Living with Celiac Disease!

     Mamma's Apple Pie

A gluten free life style can be difficult. Learning to reading labels is by far the first step toward taking charge of your new life style. "Mamma's pie crust" made with gluten free flour is not quite the same but as you can see it looks good and tastes good.. 

In future posts I will help you compare flour, methods and recipes to prepare tasty meals and baked goods.

I pulled together recipes that are easy for me to prepare. As you can see from my Apple pie, after many attempts, I finally have a pretty good looking crust.  There are many items at our local grocers shelves that help us bake and cook items that look and taste more like food we may remember.

Use the WEB!

From WebMD slide show:

Celiac Symptoms: Digestive

Symptoms of celiac disease can vary from mild to severe. Some people have no symptoms, although they still are developing intestinal damage. Celiac disease is sometimes misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's Disease or gastric ulcers. 

Digestive symptoms may include:

• Abdominal bloating and pain
• Diarrhea

WebMD News on Autoimmune Disease Celiac Disease Upate:

Worthy of a back at this post:

• Research continues -- Genetic factors may be connection! 

Private MD NewsHome | News | Autoimmune Diseases

Researchers uncover new clues in celiac diseaseUpdated: 2011-02-10 13:47:50 CST Category: Autoimmune Diseases[Image]Researchers may be getting closer to preventing those who have received positive celiac disease tests from developing a worse condition. A new study published in the journal Nature shows that blocking certain genetic factors may prevent the autoimmune response that causes the condition.

Researchers from the University of Chicago used mouse models to study the effects of different chemical compounds. They found that test subjects that had higher levels of the compounds interleukin 15 and retinoic acid were significantly more likely to develop symptoms similar to those seen in patients with celiac disease.

Furthermore, the researchers showed that by blocking these chemicals, the risk of overactive immune responses decreased significantly. They said that their findings could pave the way for improved therapies for the condition, which can be a major disruption to individual's lives.

Additionally, they believe that their findings could have relevance in the treatment of other autoimmune conditions that cause high levels of inflammation. For example, they are planning further testing to see if blocking these compounds can improve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Are you new to the world of Celiac Disease?

Welcome to a CD life style.  We will try to help you with your new adventure. Those of you who were recently told you have Celiac Disease (CD) and you were given instructions about your future diet plan, you will discover nutrition plays a key roll in your daily schedule. Your life style will now start changing far greater than just the diet. Following the diet plan, reading labels, and staying informed are some of the most important things to remember. You will also find you are more prone to complications like fractures, anemia, change in eye sight, weakness and fatigue because even though we maintain a adequate diet we can become malnourished. There can be a loss of nutrients, like calcium, because your body can not absorb the nutrients through the small bowl and this leads to other serious problems.    (see DNA & Mayo Clinic articles below) The Daily News & Analysis (DNA) references the fracture issue in an articles on 2/6/2011. (as follows) Celiac disease patients prone to fractures: Published: Sunday, Feb 6, 2011, 1:16 IST By Menaka Rao | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

