Most people that are living gluten free lives are doing so for health reasons, and in particular, due to being diagnosed with Celiac Disease. What many don’t know, however, is that the gluten free diet has gained some popularity in many areas of the United States among many health conscious people, who see the diet as a good way to eat well and improve their lives.
As you’d expect, Los Angeles is one of the places where this trend has picked up, and the L.A. Times recently wrote a post about the gluten free lifestyle:
Judy Beckett, a retired educator, was diagnosed with celiac disease two years ago: Her gut cannot tolerate gluten, and switching to these foods has improved her digestion and quality of life. Claudia Lopez, a housekeeper and mother of four, is looking for gluten-free food for herself and her family. She recently switched to it at the urging of a health expert she heard on Spanish radio.
Beckett and Lopez have plenty of company as more and more consumers embrace the gluten-free trend. Users run the gamut: There are people like Beckett with celiac disease who must be on the diet; others who believe the diet can alleviate chronic intestinal complaints and boost energy; still others who believe the gluten-free diet may help in the treatment of autism and a host of other disorders, including schizophrenia, chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis, attention deficit disorder, migraine and even fertility problems.
And some people are trying the diet simply because they’ve heard it is healthful.
“A lot of people are going gluten-free . . . but they really don’t know why,” says Suzy Badaracco, president of Culinary Tides, a company that forecasts food trends. “It’s just like, “Quick, it’s gluten-free, it must be good!’ “
Click over to check out the rest of their post!
For those of you with Celiac Disease or some form of gluten intolerance, you are not alone. Many have heard the figure 1 in 133 people are believed to have Celiac Disease, but could it possibly be even more?
As the diagnosis continue to grow, so does the attention focused on the disease by doctors, so I wouldn’t be surprised if even more people than previously thought have some form of gluten sensitivity.
Another benefit that comes with the disease getting more attention is the attention provided by cooks, restaurants, and even large corporations, who are looking to capitalize on this with gluten free products. Here is one story of how far things have come in the last decade (from the Current Argus):
Once considered a rare condition, celiac disease or gluten intolerance is becoming one of the most common genetic conditions in the world, with a wide range of symptoms that can range from digestive problems to depression.
The disease cannot be cured, only controlled through careful diet.
For sufferers in Carlsbad, there is much help to be found through the local Celiac Disease Support Group.
The group offers good information on alternative food choices as well as recipes and general information on how to cope with the disease and diet. However, members agreed, the emotional support is probably the most important offering at the meetings.
Angie Madl was diagnosed eight years ago. For her, the support group has meant a great deal as far as the sharing of important information she might not have found on her own. What keeps her coming back is the camaraderie of knowing others who suffer from the same disease.
“I was diagnosed too late,” Madl said, noting she wasn’t given any information or told what to do.
Based upon the nature of Celiac Disease and its relationship with the immune system, it seems that some people with Celiac Disease are not adequately protected by the Hepatitis B vaccine. Here is an excerpt from About.com’s post:
When you receive the hepatitis B vaccine series, your immune system is supposed to respond by producing antibodies to the hepatitis B virus. In addition, some of the immune cells that are involved in the body’s response to the vaccine become what’s known as “memory cells.” Many studies have shown, however, that in patients with celiac disease, the vaccine does not always produce adequate (or “protective”) levels of antibodies or memory cells.
Click over to check out the rest of the post.
I always found that the hardest part about being on a gluten free diet is traveling. Fortunately traveling is getting a little easier as awareness grows and a larger percentage of the population is diagnosed with things like Celiac Disease.
Today I noticed a post about Balancing Food and Fun at Disney World, which includes an interview with Joel Schaefer, Disney’s Special Dietary Needs Manager. In the interview, they discuss Disney’s committment to people with special dietary needs. Here is the main part relevant to those of us with Celiac Disease:
My child has celiac’s disease. Are there kid-friendly options for her? I would love for my child to be able to experience Mickey Mouse waffles and a safe cookie or brownie.
We have a variety of options for Guests with celiac disease and most locations have gluten-free pancake and waffle mix. You will need to contact us ahead of time to see what locations can accommodate your request.
One of the biggest adjustments for someone that is trying to get used to living gluten free is learning to shop and read labels. For your first trip to the store, you may want to take a nutritionist with you to make sure you know how and what exactly to look for.
Here is a three part series I found on YouTube of a Celiac and a nutritionist covering what to look for:
