Gluten Free Help » Autoimmune Disorders

Celiac Resource Guide by Julianne Karow

Tina Turbin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:00:10 +0000

Author Julianne Karow’s husband was diagnosed with celiac disease, opening their eyes to a world unknown to them before the shocking day of the diagnosis. Walking out of the doctor’s office without guidance, living in a small town with no active celiac groups, Julianne was at a loss. She was the cook and grocery shopper in the family.

Her sleeves rolled up, she gained determination to satisfy her husband’s palate. Her awareness of the the world of gluten-free increased measurably. Along her journey to becoming educated about gluten-free, she realized the need for a resourceful book for the celiac community at large.

Julianne has done an incredibly good and thorough job of organizing all manner of gluten-free needs any celiac or gluten-intolerant individual will need. Some topics covered are: physicians, medications, online discussions forums, cookbooks, online grocery stores, and so much more.

Her details are well-researched and appear under item clearly listed. She leaves out nothing! One chapter I found most interesting was travel. She covers hotels and specific chefs, as well as yachts and celiac travel clubs. I was left with so many options and a desire to travel now, rather than the common travel regrets so many of us celiacs are left with.
Her chapter on food company links makes it extremely easy to do time-saving shop online. Not only did Julianne list out the company, address, link, phone number, and e-mail address, she concisely describes the company’s main products, saving a lot of Internet research.

Julianne went onto start a celiac support group and has co-hosted celiac and food allergy food expos. She has perfected the art of GF cooking, refers to many of her resources in her own book, and you can bet she’s satisfying her husband’s palate these days.

Julianne’s book, Celiac Resource Guide, is a wonderful addition to any celiac’s GF book resources, which we all seem to accumulate. This resource book is HIGHLY recommended.
Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

Gene Research May Lead To Celiac Drug Search

Tina Turbin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:15:59 +0000

Studies on the genetic links to celiac disease are leading to more research and new and more effective treatment, an exciting prospect for celiacs who may want to enjoy some gluten now and then!

David van Heel, a gastrointestinal genetics professor at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, headed a group of researchers from around the world who studied the genetic maps of more than 9,400 celiacs. They have found what they term “substantial” evidence that the genes which are connected with celiac disease are also linked to other autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

As a result, scientists are able to understand how the genetic risk factors for the disease operate—by changing the number of immune system genes that cells make. Furthermore, it is now understood that there are “hundreds” of genetic risk factors, which means that scientists should be able to “have a good guess at nearly half of the genetic risks at present,” van Heel wrote in the Nature Genetics journal in his published study.

We can look forward to more research, more awareness, and perhaps even a pill! Meanwhile, it’s best to keep doing our parts to raise awareness and funds for research.

Tina Turbin
www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

New Celiac Clinic at UCLA!

Tina Turbin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 06:36:18 +0000

Just released news: UCLA (University of California Los Angeles) is now offering a CELIAC CLINIC to service anyone in need of help.

Gastroenterologists, Eric Esrailian MD and Shannon Lewis MD, will be seeing patients on Tuesday mornings at 100 UCLA Medical Plaza, Suite 700, Los Angeles CA.

The UCLA Celiac Clinic will service anyone who requires testing, is seeking a diagnosis or who is already diagnosed and needs follow-up care or even a referral to another specialist. This is wonderful news folks!

You may call 310-208-5400 to make an appointment and ask further questions.

Tina Turbin
www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

One Woman’s True Story- Finding Out I Am Celiac

Tina Turbin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 06:00:28 +0000

This true story was sent in by this young woman to help others by simply sharing her path to discovering the truth to her physical troubles which were not getting resolved. Please read on:

“My brother was diagnosed with celiac about 8 years ago, and because of that I went for a blood antibody test at that time, and it was negative. I did not seem to have symptoms, so I put it out of my mind.

Then about 3 1/2 years ago I developed seborrhic dermatitis ( defn #1) all over my scalp. The dermatologist said they had no idea what caused it, and gave me medicated shampoo which sort of worked halfway, but never got rid of it. Then a year ago I suddenly developed terrible heartburn out of the blue which just would not resolve and mild antacids were no help at all. A few months after that, I started having diarrhea every day for no reason I could detect. I felt more rundown than before, and started craving high fat foods. My weight started going up.

I should have made the connection, but I had thought that my negative blood antibody test years before meant I just did not have celiac. When my brother’s son was diagnosed with celiac several months later, a lightbulb finally went off in my head and I said to myself — Oh my god, that’s why I might have diarrhea all the time! Duh.

