suffering Hashimoto's exhibit both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism symptoms. Possible symptoms of Hashimoto's are: feeling tired or sluggish cold hands and feet needing excessive amounts of sleep to function well gaining weight easily...
What is Upper Endoscopy and Why Is Small Intestine Biopsy Recommended for Celiac Disease?
When undergoing an evaluation for possible celiac disease or gluten sensitive enteropathy doctors usually recommend an upper endoscopy and small intestine biopsy. What that may mean or why it is recommended may not be clear to people who are facing the decision to undergo the procedure themselves or to subject their child to the exam. Endoscopy in celiac: What is it and how is it done? The medical name for upper endoscopy is esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD for short. The endoscope is a thin flexible tube about the diameter of a fat pencil that has a video chip in the end and channels for flushing of water, suctioning of secretions and passage of instruments. It has dials that allow the tube to be...
Wheat Free Eating - What I Like About Not Eating Wheat
I guess I'm lucky that my allergy to wheat is quite mild. If I eat wheat, I soon get sleepy but I don't have any of the range of truly unpleasant symptoms that many people have to put up with. It's not easy to eat wheat-free in restaurants, as you never know what might be in a sauce. It can be a little delicate if friends invite you over to eat as well; I just tell the hostess that I am allergic to wheat but don't mind watching other people eat bread, cake, or cookies. It's easy at home, where I have control over my ingredients. When I found out that wheat was a major cause of the sleepiness I experienced, I had two reactions. At first, I felt sorry for myself. I was "different." But I learned more...
Wheat Free Cake - Selection Criteria For Substitute Flour
How to bake a wheat free cake? Generally when you have wheat intolerance you have to eliminate all food with wheat, which includes one of our favorite dessert like cake. If you are a fan of cakes or pastries, do not despair. It is not the end of the world. Good news is you can use other wheat free flour in your cooking. Even though wheat is the most common flour used in baking, it doesn't mean that it is the only one. There are various other types of flour which can be used for baking. You can also find some specialty shops which has premixes of the various wheat free flour ready for baking. Besides that it is also possible to try recipes for flourless cake. When looking at a substitute for wheat...
Gluten Inedible Products
mon question among the newly diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune condition triggered by the presence of gluten (wheat, rye, barley and oats), is whether you should be concerned about gluten found in inedible products—products that you don't eat but only use. The answer is yes. After using inedible products that contain gluten, make sure that you wash your hands well with non-gluten soap and water so that any residue found in the products will be washed away and not later find its way into your food. Inedible products include shampoos, conditioners, hair styling products, cosmetics, lip balms, nail care, soaps, lotions, sunscreens, laundry and household cleaning products, pet foods...
Celiac Blood Test - Tells How Extreme Your Body is Affected
In our present times, when a person is said to show symptoms of Celiac disease, a disease that destroy the villi in the small intestine, it is recommended that the person be tested to truly diagnose if he or she has the disease and how severe is it. The most common form is by performing a Celiac Blood Test. The blood test is actually a very vague way of screening out the person's auto antibodies in their blood which is why it is advisable to call for countless other tests such as a Dermatitis Herpetiformis blood test and a Crohn's blood test. The first things to bear in mind are key simple things that might involve tests of their own such a Celiac DNA test and a CBC (complete blood count). The DNA...
Nutritious and Beneficial Wheat Free Flour Alternatives
It's just normal for any human being to have Candida fungi in their intestine flora. Yet these fungi can also be the cause of a yeast infection. Once an imbalance happens between the good bacteria this can lead to Candida overgrowth and some uncomfortable symptoms. If this excessive Candida growth happens, there's no doubt many unpleasant symptoms will be felt by the person suffering from the yeast infection or a health condition medically coined as "candidiasis. A yeast free diet is often recommended for those individuals suffering from candidiasis. This kind of diet will restrict the patient from consuming foods and having drinks that contain yeast and sugar in them as they stimulate the growth of...
