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Apr/May 2012
Features
Celiac Disease
Subscribers OnlyLiving with special dietary needs requires a spirit of adventure and a willingness to try new tastes. It also demands patience, planning and an understanding of certain medical, dietary and lifestyle situations that regularly occur. Whether you're newly diagnosed with celiac disease or an old hand on the gluten-free diet, there are still myths about the diet that seem to have a life of their own, apart from medicine or even common sense.
Celiac Disease: What’s the Difference?
Subscribers OnlyGluten intolerance is widely used to describe anyone who has symptoms after eating gluten that are relieved when it’s removed from the diet. If you have celiac disease, you are, by definition, gluten intolerant. But it is possible to be gluten intolerant and not have celiac disease.
Celiac Disease Resources
Subscribers OnlyFor additional information about celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, check out these resources.
Gluten-Free Bowled Over
Subscribers OnlyAs the old saw goes, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” Indeed, research shows that carving out time for a nutritious meal before tackling the day can bestow numerous health benefits. Case in point: Australian researchers have recently determined that adults who skip breakfast have a higher risk of heart disease than their peers who enjoy a morning meal. Check out these Gluten-Free Breakfast Bowl Recipes.
Milk Allergy
If you have a dairy allergy, chances are you’ve heard this question many times: So, you’re lactose intolerant, right? Those with dairy issues commonly encounter confusion over milk intolerance and milk allergy. Over the years, I’ve received questions from relatives who can’t understand why tiny amounts of milk could be deadly for me, from new acquaintances who are curious about my dietary needs and from restaurant waitstaff who are confused by my special-diet requests. Sound familiar?
Small Bites, Big Gluten-Free Flavor
Whether you’re entertaining guests or having a family night at home, it’s fun to prepare and serve a variety of small plates of nutritious foods that are safe and delicious for everyone. Kids love the variety and the small portions, just right for little hands. Gluten-free bite-size servings encourage sampling and are an inviting way to introduce new foods to picky eaters.
Hearty Meatless Vegetarian Meals
Subscribers OnlyWith roughly 20 million Americans who are gluten free and 22 million who are “vegetarian-inclined,” multitudes of special-dieters are looking to sink their teeth into gluten-free, meatless food that’s delicious and satisfying. “Vegetarian-inclined” are those who never eat meat, those who eat meat sometimes and meat-eaters trying to consume more vegetables; the latter two are called “flexitarians.”
Gluten-Free Fancy Desserts
Don’t let food sensitivities and allergies dampen your celebration or prevent you from having the wedding reception of your dreams. These crowd-pleasing treats are both lovely and delicious. No one will ever suspect that your dessert menu is gluten free and allergy friendly.
Departments
Life Story
Actress Kathryn Hahn
Subscribers OnlyKathryn Hahn, 38, is living full steam ahead. The Ohio native, perhaps most recognized as Lily in Crossing Jordan, appeared in the romantic comedy How Do You Know and in the movie Our Idiot Brother, released last September. She’s playing in Wanderlust, a movie scheduled for release this year. There are numerous Broadway credits scattered throughout her resume. A self-professed type A personality, Hahn is a natural at multi-tasking—but she’s finding a more balanced lifestyle.
So Good
Gluten-Free Springtime Scones
Spring heralds daffodils and tulips. It begs for simple yet elegant touches, in keeping with the special festivities that mark this time of year. Whether it’s Easter brunch or Mother’s Day breakfast in bed, these fresh-baked gluten-free blueberry cinnamon scones celebrate the season.
House Call
Ask the Doctor Q&A - Plant Allergy, Peanut Allergy, Cheese Allergy & More!
Research suggests that indoor plants can pollinate and prompt allergic reactions, just like outdoor plants. Although not common, allergies to rubber plants, lilies and other flowering plants are reported in the medical literature. Additionally, indoor plants and the soil they’re potted in can harbor mold, which can trigger allergy symptoms, such as itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion and even breathing problems.
