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Many people go years before they know that their bodies are incapable of digesting or are allergic to gluten. Gluten is a protein molecule found in grains like wheat, barley, rye and oats. Two types of gluten issues that people may have are celiac disease and gluten intolerance.

Many people confuse a gluten intolerance for celiac disease when in fact they are different things. Celiac disease is a genetic autoimmune disease and gluten intolerance is when your body simply has difficulty digesting gluten. Typically a gluten allergy causes a reaction to wheat products. Symptoms usually range from swelling eyes, lips and face, sneezing and respiratory problems. If you suspect you are allergic to gluten grains I highly recommend taking an allergy test. If you test positive then it is crucial that you maintain a gluten-free diet at all times. Over time if you continue to eat grains that contain gluten you can damage your digestive system and cause nutrient deficiencies.

Many companies are now catering to people with gluten allergies and are manufacturing more and more gluten-free products. Cereal, crackers and even cakes are now being made gluten-free. Try shopping at local markets or going online for specific items. Be sure to stay away from pasta and bread and any other foods containing grain. Gluten allergies are fairly new to doctors and patients everywhere so researching it will be very helpful. Look up new products online and gluten-free recipes for your whole family to enjoy.

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glutensinsitivity.net

One out of every 133 people in the United States live with celiac disease (CD), and only recently has it caught on with the general public.  Gluten intolerance can at times seem like such a common digestive disorder, it can go unrecognized and untreated for years!

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease, similar to an allergic reaction to gluten, but not quite the same thing. When gluten is consumed by someone who has an intolerance to it, it can damage the hair-like lining inside of the small intestine that absorbs the nutrients from food, called villi.  Over time the body stops absorbing necessary nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.  If left untreated the small intestine can become permanently damaged, causing immune and nutritional disorders which can be potentially life threatening.

There are no known causes for CD but physical effects include intense rashes and blisters, commonly appearing on the face, elbows, knees and buttocks, called Dermatitis Herpitiformis (DH). This can only be confirmed with a skin biopsy by your doctor or a gastrointestinal specialist (GI).  If you are scheduling an appointment to get it looked at make sure to cut all gluten from your diet for at least four weeks before the biopsy. Some more common symptoms  are bloating of the stomach, chronic diarrhea or constipation, bone and joint pain, and mouth ulcers.

Celiac disease may appear at any point in a persons life.  It is usually brought on by severe stress, pregnancy, childbirth, or after a surgery.  There is no cure for celiac disease and can only be treated for the symptoms.  If you suffer from CD, the biggest requirement is that you maintain a gluten-free diet.  Medication for the problem has not been shown to improve health as much as a healthy gluten-free diet.

I recommend confirming with a good gastrointestinal specialist if you believe you may have celiac disease.  He or she will issue specific blood tests and a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis better than anyone else. After all, intestines are their specialty!

For further information on the topic please visit www.celiac.org.

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www.celiac.org

 

If you have a sensitive stomach and have alternative food needs, I have the perfect sensitive solution—the Sensitive Baker. I am a strong proponent of gluten-free and dairy-free foods, but life changing meal plans can be difficult. Most people who learn late in life that they are gluten-intolerant feel as though they have hit rock bottom when it comes to finding grain alternatives and something delicious to eat. Parents with dairy and gluten sensitive children are overwhelmed trying to find the right foods for them.  Luckily, a small bakery in Culver City exists to satisfy the taste buds of a dairy/gluten intolerant or Celiac-sufferer.

For the last few years, the Sensitive Baker has been dishing out gluten-free casein-free bread, pastries and sweets to the hungry but health conscious denizens of Culver City. Not only are they a 100% gluten, shellfish, and peanut-free facility, their pastries are made with dairy-free ingredients and without added eggs or soy.  Aside from potential allergens such as almonds, walnuts, sesame seeds, and soy lecithin (in dark chocolate) that may crop up in their recipes, it is the ideal spot to enjoy a healthy dessert.

Items on the Sensitive Baker menu include healthy rice loaf, delicious bagettes and sandwich rolls- perfect for your children’s lunch menu, gluten-free hamburger and hot dog buns for the weekend BBQ, vegan pizza crust, tasty quinoa-cranberry and pumpkin cookies, and even bake at home cinnamon rolls and vegan gingerbread cookie dough. If your mouth is not watering yet, I do not know what will do the trick!

Amidst all the delectable treats and slow rising bread, they also offer friendly service and standard or vegan cakes or pies for holidays, birthdays, or other events if scheduled in advance. If you are ever in Culver City, I would highly recommend stopping in for a quick bite. No matter what your diet dictates, there is a little something for everyone in this bakery—sensitive or not!

 

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