Gluten Free Blondie Brownies
Gluten Free Brownies without the chocolate. There is no reason to miss out on childhood favorites because you have a gf diet. These delicious brownies are just like the blonde brownies that have been around for years and years and they do not have gluten in them! The best part about these fabulous brownies is no one will even know they are gf! These brownies will stay moist several days, if you can keep them around this long and make a great addition when planning a brunch or picnic as they travel well and make a yummy dessert without all the fuss in the kitchen! 1 cup brown sugar (can substitute 1/2 cup with coconut crystals if watching glycemic index) 1/4 cup oil 1 large egg 1/2 tsp. vanilla *3/4...
Diagnosis - Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that is triggered by gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. When gluten is consumed, the body produces antibodies to attack the gluten. Unfortunately, these antibodies also attack the lining of the small intestine. This damage, however, can be reversed and the disease treated by following a gluten-free diet. When I was diagnosed in 2000, celiac disease was considered rare (1 out of 5,000-10,000), so getting diagnosed was not easy. I had to point the doctors (more like push them) in the right direction. Celiac disease (pronounced see-lee-ak) is considered a genetic disorder. That is what led me discover the source of my problems. I found out that I...
Autoimmune Diseases Surprisingly Similar to Celiac Disease
Discoveries made in researching celiac disease have created new possibilities of understanding for other autoimmune diseases. These include some common, frustrating diseases and you have probably known someone suffering from one of them. Celiac disease sufferers share some innate traits with sufferers of type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers currently believe people with these diseases have three things in common that may lead to their respective conditions: a genetic predisposition for a heightened immune reactivity, a leaky gut, and probably some external trigger that passes through their leaky gut into their highly reactive immune system. One key difference...
Eating Pizza on a Gluten Totally free Diet plan
Visit Free Pizza Recipesto receive emailed pizza recipes FREE. The beginning of a new decade has arrived, and as 2010 continues to maintain going, folks are trying harder than ever to stick to their New Year's resolution of preserving weight down and bank accounts up. Whilst the objective is definitely admirable, it could be hard when advertisement are continually bombarding these persons via each imaginable outlet. This can be a discomfort for those which might be attempting to reside over a gluten-free diet plan, but you usually are not at a loss! Gluten is a protein which will be discovered in parts of barley, wheat, rye, and other related grains, and some people are unable to digest this protein...
Is there a connection between Chronic Fatigue and Gluten?
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Diseases Caused by Gluten Intolerance
There are many different diseases caused by the inability of the body to process gluten. The problem is that most of these disorders are unnamed, little research has been carried out on them and the symptoms vary greatly. Other than celiac, the most well-known of the diseases, these other gluten-related disorders have been given non-official names such as gluten intolerance and non-celiac gluten. Tests do exist for celiac disease. These include a blood test to detect anti-gluten antibodies and a biopsy of the small intestine to look for lining erosion. However, if there is a lack of gluten in your system, fewer antibodies are released and the tests come back negative. In the case of the intestinal...
Warning Signs of Child Gluten Sensitivity
Warning Signs Of Child Gluten Sensitivity If you are celiac yourself, it is only natural that you will be looking out for signs of the disease in your children, and you will want it diagnosed as early as possible. Even if you are not celiac, and your child begins to develop possible symptoms of gluten sensitivity, surely you will want to start them on a gluten-free diet from a young age? The main problem faced here is that Celiac's disease is currently only medically diagnosed by examining the damage that it causes to the intestines. This damage is progressive, and it often takes years of suffering for the gut to be damaged enough for a definite diagnosis. Not only will your child be ill during this...
What is Gluten Intolerance?
When walking down the aisles of higher quality grocery stores these days, you may now come across a number of tags promoting products as gluten-free. What does this mean? Is this like fat or carbs -- should you be minimizing your consumption of gluten for some reason? Well no, not necessarily, unless you specifically have a condition that makes you sensitive to it. So What Is Gluten? While people often refer to gluten as a protein, it actually represents a component of proteins called peptides. These peptides are different in the different grains considered to contain gluten and which must be avoided in gluten-free diets. In rye, the protein is called secalin; in barley, it is called hordein; and in...