Research Roundup: Celiac Risks, Oral Food Challenge, Allergic to Cats, & More!
Researchers say improvements in predicting the risk of celiac disease, particularly among first-degree relatives (where up to 10 percent may be affected), can help pinpoint those who may benefit from closer monitoring, ensuring a timely diagnosis.
Stealing Nutrients
Subscribers OnlyMedicine is a part of our modern day lives. Even those who prefer natural approaches may down a few ibuprofens for aches and pains, use the occasional antacid or take prescription birth control pills. Consumers are concerned about side effects, such as headaches or sleepiness, but few consider the nutritional interactions—and they should.
Try it
Living Without's Favorites: No Moo-re Moo
If dairy issues have you saying “No, thank you” to favorite cheese-filled dishes, Tofutti’s new line of dairy-free alternatives will brighten your day. Better than Ricotta is thick and rich, just like the real thing. Perfect for filling gluten-free noodles or layering in baked goodies. Better than Sour Cream is smooth and creamy, ideal for cheesecake. Add herbs and spices for a great dip.
Living Without's Favorites: Lite Delight
If you’re hankering for a soufflé but don’t have time to make one, you’ll enjoy Garden Lites’ new line of gluten free, nut-free frozen vegetable soufflés. Made with all-natural ingredients, these savory soufflés are full of creamy goodness, available in a range of yummy flavors— Butternut Squash, Roasted Vegetable, Spinach, Zucchini, Broccoli and Cauliflower.
Living Without's Favorites: Safely Sealed
Your skin is chapped and itchy. So what will soothe it? Reach for a tin of Badger Balm for Sensitive Dry Skin. Billed as an “all purpose” remedy for dry skin, W.S. Badger Company created this unscented unguent for gentle yet effective care of the whole body.
Living Without's Favorites: Love Your Lentils
Often under-rated, the little lentil is high in protein, fiber, iron, vitamin B1 and essential minerals. It also delivers unique taste and texture to Mediterranean Snack Food Company’s new line of gluten-free snacks.
Read it
Living Without's Favorite Books: Celebrity Short Cuts
Elisabeth Hasselbeck has star power and her recipes shine. Celiac Hasselbeck, co-host of ABC’s The View and author of The G-Free Diet, delivers a collection of family-favorite recipes in Deliciously G-Free, Food So Flavorful They'll Never Believe It's Gluten-Free (Ballentine Books). It's not just the delicious dishes (breakfast fare, appetizers, entrees, desserts) that make this cookbook a winner.
Living Without's Favorite Books: Pure Pantry
Elizabeth Kaplan’s foray into cooking with wholesome, nutrient-dense foods was prompted when her 6-year-old son suffered a grand mal seizure. Ultimately, he was diagnosed with a list of food allergies and celiac disease. Today, Kaplan is founder of The Pure Pantry, a gluten-free baking mix company, and author of Fresh from Elizabeth's Kitchen, Gluten-Free & Allergy-Free Recipes for Healthy, Delicious Meals (Pennington Press).
Living Without's Favorite Books: Living with Allergies
Don't Kill the Birthday Girl, Tales from an Allergic Life (Crown Publishers) by Sandra Beasley is more than a good read. It’s an insider’s look into living with life-threatening food allergies.
Living Without's Favorite Books: No Dairy, No Gluten
Denise Jardine, author of 2001’s Recipes for Dairy-Free Living, has a new cookbook, The Dairy-Free & Gluten-Free Kitchen (Ten Speed Press). With each of the 150 mouthwatering recipes, there’s an easy-to-use color code that spotlights upfront exactly how each dish is allergy friendly.
Food for Thought
The Myth of Perfection
Living with less than the average bear can be a daunting proposition. Food and chemical challenges remind us daily of the tightrope we walk. The fact that we are doing it in a tough economy doesn’t make it any easier. Until such time that our products are priced comparably to those in the mainstream, we shoulder an added burden for our necessities and pleasures. We do without and learn to be creative.