While playing, 14-year old Sunil struck his hand on a stick and suffered a fracture on his upper arm bone. During a regular check up at the endocrinology department at BYL Nair Hospital, his parents were told that he has celiac disease, which had in turn caused the fracture. Celiac disease is an auto-immune disorder that damages that small intestine and interferes with the intestinal absorption of nutrients. Patients show zero tolerance for gluten which is contained in wheat, rye (millet), oats and barley. Though the prevalence of celiac disease is just 0.5% to 1% in the general population, in type 1 diabetics, the prevalence is 10 to15%. Now, in research conducted by the endocrinology department of BYL Nair Hospital, people with both celiac disease and type 1 diabetes have been found to have poor bone mineral density, making them susceptible to fractures. “For the purpose of research, we tested 80 type 1 diabetics, of which 11 patients had celiac disease. The control group had 22 patients who suffered from type 1 diabetes without celiac disease. The patients’ ages varied from 12 years to 40 years,” said Ameya Joshi, who conducted this research under the supervision of the head of department, Premlata Varthakavi. “While many suffer from typical symptoms such as gastrointestinal problems, others suffer from fractures from unrecognised trauma,” said Dr Joshi, adding, “Simple dietary measures can reverse these symptoms and improve bone density.” The research paper won second prize in the Annual Conference of the Endocrine Society of India (ESICON) 2010at Vellore last month. While similar research has been done in the West, this is the first time a research paper in India has shown a direct co-relation between celiac disease and low bone mineral density in type 1 diabetics. _______________________________________________________ Complications By Mayo Clinic staff Left untreated, celiac disease can lead to several complications: Malnutrition. Untreated celiac disease can lead to malabsorption, which in turn can lead to malnutrition. This occurs in spite of what appears to be an adequate diet. Because vital nutrients are lost in the stool rather than absorbed in the bloodstream, malabsorption can cause a deficiency in vitamins and minerals, vitamin D, folate and iron, resulting in anemia and weight loss. Malnutrition can cause stunted growth and delayed development in children. Loss of calcium and bone density. With continued loss of fat in the stool, calcium and vitamin D may be lost in excessive amounts. This may result in osteomalacia, a softening of the bone that in children is also known as rickets, and loss of bone density (osteoporosis), a condition that leaves your bones fragile and prone to fracture. Lactose intolerance. Because of damage to your small intestine from gluten, foods that don't contain gluten also may cause abdominal pain and diarrhea. Some people with celiac disease aren't able to tolerate milk sugar (lactose) found in dairy products, a condition called lactose intolerance. If this is the case, you need to limit food and beverages containing lactose as well as those containing gluten. Once your intestine has healed, you may be able to tolerate dairy products again. However, some people may continue to experience lactose intolerance despite successful management of celiac disease. Cancer. People with celiac disease who don't maintain a gluten-free diet also have a greater chance of getting one of several forms of cancer, including intestinal lymphoma and bowel cancer. Neurological complications. Celiac disease has also been associated with disorders of the nervous system, including seizures and nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy).

Sponcer of::

Another great find from Celiac.com --YUM!

Blackened Cajun Catfish (Gluten-Free)

• By Jefferson Adams
 
• Published Today
 
• Gluten-Free American, British/UK Recipes
• Unrated

JEFFERSON ADAMS

Jefferson Adams is a freelance writer living in San Francisco. His poems, essays and photographs have appeared in Antioch Review, Blue Mesa Review, CALIBAN, Hayden's Ferry Review, Huffington Post, the Mississippi Review, and Slate among others.

View all articles by Jefferson Adams

The finished blackened cajun catfish. Photo: CC-The DLCBlackening is a really fun way to cook fish. Nothing seems to beat the bold flavor that comes from a perfectly seared crust. Blackening fish on a cast-iron skillet creates intense heat and smoke so always work in a well-ventilated kitchen.

The rub in this recipe is one of many variations on a classic Cajun rub and is also perfect for chicken, beef steaks, or even vegetables. You can mix it up by serving different fish; snapper and swordfish would also hold up really well. Serving fish with lemon not only cuts the intense flavor of the spices, but also gives the fish a refreshing bite.

Ingredients:
4 firm catfish fillets, 6-8 ounces each
½ cup olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
1 large lemon, cut into 4 wedges
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon marjoram
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon ground red pepper
2 teaspoons cracked peppercorns
1 teaspoon coarse salt

Directions:
Combine all spices to create a rub and spread in a shallow pan. Set aside.

Heat a large cast-iron skillet until very hot, about 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile, rinse and pat dry fish. Generously coat both sides of each steak with oil and lay in the spice mixture. Turn to thoroughly cover both sides.

Place two steaks in the heated skillet over medium-high and drizzle lightly with oil. Cook for 3-4 minutes and turn. Drizzle with a little more oil and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, depending on thickness of fish. Remove cooked fish.

Add additional oil if necessary and repeat with remaining steaks.

