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

      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

     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

100% pure cheese, crispy, delightful, fun, salty, and delicious. My taste testers and I all agreed these cheese crackers were full of flavor in each and every bite.

These gluten-, wheat-, and sugar-free  “crisps” are all made with zesty parmesan cheese in nine flavors: aged, sesame, Italian herb, garlic, jalapeno, flax seed, rosemary, everything, and their latest release, “minis.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

As a celiac with a sensitivity to dairy, I tend to stay away from products like these. However, Watching my staff bite into these crisps with their oohs and aahs, I had to give them a try, too. They truly are, in each and every bite, bursting with flavor and life. I absolutely loved the rosemary crisps and feel their “minis” release is more in the right direction in taste as well as in the packaging. The minis are about the size of a quarter, whereas the others are the size of a large cracker, three inches in diameter.

These crisps are the perfect accompaniment to a bottle of wine or dip or broken up on top of a salad, or alone. They really do not need a thing to improve their flavor as they actually will alone enhance any food or drink.

Barry Novick started this company all on a simple search for foods to eat on his diet and a desire to leave his position as a hospital administrator. Playing around in the kitchen with his wife, he came up with the perfect recipe which all his friends devoured and nearby stores were just as fond of. Orders were aggressively placed, and the rest is history.

Kitchen Table Bakers has a wealth of accolades from the finest magazines, numerous TV shows, and prestigious food awards. The most discerning food and beverage buyers across the country have these crisps on their shelves. Word is spreading.

Now the company has made it easier to try their products online on their website, http://kitchentablebakers.com/BuyNow.php.

I think I’ll summarize these crisps as “elegant with a kick of fun” in each and every bite.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

It is usually beneficial to write out a list of ways gluten-free foods can get contaminated by gluten (dusting the gluten-free cake’s pan with flour, using utensils that have touched gluten-containing foods, etc.) and a list of gluten-containing foods. Bring this to restaurants and have the server take it to the kitchen. You can give your relatives and close friends this list or an article about cross-contamination. It is usually helpful for people to see instructions in writing.

Tina Turbin

A bi-family-owned company, Foods Alive has created a set of flax crackers which are in essence a “live food snack.” These dehydrated, certified organic golden flax crackers now come in eight flavors which my taste tester teams in L.A. and Florida tried. It was determined that they’re a true snack oozing health and flavor.

All the crackers are made with golden flax seeds and all other ingredients are not only certified organic but they’re gluten-free, kosher, and vegan. It’s now sold all over and in many Whole Foods stores.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Couples Michael and Ellen and Matt and Tammy united in business after a change of hearts about nutrition and taste around the same point in time. Ellen’s experimentation with flax crackers in her own kitchen was to fill a void after visiting the tasty raw buffet at the Creative Health Institute in Hodunk, Michigan. They all agreed these crackers had potential, so in 2003 Food Alive introduced their first line of delicious, fiber-filled raw flax crackers.

In 2006 Michael felt golden flaxseed had a superior taste to the brown flaxseed and decided to press it. Tammy started producing flax oil salad dressing, and Michael played with a combination of herbs and spices to add to the oils. I love the “Mike’s Special” Salad Dressing, which is a blend of paprika and garlic. It turned my plain salad into a gourmet dining experience.

In my testing kitchens, we taste-tested Foods Alive eight flaxseed cracker flavors, and 2 of their 3 oils, and they were superior in texture, flavor, and raw food energy. We also favored “Mike’s Special” Salad Dressing.

Tina Turbin

www.glutenfreehelp.info.

Shabtai’s misson is to create allergy-free desserts, allowing their customers to feel at ease with any dietary restrictions they may have. Shabtai offers cakes, cookies, cupcakes, rolls, and more. They specialize in gluten-free, lactose-free, soy-free, casein-free, peanut-free, and dairy-free products and are very proud to have created so many bakery items that appeal to so many people.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Shabtai started his bakery over 30 years ago, and to this day his gluten-free line is in over 600 health food stores nationwide. Andrew, his son, is instrumental in sales, and so is Cindy (also known as Cinderella), Andrew’s mom, who also traverses the country attending numerous celiac support groups and health food conventions.

The GF Seven-Layer Cake looks and taste like the “real deal,” the Ring Ting Cupcakes are for anyone who enjoys Hostess Ding Dongs, the Gluten-Free Lady Fingers were used in a tiramisu recipe with success, and the gluten-free brownie bites were the perfect size to satisfy any sweet tooth.

You can simply order any of their products through their website with convenient shipping.

Tina Turbin

www.glutenfreehelp.info

For instance, it’s not uncommon to gain weight when you cut gluten out of your diet. Many celiac patients are thin and sickly-looking before their celiac diagnosis, as the damage caused to small intestine prevents the absorption of food. After being on a gluten-free diet for some time, when the intestines have begun to heal, the nutrients and calories in foods get absorbed better. Even though you may not be consuming any more calories now than in your gluten-eating days, it’s likely that you’re going to gain some weight. In fact, studies have shown an increased risk for obesity for gluten-free dieters. However, some people actually lose weight, as the changes to your diet may cause a decrease in caloric intake. Watching your caloric intake and regular exercise can help deal with any weight gain you may experience.

Tina Turbin

     It’s important to realize that any food processed on equipment shared with gluten is at risk to have at least some degree of contamination. In order for a product to be truly gluten-free, special handling is required at each step of the process—the growing, harvesting, milling, and processing of non-gluten grains. Shared equipment results in gluten contamination in the field, a manufacturing facility, a restaurant, or a home kitchen.

     Make sure you are familiar with cross-contamination and how to avoid it to ensure that you’re eating a truly gluten-free diet!

Tina Turbin

     What exactly is homocysteine? Homocysteine is an amino acid in the blood. Studies have shown that too much homocysteine in the blood is related to a higher risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. Other evidence suggests that homocysteine may have an effect on atherosclerosis by damaging the inner lining of arteries and promoting blood clots.

     Even when faithfully following a gluten-free diet, celiac patients are more likely to suffer from nutrient deficiencies and poor health. Gluten-free products are often low in B vitamins, calcium, vitamin D, iron, zinc, magnesium, and fiber as very few gluten-free foods are not fortified with these nutrients.

     In the study that was recently conducted, celiac patients were treated with not only a gluten-free diet, healing their small intestine and increasing absorption of nutrients, but they were also given B vitamin supplements. It was found that those who took this supplement and maintained a gluten-free diet had significantly higher levels of B vitamins in the blood and lower levels of homocysteine, compared with a group who only maintained a gluten-free diet and another control group.

     What does this mean for you? Researchers are now saying that B vitamin supplements
should be considered in disease management. In addition to your gluten-free diet, you should take B vitamin supplements daily, making sure these include vitamin B6, folate, and vitamin B12. It is fortunate the celiac community now has this vital information, and as celiac research continues, we can look forward to more helpful data from researchers.

Tina Turbin