Gluten-free is the latest buzzword in nutrition circles, thanks to celebrities coming forward with stories of their struggles with celiac disease. And for people with celiac disease, a gluten-free diet is by far the best option for treating the condition. If you are diagnosed with celiac disease, you must follow a gluten-free diet to the letter, because the complications of non-treated celiac disease include developing other nutritional deficiencies like anemia and osteoporosis, or developing another autoimmune disease and lymphoma, or cancer of the gut. But a gluten-free diet isn't for everyone, and it's important to be properly diagnosed with celiac before jumping on the gluten-free bandwagon. If...
Gluten-Free Baked Goods Can Satisfy Taste and Nutrition
Many people dread the concept of a gluten-free diet because of the foods they'll be missing out on, namely: breads, cakes, cookies, and pasta. But today, many gluten-free alternatives for baked goods and flour mixes are increasingly available at local grocery stores. Some Celiac patients, like myself, experience radical weight loss as a result of cutting out all wheat, rye, and barley products. Despite high caloric intake, it can be hard to keep the weight up without complex carbohydrates found in whole grains. Typically, these baked goods are made from gluten-containing grains, but it is possible to find mixes using rice, tapioca, potato, and other naturally gluten-free grains. Of course, it...
Gluten-free Travelling
Eating while you're travelling and healthy cooking is often a stressful time even with normal circumstances, now imagine how much more stressful it is for a celiac or gluten-sensitive person. To get ready for a big trip, especially to a location that doesn't cater to the gluten-free lifestyle, can be challenging. One idea people use who may be getting ready for a trip, is to place your order in advance from somewhere you know and can trust and have it delivered to the location you will be visiting. There are companies that do on line ordering for example that are very accommodating and can even ship some foods Internationally. By having a delivery of gluten-free food at your location when you arrive...
Wheat and Gluten - You Won't Believe Where They're Hidden in Foods
There are many food items on the market that contain wheat or wheat gluten, but you'd never guess it from looking at them. Of course, the first step to finding hidden wheat or gluten is reading the labels, and when reading the labels, you have to know what you're looking for. There are a lot of ingredients that contain wheat or gluten that you might never suspect. Here is a list of some ingredients that must be avoided: Hydrolyzed Plant Protein or Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HPP or HVP) - The problem here is that the plant source is not identified - it might be wheat. New laws require that the plant source must be identified. Modified Food Starch - While there's no requirement for identifying the...
Organic Foods" & "Gluten-Free" Foods
As most people do, I too, in the beginning, thought very little of organic & gluten free foods. My only thought was that these foods were expensive. I assumed they were over priced and over hyped as most things are. Then I tried a few of the organic fruits and vegetables, I was amazed! They tasted exotically delicious! Everyone has heard that organic & gluten free foods are better and healthier for you, but still many don't believe that it warrants the extra cost. It is true that organic food is a little more expensive than non organic, but the benefits this type of food brings to our body far outweighs the smaller extra price we have to pay out of our wallets. However it is not just the...
Gluten Containing Foods Undercover
Individuals with Celiac disease or non-Celiac gluten sensitivity must avoid all forms of gluten in even the smallest amount. Because gluten provokes their antibodies to attack their own intestinal wall, the consequences of consuming gluten-containing foods can be severe. Some might think that sounds simple: Okay, just don't eat bread and baked goods, right? Unfortunately, it isn't that simple. Gluten can hide in vague ingredient descriptions as well as in common over-the-counter supplements and drugs. Common Vague Ingredients Some terms to watch include -- but are not limited to - spices, natural flavors, and artificial flavors. These are often groups of ingredients in such small quantities that...
Let's Know More About Celiac Disease Symptoms
Celiac disease is a kind of genetic autoimmune disease which directly attacks the intestines in the body. This disease is characterized by the abnormal treatment of the immune system if gluten which is a special kind of protein found in barley, wheat and cereals. The abnormal treatment of the immune system here means that the system treats the protein as a toxin which is harmful to the body. When people with celiac disease eat food rich in gluten, the body responds to it abnormally damaging the lining of the intestines. When this happens, the person starts to lose weight and eventually become malnourished because the lining is responsible for the absorption of the nutrients from food. This is one of...