Serve with fresh lemon juice, one wedge per steak.

http://www.celiac.com/articles/22421/1/Blackened-Cajun-Catfish-Gluten-Free/Page1.html

Following our genetic trail -- what may they find??

Private MD News

Home | News | Autoimmune Diseases

Researchers find common genetic risk factors for Crohn's and celiac disease

Updated: 2011-01-31 12:46:48 CST Category: Autoimmune Diseases

Individuals who have received a positive celiac disease test are significantly more likely to also develop Crohn's disease at some point in their lifetime. A new study has shown that this may be due to the fact that the two diseases share some of the same genetic causes. The information could lead to improved treatments for both conditions.

Researchers from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands said that genetic alterations in two areas of DNA appear to increase the risk of developing one or both of the diseases.

The fact that celiac and Crohn's disease share some of the same risk factors make sense, the researchers said. They are both inflammatory bowel diseases caused by irregular immune system reactions in the digestive tract. In this regard, they can be very similar.

However, where celiac disease is sparked by a reaction to wheat, barley and rye products, Croh's disease is thought to be caused by a reaction to certain bacteria in the gut.

The researchers said that understanding these genetic factors that play into the development of the conditions could help them design improved treatments for one or both of the conditions.

http://www.privatemdlabs.com/blood-testing-news/Autoimmune_Diseases/Researchers-find-common-genetic-risk-factors-for-Crohns-and-celiac-disease--$800375842.php

Science working for you!

Check out this web site & story I'm passing along to you. Great news for Celiac Disease.

http://www.celiac.com/articles/22405/1/Great-Gluten-free-Bread-from-USDA-Scientists/Page1.html

Celiac.com 01/13/2011 - It might be rocket science, after all. Well, sort of. It turns out that engineering a good loaf of gluten-free bread is the focus of some of the best scientific minds in the food business.

It also turns out that scientists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Manhattan, Kansas, have developed a process that produces a high-quality, gluten-free bread.

Such bread, if produced on a large scale, might benefit the millions of Americans with celiac disease who are unable to digest gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Gluten-free grains include corn, sorghum, and rice, among others.

The new bread-making process is the work of chemists Scott Bean and Tilman Schober at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) grain Quality and Structure Research Unit. 

They discovered that removing a certain amount of fat from a corn protein called zein, allowed them to craft a gluten-free dough that is more like wheat dough, and free-standing, bakery-type rolls are more like traditional wheat rolls. ARS is the chief intramural scientific research agency of USDA.

Bean and Schober had some success crafting gluten-free pan bread using other grains, but they were unable to make free-standing rolls because the rolls expanded too much. According to Bean, the resulting bread was lower quality than comparable wheat bread. 

Bean and Schober had shown earlier that zein-a readily available byproduct from corn wet milling and fuel-ethanol production-could be used to make dough that was more similar to wheat dough. The dough still didn't meet their standards, though, because the rolls produced from it were crumbly and flat.

Removing more of the fat from the zein protein's surface, Bean and Schober found, allowed the proteins to stick to each other much like wheat proteins do, giving the zein-based dough  elastic properties similar to wheat dough.

Bean and Schober's findings may also apply to sorghum, which, says Bean, may prove to be a better grain to use since it is a gluten-free grain. 

The team used corn as an intermediate step toward to achieve the ideal standard for gluten-free breads: a wheat-flour-like dough made with non-wheat proteins, resulting in products with a fluffy, light texture.

This research may prove useful in creating commercial, gluten-free bread for the 2 to 3 million Americans who have celiac disease. For many of those folks, tasty, gluten-free breads and rolls from corn, rice and sorghum would be a welcome addition to their diet.

Source:

• Journal of Cereal Science

Hello!

Good morning everyone.
I've been battling a few health issues so I'm not updating this blog as often as I would like, so please forgive the delay and please continue coming back to visit.
We do have great future plans for the blog and we should be evolving into something you will enjoy.
Have a great day.
Judy

Fast food is getting better all the time.