After doing a little reading, I learned that blood antibody tests often give false negatives, so after some research I decided to be tested at Enterolab, with the stool antibody test. Since my daughter was having a lot of trouble with bad stomach aches and fatigue, I sent her stool for testing too. Results came in positive for both of us. To confirm the Celiac condition, I sent stool for a further malabsorption test to rule in or out intestinal damage. Results came back well into the “severe” range with large amounts of undigested fats in the stool, thus explaining the craving for fatty foods!

Both myself and my daughter went gluten free right away. My diarrhea and heartburn vanished instantly, and the seborrhic dermatitis was totally gone in a week! I have lost 10 pounds. My daughter’s stomach aches disappeared, and within a week she had renewed strength and vanishment of fatigue. She has lost about 8 pounds.

At first the gluten free diet seems scary, but there are so many wonderful things you can do with GF products on the market these days, and lots of alternatives can be found. If you can do some home cooking, you can have almost anything you want. Many chain restaurants such as Outback and Carrabas have gluten free menus which you can get if you ask for them. Other restaurants have seemed very accomodating, often sending the manager to the table to explain which meals they can make gluten free. Plus this diet is more healthy, leading you toward meats, eggs and fresh fruits and vegetables. It is well worth the benefits!”

B.A.O.

I welcome your stories, your path to discovery or diagnosis, your doctors names that have helped, your labs you used etc. The more you can share to help others, the more this disease can get better known, and people can get diagnosed that much faster.

defn#1- Seborrheic dermatitis is a common, inflammatory skin condition that causes flaky, white to yellowish scales to form on oily areas such as the scalp or inside the ear. It can occur with or without reddened skin. Cradle cap is the term used when seborrheic dermatitis affects the scalp of infants.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

The Gluten Effect: How “Innocent” Wheat is Ruining Your Health by Drs. Vikki & Richard Petersen, D.C., C.C.N.

Tina Turbin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 06:08:09 +0000

Drs. Vikki and Richard Petersen, D.C., C.C.N., a husband-and-wife team of chiropractors and certified clinical nutritionists who founded the HealthNOW Medical Center in Sunnyvale, California, have co-authored an extremely valuable and informative book, The Gluten Effect.

Anyone with gluten intolerance or sensitivities knows that gluten causes widespread problems for many people. The list of conditions caused by gluten alone is numbered in the hundreds. Luckily, the solutions are far simpler than the symptoms. This book explains why and how.

The Gluten Effect points out the major problems and minor problems associated with gluten intolerance or sensitivities, explaining it all in a simple-to-understand manner. Anyone can comfortably get educated about gluten with this very book.

Dr. Vikki Petersen, who is gluten-intolerant, noticed while conducting routine business at the HealthNOW Medical Center familiar signs over and over again with many patients. These patients suffered from a variety of symptoms: fatigue, hormone issues, skin disorders, mental issues, diarrhea, weight gain, and thyroid issues to name a few. Through research she learned they all were gluten-intolerant. This book shares some in-depth discoveries and incredible stories of transformed lives and bodies by addressing the culprit, gluten.

The HealthNOW Medical Center does not “specialize” in gluten issues; in fact the center prides itself at getting to the “root” of the problems of their patients. They couldn’t ignore the fact that so many of these “roots” were indeed gluten. Supported with vast experience, this book was destined to be written and shared with others.

The Gluten Effect explains in detail the vast ramifications and other problems which can arise with undetected effects of gluten. The doctors go on to explain the complexities of the body’s systems and how they interrelate, but again in a way which any reader can grasp and make use of to better his life and his health. The book clears up the confusions of testing, diet, allergies, and connected auto-immune diseases and much more. It’s packed with truly valuable information.

Celiac and gluten awareness is on the rise. A book like this is one which helps to get the truth out there. When a book is so well-written that doctors can gain a better understanding of the topic–but also any mother, father, teacher, or the general layman–then I know it is a book that will make it and should be well-promoted.

I HIGHLY recommend this book.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

Easy Testing, Easy Treatment

Tina Turbin — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:05:12 +0000

The celiac diagnosis isn’t difficult to test for. Simple blood tests detect the disease over ninety percent of the time. The diagnosis is then confirmed by an upper endoscopy; a small, flexible tube is slipped into the mouth of the sedated patient, down his esophagus and stomach and into the first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum, where biopsies are taken and then examined for changes seen in celiac disease.

Perhaps even easier than testing for diagnosis is the treatment of the disease—a gluten-free diet. It is challenging and requires a lifestyle change, but with more and more gluten-free substitutes and gluten-free recipes available, adopting a gluten-free diet and gluten free cooking is easier than ever. There’s research into developing a pill that would help people with celiac disease, as well. With such a simple treatment, there’s no reason to wait to get diagnosed because you can relieve yourself of your symptoms so easily.

