Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Gluten, Celiac Disease, and Gluten Sensitivity -- and How to Thrive on a Gluten Free Diet
Whether you're curious about all the talk about "gluten" and its negative effects, have been recently diagnosed with Celiac Disease or gluten sensitivity, or have been following a gluten-free diet for years, this section of our website will give you the straight talk on gluten and arm you with the resources you need to successfully follow a gluten-free diet.
GLUTEN: Now Affecting at Least 8% of the Population
Whether you've noticed "Gluten Free" on food packaging or have heard about restaurants offering "Gluten Free" menus, you've likely become familiar with this term. But do you know exactly what "gluten-free" means -- and why so many people are trying to avoid gluten? … Read More»
Common Symptoms That MAY Indicate Celiac Disease and Why It's Crucial to Get at the Root Cause
It's been said that, on average, it takes an adult with Celiac Disease 11 years to get a correct diagnosis. Just think..that's over a decade of needless suffering that affects one's quality of life each and every day. It usually means countless doctors visits to different specialists who will not have the answer -- and may even convince the patient that their symptoms are stress related or "all in their head." … Read More»
Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity
Celiac Disease is often referred to as an "allergy," but it is actually an autoimmune disease. When someone with Celiac eats gluten &mdash whether in the form of wheat, rye, or barley &mdash it causes the body to attack itself. The villi (those fingerlike projections in the small intestines that absorb nutrients from the food you eat) get flattened. And when this happens, they can't properly absorb the nutrients your body needs to grow and promote optimum health. Again, malabsorption is the best case scenario … Read More»
If You Suspect Gluten Is a Problem for YOU: Finding a Doctor and Asking for the Right Tests
No matter how dearly you love your pasta, baguettes, paninis, or cupcakes, if you suspect your body does not react well to gluten, it's essential you find an open-minded gastroenterologist and get the proper tests to definitively confirm — or rule out — Celiac Disease … Read More»
If It ISN'T Celiac Disease (Then WHAT Is It?)
Once merely suspected as being a medical condition similar to Celiac, the theory has recently received significant substantiation. Dr. Alessio Fasano's study, published in March 2011, found that there are indeed many people whose bodies react negatively to gluten. They have the same symptoms as someone diagnosed with Celiac. However, they don't have the damage to the intestines present in people with Celiac Disease… Read More»
Adopting a gluten-free diet allows the villi in your small intestines to repair themselves so that proper absorption of nutrients can take place -- and health can be restored. The time for the villi to return to normal varies among individuals … Read More»
Grocery Shopping and Eating at Home
You'll do a lot of label reading at first. Don't worry...this, too, gets easier with time. Before you know it, you'll know which of your favorite foods are safe and which you need to avoid. And you'll discover so many new options you never knew existed . . . Read More»
Eating Out and Traveling Gluten Free
Whether you do it a couple of times a week or a couple of times a month, dining out is a fact of life for most people. and this is no different for people who have to avoid gluten. There are still times when we need to -- and want to -- go out to eat. Many years ago, this was fraught with perils. Few restaurant owners and chefs knew what gluten-free meant, and you certainly couldn't be sure your meal was safely prepared in the kitchen… Read More»
Avoiding Gluten in Communion, Prescriptions, and Vitamins
If you're diagnosed with Celiac or gluten sensitivity, you'll need to verify your prescriptions and vitamins are gluten-free, and, depending on your religion, you may need a source of gluten free communion wafers… Read More»
Having a child with Celiac Disease or gluten sensitivity presents a unique set of challenges beyond what adults may encounter following a gluten-free diet. School parties, eating in the cafeteria, Birthday parties, dining out, traveling, attending sleepaway camps, and choosing a college are all areas that require thought and planning… Read More»
"BEST OF" Gluten Free Products Listing
There are countless gluten-free brands and products now available at stores nationwide. While the quality, texture, and taste of GF products has come a long way in recent years, there are still some products that are better than others. Here's a list of a sampling of some of our favorites… Read More»