Hello sandwich lovers.
I don't know about you, but for me when I walk by a subway my mouth waters from the smell of baking bread. Eating a submarine sandwich and being gluten-free just don't mix. Many new breads gluten free on the market are somewhat good for making sandwiches but for me, I just haven't found the kind of bread it takes to make a really good sandwich. As you can tell, sandwiches are one of my favorite foods, so if subway has found a way to make a good bread, to make a really good sandwich, life would be very sweet.
If you miss a mouth watering sandwich like I do, take a look at this article from CNN.
 I'm sure you will be thrilled.
OH by the way, they have not forgotten you dessert lovers. Their developing a very chocolate brownie.
The picture below is complements of this article:

Please let me know what you think.

Gluten free -- Allergy free -- Symptom free!

Learning and sharing information may be the key to opening doors to a fresh and unexpected balance in your life. 

We eat first with our eyes then with our taste. Following a diet is probably one of the most difficult things all of us, at one time or another, have tried to do. Whether your restrictions are gluten free due to Celiac Disease, allergies or something like a gull badder attack, when you see a luscious platter of food it's hard to say NO. Saying NO may mean the difference between living and dying! How do we know when food could be life threatening?

Symptoms such as gas, bloating, joint pain, swelling & weight gain, headaches, brain fog and  fatigue may be due to many different types of diseases, aliments or allergies. I find new information every day about gluten free foods and that you don't have to have CD to benefit from a gluten free life style. 

The following link is food for thought. Sharing information.

http://gallbladderattack.com/allergydiet.shtml

Celiac Disease Awareness Campaign from the National Institutes of Health

Living with Celiac Disease and finding the right balance of diet and life style requires up-to-date personal & professional information. Being aware of the newest tests, treatment and products are imperative to our daily health and happiness.

The following web site is a good reference:

Celiac Disease Awareness Campaign from the National Institutes of Health

GF All Purpose Baking Flour - Bob's Red Mill

GF All Purpose Baking Flour - Bob's Red Mill

Gluten Free / Worry Free

Gluten free baking is now a delicious wholesome experience.

For me, Bob's Red Mill All-Purpose flour is just the right blend of expedients and taste. I've always bought any baked goods I needed until I discovered this all purpose  flour. They also have great receipts available for anyone like me who never bakes. 

Every new morning is as fresh as a flower!

A SEED FROM ROSE MARIE!

Lemon Yogurt Dip!

Gluten free Ingredients:

One 8 oz container lemon yogurt

One 8 oz container sour cream

One teaspoon Ginger

One tablespoon Honey

1/2 teaspoon grated fresh lemon peel

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

Using low or no fat products will give you less fat and calories but you may be sacrificing the true taste value of the recipe.

Do your own taste testing and I know you will love it.

Food for thought!

Check this out.

Gluten Free sharing.

http://www.glutenfreemall.com/

National Celiac Awareness Day!

Please click this link and pass on the information. It may help someones life be a little better.

http://www.glutenfreefaces.com/forum/topics/national-celiac-awareness-day

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

Todays up to date news on gluten free!

http://www.bing.com/news/search?q=gluten+free+weight+loss&form=MFENWS&publ=MSNHPSPOT&crea=TEXT_MFENWS_CORE_Bullet2_mc0812_1x1&gt1=36010

• Keep up with gluten free ideas and notices in the media and decide for your self and with your physician if it will help you live a safer and happier life style.

Look at this!

This site was given to me. Take a look to see if it's a benefit to you.

http://www.celiacspecialties.com/

Life changes -- one more time!

I must share my latest saga with you.

Here I am 64 years old and 22 years into the gluten free life style and still learning.