Gluten Free and Dairy Free Protein Powder 101
I've heard this question several (OK, many) times in the past year. What gluten and dairy free protein supplement do you recommend? And quite honestly, I was flummoxed. Although I am have celiac disease, I have not had to contend with dairy sensitivity. I have always used whey or casein proteins, which are milk-based. Whey protein isolate has had the lactose removed, and so many with a lactose intolerance can tolerate a straight whey isolate. However, some with a dairy sensitivity cannot tolerate even a whey isolate. I am the first to tell you when there is something I am unfamiliar with. In these cases, I usually run around in a fairly obsessive state of learning until I have found an answer. My...
Gluten, Dairy and Sugar Free - 5 Reasons to Avoid These Foods
You are what you eat, or so the saying goes. It's common knowledge that your choice of foods is a fundamental part of staying healthy. For many people, food allergies and sensitivities limit these food choices. For those of us with the food allergies or sensitivities, this imposed diet feels like a great burden when it limits our freedom of choice. But modern thinking shows that there are many benefits to be had from removing common allergens such as gluten and dairy, as well as processed sugar, from our diet. This is regardless of whether or not we have to be on a restrictive diet. The prevalence of celiac disease, diabetes, IBS and food sensitivities has been increasing markedly over recent...
Celiac Disease Support Groups - The Amazing Benefits
ou have recently been diagnosed with celiac disease. You are probably feeling quite overwhelmed by all the changes that you have to make in your lifestyle--food shopping and planning your daily menus come to mind. Now is the best time to find a support group to help you cope with the disease. You may feel like you don't have the time to go to a support group meeting or search the internet for other people with celiac disease, but the time it takes to connect with other people on the gluten-free diet will save you an incredible amount of time and effort in the future. Celiac support groups, whether in person or on-line, offer a sense of community. People new to the gluten-free diet always have a lot...
Does My Child Have Coeliac Disease? - Recognizing Gluten Allergy Symptoms in Toddlers
Gluten is the cause of Coeliac disease, a serious and lifelong auto-immune condition (meaning that the body produces antibodies that attack its own tissues). Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt, and other grains (NB some people are able to tolerate oats). Coeliac disease is genetic so your risk is increased if you have family members who are sufferers. Treatment consists of a gluten free diet for life, which leads to a full recovery in most cases. Many people with Coeliac disease do not realise they have the condition. In Coeliac disease, the villi that line the gut are attacked and damaged leading to problems with absorption of essential nutrients. Symptoms vary from mild...
Gluten Free Quinoa Salad
The fact that quinoa itself is gluten free makes preparing a gluten free quinoa salad very easy indeed. This is one of the many reasons for this grain's popularity. It is so easy to add things to quinoa and end up with a nutritious and satisfying meal It can be ready in minutes. What you add to your salad will depend on what you have in your garden or fridge to put in. Here is a simple idea for one salad recipe Ingredients 1 cup of quinoa 2 cups of water 1 large carrot 1 sweet pepper ½ cup sweetcorn 8 small radishes Low fat Mayonnaise or Extra Virgin Olive Oil To Dress Method Firstly rinse the quinoa under a tap to ensure the saponin coating is completely removed. Some times this will not be needed...
Do Alcohol, Beer and Wine Contain Gluten?
A Guide of Dos and Dont's If you have any form of gluten intolerance, you might be worried about how your drinking will be affected. Everyone likes to relax with a nice drink every once and awhile, but fear of gluten content may have you turning your head at an alcoholic beverage. The short answer to the question of gluten content in alcoholic beverages is that some drinks have gluten and some don't. Any distilled alcoholic drinks are gluten free, but there are others out there as well. You could just check the ingredients on the drink to ensure if it has gluten or not, but for a quick reference, the drinks below have been tested to contain no gluten at all. Vodka and tequila are two classics in the...
Types of Food to Avoid With Gluten Intolerance
Do you feel tired easily; suffer from bloating or stomach cramp and joint pain. These are but some of the symptoms of gluten intolerance. The difference between an intolerance and allergy is gluten intolerance symptoms may not necessary appear immediately after consuming food that contain gluten. A person with gluten intolerance could develop a inflammatory condition called Coeliac disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder caused by a reaction to gliadin, one of the main proteins in gluten. Exposure to gliadin damages the lining of the small intestine (villi). These intestinal villi play a significant role in digestion and absorption of nutrients. The damaged and inflamed intestinal villi...
Gluten Free Cafe Review Brisbane - Kashmir Cafe and Gift Galleria, Redcliffe Brisbane
I heard about Kashmir Cafe and Gift Galleria from a few people at the Gluten Free Food Show in Brisbane, their comments were so positive I decided I could not miss checking out this cafe. Kashmir Cafe and Gift Galleria is located at 59 Redcliffe Parade over looking the sea on Redcliffe beach. Kashmir looks more like a home-ware shop from the front, and owner Patricia mentioned the food was originally the second purpose for the store. However it turns out that Patricia, who has been a Coeliac for 30 years has created some a wonderful, fully gluten free menu, which has become very popular with Coeliac and non-Coeliacs alike! I checked out Kashmir on a sunny Saturday afternoon and was treated to a...
How to Eliminate Gluten From Your Diet
Gluten intolerance is so common these days, it has become one of the greatest ingredients to avoid, surpassing even white sugar when it comes to a healthy lifestyle. Wheat, rye, barley and spelt all contain a protein called gluten and even though it makes bread, baked goods and pasta taste so good, it is very difficult to digest. Extreme sensitivity to gluten can lead to Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system responds to gluten by damaging the small intestine. Symptoms include diarrhea, cramping, bloating, abdominal pain and can lead to chronic symptoms like weight loss, irritability, depression and skin problems like eczema or dermatitis. Other symptoms are more subtle...
ADHD Diet - Gluten-Free and Casein-Free Diet
Of all the diets designed to manage ADHD, the gluten-free, casein-free diet (GFCF) is among the more well-studied and recommended. The theory behind the GFCF diet is that wheat and dairy products contain gluten and casein, respectively - proteins that form harmful amino acids called peptides when they are digested improperly. These peptides behave much like morphine on the human body and trigger hyperactive and inattentive responses from children when they enter the bloodstream. Parents who have tried the GFCF diet on their ADHD children have seen amazing results - increased attention span, improved social skills, and fewer incidents of aggression, fidgeting, and tantrums. Unlike taking medication...
The Neurological Benefits of a Gluten-Free or Casein-Free Diet
Some people find that eliminating both gluten and casein from their diet is fairly difficult. First of all to eliminate gluten, you have to eliminate any grain products, certain types of alcohol, as well as all many different processed foods. Casein can be even harder because you have to eliminate all forms of dairy and some other foods. This diet is actually recommended as a form of treatment for autistic people. They can actually become addicted to a diet rich in gluten and casein. In terms of the results some people see improvements after just a week, others a year later. Others see none at all. Some people with autism report better sleep and better ability to socialize. One of the most popular...
If you've been diagnosed with celiac disease, your doctor probably advised you on the many foods and food ingredients you must avoid. Definite no-no products are those made with wheat, rye and barley, the popular gluten-bearing grains found in many breads, cereals, pastas, crackers and other baked goods. Gluten also lurks in other less obvious places such as luncheon meats, salad dressings, yogurt, malt vinegar, soy sauce, many flavorings, and gravy and sauces thickened with flour. People with celiac disease experience a severe immune reaction to gluten -- the protein in wheat, rye and barley that can inflame the lining of the small intestine and interfere with the body's ability to absorb nutrients...
Some Common Misconceptions About Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is one of the most misunderstood conditions out there. The majority of people confuse it with a wheat allergy because allergies are something they understand and they don't actually know what gluten is. And let's face it - not many people who have Celiac disease knew what the difference was before they got their diagnosis. This lack of understanding can make it very hard for people with Celiac disease to find food that they can eat and restaurants that can accommodate them, though. That's why it's so important to clear up some of the misconceptions about Celiac disease out there. Gluten vs. Wheat While everyone knows what wheat is, there's a great deal of confusion about what gluten...