Tina Turbin

The Essential Gluten-Free Grocery Guide (3rd edition)

Tina Turbin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:00:40 +0000

Ross Cohen is the President of Triumph Dining, a website, blog, and newsletter for the celiac and gluten-free world. Family-owned and run by five happy gluten-free dieters, it has released its third edition of The Essential Gluten-Free Grocery Guide with the latest research of 30,000 products including 1,100 brand names.

The book uses 5 symbols for our ease in determining which products satisfies one’s individual needs in purchasing grocery items in a store or online. I have not come upon such an extensive list of items in any book I’ve had in my hands or researched online.

The availability of items in this 3rd edition far outweighs the availability in the previous edition, and the shopping tips and overview of new food labeling laws are invaluable in themselves. The addition of their honest in “limitations of the Guide itself” only shows Triumph Dining’s dedication to providing a service with nothing but one’s health and service in mind.

The grocery guide is updated yearly and according to Ross they are currently the largest independent gluten-free publisher in North America.

This resource book is given a thumbs up and is HIGHLY recommended by me.
Please visit Triumph Dining – www.triumphdining.com

Tina Turbin

www.glutenfreehelp.info

Don’t Wait to Get Tested for Gluten Issues

Tina Turbin — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:00:46 +0000

If you suspect that you may have celiac disease or an intolerance to gluten, it’s important to take action now. Studies show that the longer the length of time before a celiac diagnosis, the greater the chance of developing serious health risks.

Untreated celiac disease can actually be life-threatening. Celiac people are more likely to be afflicted with problems relating to malabsorption, including osteoporosis, tooth enamel defects, central and peripheral nervous system disease, pancreatic disease, internal hemorrhaging, organ disorders (gall bladder, liver, and spleen), and gynecological disorders. Untreated celiac disease has also been linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer, especially intestinal lymphoma.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms regularly, even if you think you know why, you should schedule an appointment with your physician right away to get tested for celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

Tina Turbin

Eat Well, Feel Well- by Kendall Conrad

Tina Turbin — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:00:21 +0000

Kendall Conrad has done a lovely job of recreating her gourmet recipes and customizing them to suit the principles which healed her child’s body- More Than 150 Delicious Specific Carbohydrate Diet(TM)-Compliant Recipes.

Author Kendall Conrad was faced with the fact that her youngest child’s gut and immune system had been severely compromised after her first ten months of life after being on many antibiotics to address severe ear infections. Her daughter finally needed surgery to drain her ears at only ten months old, which did resolve the ear troubles, but she was left with digestive troubles, wasn’t thriving, and wasn’t absorbing nutrients. Conrad spent a year visiting many doctors to no avail.

Conrad was introduced to a nutritionist who introduced her to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, which eliminated virtually all starch and complex sugars. The result was that her daughter began to grow and feel much better. She is now a thriving healthy child.

This cookbook and its detailed introduction shares many aspects of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet’s effects on many people with Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, IBS, diverticulitis, and other digestive conditions—to incredible results.

The recipes in Kendall’s book are gourmet in every sense of the word, and your family and guests will have no clue that each one of them is a strict adherent to the SCD.

This cookbook is given a thumbs up and is HIGHLY recommended by me.
Tina Turbin
www.glutenfreehelp.info

Cooking Well: Wheat Allergies by Marie-Annick Courtier

Tina Turbin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 06:35:41 +0000

Living a life with multiple food allergies did not place Marie-Annick Courtier in an extraordinary position until when, a few years ago, some of these foods became life-threatening, and she feared she’d have to give up not only her expertise and love of being a chef but also many of her favorite foods.

Determination, research, and time have not only resulted in her well-written cookbook, they have also resulted in Marie-Annick Courtier’s freedom from all allergies excluding aspirin.

With a Culinary Arts Degree, a background in science and nutrition, certification as a fitness nutritionist, and having her own chef school in Irvine, California, Marie offers much more to her readers than her nearly 150 recipes in her latest cookbook, Cooking Well: Wheat Allergies.

You’ll be additionally enlightened in the areas of Understanding Wheat Allergies, Living With Wheat Allergies, Nutrition’s Role, Eating Out, Organic Choice and Why, Foods to Avoid and Choose, and much more, including her Chef’s Secrets.

The chapters preceding her nutritionally labeled recipes are not only informative, but the information is all very well-written, and I had a sense of sitting with her as she selectively chose the key points she felt were important to impart.

I am armed with delicious breakfasts, soups, salads, main dishes, side dishes, desserts and more. All her recipes are easy to prepare and offer options and nutritional content. I can’t wait for the second book in this series!

This resource book is given a thumbs up and is HIGHLY recommended by me

Tina Turbin