Celiac disease 101 by Heather Demeritte — “You have celiac disease,” your doctor finally tells you after months, maybe even years of insufferable periods of abdomen pain and embarrassing trips to the bathroom. So what exactly is celiac disease? Is it contagious or life threatening? Who else has it? Many questions may enter your mind, […]
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The challenges of living gluten free
December 28, 2014
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The challenges of living gluten free by Christine Martin — We hear a lot today about gluten-free foods. Until recently, we never saw special menus in restaurants or a designated gluten-free area of the grocery store aisle. People initially may think it is a passing fad, something that medical professionals dreamed up so that businesses […]
Gluten-free: Not just for celiacs
September 17, 2013
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by Marianne Crafts-Brandner — Pancakes made without wheat? Quinoa croquettes? A hamburger bun made from rice flour? Adzuki bean brownies? Question: Who would choose such unusual foods? Answer: Someone who is trying to eat a gluten-free diet. In case you have not been in a health food store recently, “wheat-free/gluten-free” is a new way to […]
GMOs and Agent Orange
March 21, 2013
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by Liz Anderson — How is it that huge multinational chemical, pharmaceutical and agricultural corporations of the world can continue to produce genetically modified (GM) crops, without the normally required testing, supervision and impact reports regarding their effects on our health and their potential threat to our food supply and environment? Our Congressmen and health […]
Is a gluten-free diet in your future?
March 1, 2013
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by Marianne Crafts-Brandner — Is someone you know on a gluten-free diet? It is quite possible that person has celiac disease, an intolerance to gluten that causes damage to the intestine. Gluten is found in the following grains: wheat, rye, barley and wheat-related grains such as triticale, kamut and spelt. Oats, although they do not […]
Celiac disease: a hidden cause of osteoporosis
December 24, 2012
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by Marianne Crafts-Brandner — One night, at the age of 62, Doreen rolled over in bed and fractured a vertebra in her spine. Unable to move, she had to be rescued by an emergency medical team. She spent three weeks flat on her back in a hospital bed. Initial tests showed that she had severe […]
Legumes: peas, beans and lentils — the new carbohydrate
December 23, 2012
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by Dorothy Krupnick — Peas, beans and lentils have been a nutritious staple for thousands of years. The remnants of these foodstuffs, also called pulses or legumes, have been found in ancient settlements in Egypt, Peru and East Indian civilizations. They are the edible seeds of plants, which are high in soluble fiber and protein, […]
What do you mean I have to eat gluten-free?
December 12, 2012
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by Joanne Henning Tedesco — Switching to a gluten-free diet means making changes in your pantry, in the foods you buy and in the recipes you use. It is also a lot of trial and error, but remember, if the foods you choose are fresh vegetables or protein eaten plain, raw or cooked simply, they […]
Allergy warnings cause confusion
September 16, 2012
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About 12 million Americans have some degree of food allergy, with severe food allergies triggering as many as 30,000 emergency room visits annually, and 150 to 200 deaths. Food labels help people with allergies avoid ingredients that could make them ill. An amendment to the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 went […]
Follow your gut: it may be celiac
March 5, 2012
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by Heather Demeritte — You visit the doctor because you are suffering from abdominal bloating, chronic diarrhea and constipation, and extreme fatigue. Your doctor diagnoses you with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) — but is it really IBS? If your gut feeling tells you to visit another doctor for a second opinion, follow that internal instinct. […]
Athletic teens and celiac disease
February 28, 2012
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by Heather Demeritte — Cindy was the star runner on her track team, and the coach praised her consistent effort. But after a couple months of training, he noticed a rapid decline in her performance. She complained of fatigue, achy muscles and chronic diarrhea. He suspected the flu, but after a month of watching Cindy […]
Ten tips on how to bake gluten-free cakes
February 26, 2012
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by Heather Demeritte — Gluten-free baking can be risky and humbling. Be prepared to bake a few complete failures now and then, but appreciate them as experiments that will eventually lead to many delicious successes as well. Follow these 10 tips for better results in gluten-free baking, and remember to embrace your baking with humor […]
Easy gluten-free meal
February 24, 2012
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by Heather Demeritte — Gluten-free cooking does not have to be boring or expensive. Most people new to a gluten-free diet are left wondering how to prepare meals that the whole family can enjoy without breaking the budget. Most ingredients friendly to the gluten-free diet are already in the pantry, such as rice, corn tortillas […]
January 15, 2015
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