Basic Information Relative to the Symptoms of Celiac Disease
Celiac disease or illness is a regular genetic disorder which has an effect on the small intestines and the ability of the body to assimilate and absorb nutritive substances. The disease may be serious, and if not treated right away may lead to vitamin and mineral insufficiency, anemia, malnutrition and intestinal cancer. This disease is also known as gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Gluten is the protein seen in certain grains like wheat, barley, rye and oats. In celiac ailment, there is damage in the coating of small intestine caused by the immune system of the body after the person eats food that contains gluten. When slightly digested foods that contain gluten enter the small intestine, a strange...
Celiac Disease - What Can I Eat?
People suffering from celiac disease or even those who suspect they have the condition can greatly benefit from following a diet free from gluten. Sticking to a gluten-free diet can also be done by those who have dermatitis herpetiformis which is a skin problem related to sensitivity to gluten. Gluten is a protein component present in certain cereals most especially wheat, rye and barley. A particular component of gluten called gliadin is the main cause of celiac disease. It is to be understood, though, that while avoiding wheat in the diet is advisable, it won't necessarily cut gluten in your diet. The reason is that gluten is not solely limited to cereals because this protein component can be...
How Exactly Does Celiac Disease Develop?
There is no clear method to determine who will end up with celiac disease. There are at least three different things that need to line up. First of all, you need to have genes that allow for celiac disease. You need to be eating a diet that contains gluten. And finally there needs to be some sort of environmental trigger that sets the disease in motion. However even with all three of these present, you still might not develop celiac disease. In other words, they are necessary but they don't guarantee anything. Gluten sensitivity is always possible, though, even without these factors. Celiac disease can be found in any race or ethnicity. It is more prevalent in certain ones than others, but everyone...
Celiacs Disease and Candida - Experience and Shares
This article will describe Celiacs Disease and Candida. The article is based on real issue from my friend. She came to the conclusion in March last year that she has trouble with yeast, after lots of medical tests, including the biopsy test for Celiac's. Doctor's weren't any help, she pretty much finally figured it out on her own. She gets severe migraines that used to last over a month at a time (she have two toddlers as well) and run a home-based business. Plus she has stomach problems. She also has an overactive thyroid, which she has been on medication for almost 2 years, but now the doctor is weaning her because my white blood counts were too low. But miraculously, her levels are now in the...
One of the biggest challenges for an individual with celiac disease is going out to eat. While the public is becoming more educated on this disease, it can still be a challenge to enjoy a night out to dinner and to avoid allergens such as gluten. Trusting a waiter's acknowledge about an item being gluten free can be stressful, especially if the one eating has an extreme case of celiac disease. There are two recommended approaches to seeking out your best options for dining out. First, there are a number of nation-wide restaurant chains that have decided to cater to the gluten free crowd. Second, there are online resources with communities of nutrition-specific diners that share their experiences and...
Today, if you suffer from celiac disease, it's much easier to live a gluten-free life. Still, it's an often frustrating, time-consuming challenge. You only have to visit most restaurants and grocery stores to know that your gluten-free options are often limited, and you have to dig deeper to know what dinner special to order or what snack brand to choose. It is estimated that gluten-free shoppers spend an average of 45 to 90 minutes more in grocery stores than the average food shopper. And no wonder -- finding substitutes and reading labels eat up a lot of time. Why so much gluten in our diets? Our farming history is grain-based, which is why gluten is so common in our diets. Our ancestors survived...
Gluten-Free Desserts That Are Truly Delicious
When it comes to desserts, sometimes gluten-free products come up a little short on flavor. You don't have to settle for less! There are more and more companies creating outstanding gluten-free sweets with lots of flavor, good texture, that are made with excellent ingredients. Here are some of my favorite cookies, chocolates, and mixes that are a must for those who stay on a gluten-free diet. Sun Flour Baking Company is one of my favorite cookie companies. Based in Sacramento California, their cookies are all vegan, and they have a great selection that are gluten-free. They are made with quality ingredients, often organic ingredients, and are sweetened with fruit juices. They have a wonderful...