This last weekend was another show stopper. My husband and I were celebrating our 48th wedding anniversary at our favorite Hotel & Restaurant. As always when I order my meal I ask about flour and wheat and give a strong dissertation about the gluten intolerance and wheat allergy. They came back with a message from the kitchen "no gluten or wheat in Lobster tail with rice pilaf". WELL let me tell you, that was a message I never should have believed.
I was sick before I finished the meal. I missed listening to the band. By the next morning I was in the hospital hooked up to IVs and heart monitors and wishing I never had to eat again. Dehydration is a very serious side affect not to mention the pain and suffering from the nausea that lasted for hours.
We should never take someones at their word -- we should see the label ourselves. My husband worked with the kitchen and the hotel manager. They gave him a copy of the label from the box that says very plain the rice pilaf contained wheat. And, the katsup used to make the shrimp cocktail sauce contained gluten as a stabilizer. 
I really want to stress the strongest possible message to everyone "please" read labels.
If you are as sensitive to gluten & wheat as I am, save your own life, "Do Not" trusting someone to give you to correct information. Check every label and always ask more questions.

Warnings can save your life!

For your health and safety.

Take special care to read all packaged labels on your gluten free foods. If you are gluten free you very well may be allergic to other foods that will create a very dangerous situation for you. Close attention to detail can save your life.

I recently had a very sever reaction to a trace of wheat in a gluten free frozen dinner.

As you can see I posted an article on this blog.

Here are the signs & symptom of an allergic reaction.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaphylaxis#Signs_and_symptoms

Gluten Free / Wheat Free -- Consumers BEWARE!!

If you are a wheat sensitive gluten free person BEWARE of labeling. Last night was my worst night mare. My reaction to this product was critical and life threating. I've been gluten & wheat free for over 20 years and each time I have an incident it becomes more grave. I bought the above item without reading the labeling closely enough. I was very sorry! I can not tolerate any amount of wheat. This label says it is gluten free but the box front does not say it is wheat free. On the back of the box, in very fine print, it list wheat in the allergies section. I do except the consequences of my own actions but I will continue by saying this company and others should be more responsible in regard to labeling. If they are going to offer a product to the gluten free community they should consider the total gluten free community which includes wheat. The front panel of the package should be very clear about it's contents. The notice that the product may contain wheat should be on the front of the package. If it has to be on the back, marketing should take into account the size and boldness of the print.

My warning to everyone who may be allergic or have any medical condition that may include eating a packaged product, please read all labels very carefully.

READ MY STORY!

June 30 ---1st installment to my story.

From my heart and soul to yours.
My gluten intolerance nightmare started in 1986.
I was working a full time job at General Motors Purchasing. I felt sick all day every day. How I got up every morning at 4 am and worked all day is unbelievable to me as I think back. I was very weak and doubled over at my desk in pain but I never let anyone in the office know because I did not want to loose my job. There were many trips to ER. After a while they knew me by name which is not a good thing in the medical world.
Doctors told me time after time that I may have an ulcer or I may have irritable bowel problems from stress. I knew I was not stressed or worried about anything. My family was great and I loved my job.
Finally, I was referred to the University of Michigan Hospital Department of Internal Medicine. Because the University of Michigan Hospital is a teaching hospital, I was assigned to a resident for history and exam before the staff Dr. came in to see me. My doctor of record talked with the resident for his recommendation. My Dr. told me that the resident was ordering a biopsy of my small bowel because he found evidence in the exam I may have Celiac Disease (CD). He also told me he would not have ordered a biopsy because the symptoms of (CD) are so widely varied among patients. There are no typical symptoms. And a biopsy was not a routine test. My exam was not conclusive. My stomach was very blotted and painful and my blood work showed a B vitamin deficiency with anemia. These symptoms could be associated with many other problems or mean nothing at all.
The symptoms I did not think was important enough to tell them was;
* The start of psoriasis, which my mother had all over her entire body.
* Night vision deminished
* Very tired & weak all the time; I really didn't know how I worked a 40 hour a week job and continued to function.
* Lose of concentration
* Nervous and anxious for no reason
* Can not stay focused
I did learn that any changes in who are and how you are functioning should always be part of your exam.
An other point not in my favor was my weight. I was considered obese. He said the majority of people with CD are anorexic or very thin. I think since 1986 even this belief has changed.
The biopsy was positive. The Dr. did not believe the results. He ask if I would work with him. He gave me a very strict gluten free diet for one month. On and off the diet and 4 more biopsies, he finally agreed CD was my diagnosis.