Gluten Intolerance Symptoms - When You Need to Be Gluten-Free
Gluten intolerance symptoms can be extremely serious. If you experience gluten intolerance symptoms, read this before you eat your next slice of bread. You may need to eliminate gluten from your diet immediately. What Is Celiac Disease? Gluten intolerance symptoms, or celiac disease symptoms, are the result of an autoimmune disorder coupled with long term malnutrition. It begins as your body's inability to process certain proteins but then evolves into a serious form of malnutrition. When your body can't handle those proteins in wheat, barley and rye, the villi in your intestines slowly die off. These villi are like little micro hairs that capture nutrients from your food as it passes through your...
Why Gluten-Free?
Gluten-free is a phrase that has become more commonly used as more and more people are recognizing the problem of gluten intolerance and celiac disease. Some traditional grocery stores are even including gluten-free products now with accompanying shelf-talkers. Perhaps you're wondering what this is all about. Gluten is a sticky grayish substance found in wheat and other grains; it is glue-like, holding everything together. When you ingest gluten, it swells and becomes tacky inside of your intestinal tract, a glued-together constipating clump in your gut. The undigested gluten then triggers your immune system to attack the lining of your small intestine which can cause great intestinal discomfort...
Living a Gluten-Free Lifestyle - What Does it Really Mean?
So after doing some online research and maybe talking to a doctor or two, you've come to the conclusion that you think you may have a gluten intolerance. Don't panic, you are not alone, as you may feel this way when you first get diagnosed. There are nearly 3 million sufferers of gluten intolerance (often called Celiac disease) in the United States alone. Since symptoms and severity of those symptoms vary, the actual number may be much higher. So what exactly is gluten intolerance, how is it caused and how is it treated? Well, according to the Institute of Specialized Medicine, gluten intolerance is "a genetic disorder characterized by abnormal inflammatory responses driven by gluten (a wheat...
Foods Without Gluten - A Simple Guide to a Gluten-Free Diet
If you cannot tolerate gluten in your diet because you are allergic to it or you are suffering from celiac disease, you can actually find healthy foods without gluten that you can enjoy. Of course, aside from knowing what foods have gluten and should be avoided, you may want to find out what are the safe foods you can eat. Celiac disease is a disease of the digestive system where the villi of the intestines are damaged and absorption of nutrients from the food is made impossible. With this, the sufferer becomes malnourished even if how much food one would eat. People who have this disease do not tolerate gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye, as this can damage the villi and will hinder...
Children and Gluten Intolerance
It can be painful to watch your child suffer. It can be even more frustrating to watch your children suffer without understanding why they're suffering. If your son or daughter experiences digestive problems, I encourage you to seek a physician's assistance in determining the possibility of celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Increased Awareness Means Increased Assistance Just a decade ago we had little understanding and awareness of the number of people who suffered from an inability to properly digest gluten and the severe consequences of not removing gluten from their diets. Now we know that roughly one 1 in 130 people suffer from some form of gluten sensitivity. And we know that celiac disease...
Wheat Free Cake
p>Many people who have been diagnosed with an intolerance for wheat are not sure how to change their diet to improve their health. Having an intolerance for wheat does not mean that foods you used to eat are completely off limits. There are other grains that can be substituted for wheat. The good news is that many of the wheat substitutes are actually superior in nutritional value. Some examples of excellent grains are: Millet is more digestible and is the least allergenic grain. It also provides a good source of protein. Sorghum is similar to millet in nutritional value. Amaranth is an ancient grain that was used by early native Americans and is still used today for baking. It's rich in calcium and...
Is Wine Gluten Free?
The reason wine is gluten free is that it is made by mainly fermenting grapes. Since grapes are naturally gluten free, wine is too. Questions have come up about the staves used in wooden barrels that store wine. Some wineries use wheat flour paste to seal these slats called staves. The Wine Institute has confirmed that leaching form barrels would be the only way wheat could get into the wine, and said there is no evidence thus far that this is happening. The wheat paste is normally applied sparingly to a groove cut into the staves when it is used to seal a barrel. If there is any excess paste remaining it is removed so none remains inside the barrel. The barrels are also rinsed with a high pressure...