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April/May 2010
Features
Diabetes and Celiac Disease
Subscribers OnlyWhen I was growing up, candy never held any appeal for me. But shortly before my 16th birthday, I found myself devouring every candy bar in sight and nursing a cut that would not heal. I knew that something was wrong. My doctor told me that I had type 1 diabetes and that I would have to take three to five injections a day for the rest of my life. It was ominous news, but at 16, I was young and invincible. Within hours of diagnosis, I was learning to give myself insulin shots.
Quick and Easy Munching
Subscribers OnlySeeds and nuts (if tolerated) make a nutritious snack between meals. Keep fruit roll-ups (most are gluten free, check labels) and small boxes of raisins nearby, in case of hypoglycemia. Here are other suggestions for good-tasting munching.
A Closer Look at Gluten-Free Labeling
In late 2008, a newspaper investigation revealed that certain gluten-free products manufactured by Wellshire Farms and specifically marketed to children were mislabeled. As news spread about the faulty designation, parents of food allergic kids became furious¡ªand scared. At least two children with wheat allergies developed anaphylaxis to the mislabeled food and required hospitalization. In addition, countless children with celiac disease were sickened, including 2-year-old James Fourie.
FDA's Proposal
FDA published its proposed rule for defining gluten free in 2006. According to the proposal, a gluten-free label would mean a food does not contain:
Report a Mislabel
If you think you’ve purchased a mislabeled product, you can report it to the appropriate government agency. Contact FDA’s district office consumer complaint coordinator in your region. Be prepared with the product UPC code. In addition, contact the product manufacturer. The customer service department may assist you.
Eat Gluten-Free For Le$$
Does your special diet give you sticker shock? No wonder. Many products that are gluten free and allergy friendly are downright expensive. The tight economy has many of us tightening our belts and that makes stretching the grocery budget to accommodate special-diet items more daunting than ever. If you’re feeling the pinch, try these suggestions to get more nutritional bang for your buck.
Allergy-Free Summer Camp
Subscribers OnlyEvery year, approximately 11 million children and adults attend over 12,000 camps throughout the United States. Yet few of these camps, if any, specifically accommodate kids with food allergies and anaphylaxis. Camp is an enriching adventure that offers fun and friendships, an opportunity that every child—even those with food allergies and sensitivities—should have. The experience helps children become more independent and grow as individuals.
Departments
Life Story
Cooking Allergy-Free for a Change
Subscribers OnlyNguyen [pronounced NOO-yin] is severely allergic to tree nuts and her younger brother, Conrad, is highly allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, fish, dairy and eggs. Growing up surrounded by these serious allergies gave Nguyen an insider’s understanding of special dietary needs. Now she wants to advance her cooking skills to become a personal chef for families just like hers.
Gluten-Free Star Caterer
When Nick Lorenz was 13 years old, he prepared a tarte tartin dessert in his parents’ Los Angeles home that wowed family and friends. Today, the 32 year old enjoys creating gluten-free, dairy-free culinary magic as executive chef at Southern Wine and Spirits in Las Vegas and founder of Lorenz Catering.
Now You’re Cooking Allergy-Free
Subscribers OnlyDo you have food allergies or food sensitivities and want to be a professional chef? Susan Flaherty, director of the Center for Academic Support at Johnson & Wales University, offers these suggestions to parents and students.
So Good
Cooking with Gluten-Free Coconut Flour
Are you looking for a great-tasting gluten-free flour that¡¯s high in protein, high in fiber and low in carbs? Try coconut flour. Hypoallergenic coconut flour has a pleasant flavor that¡¯s slightly nutty and mildly sweet without a strong ¡°coconut¡± taste. Cup for cup, it provides more protein than wheat flour and ten times more fiber, most of it the healthy soluble type. It has fewer net (absorbable) carbohydrates than any other flour. Its extraordinary high fiber content means that it absorbs considerably more liquid than other flours. Therefore, the more coconut flour you use in a recipe, the more liquid and eggs (for leavening and binding) you¡¯ll need.
Allergy-Friendly Happy Birthday Cakes
When my doctor ordered me to cut out all wheat, eggs and dairy, it felt a little like I was drowning. “What?” I stammered. No more baking! No more cake! Cake is the centerpiece of birthdays, weddings, going-away parties, baby showers, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day—you name it. It’s part of the American culture. Which makes these gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free recipes (no nuts, peanuts or soy either!) delicious reasons to celebrate, any way you slice it.
House Call
Research Roundup: Germs, Autism, Celiac Screening and More!
Inflammation is a key part of our immune system’s defense network, but how inflammatory processes develop and are regulated is not well understood. A study, led by a researcher at Northwestern University, found that wider exposure to infectious microbes in early childhood predict lower levels of a telling marker of inflammation, C-reactive protein (CRP), in adulthood. Lower CRP means lower inflammation levels; inflammation plays a key role in the development of allergies and other medical conditions.
Vitamin C is for Citrus
Mom was right. We should all eat more fruit and vegetables. These foods offer vitamin C, a critical nutrient we need on a daily basis for the proper functioning of our bodies. This vitamin affects health in a big way—from cartilage and skin to the heart, immune system and even our moods.
Pediatric Allergies Q & A - Bee Allergy, Egg Allergy and More!
My son has hay fever and is highly allergic to peanuts. Now I’m concerned about bees, that if he gets stung he’ll have a severe reaction. Am I right to be worried?
Healthy Pet
Hot Shots: Pet Vaccinations
Subscribers OnlyWhen Sandy Groom of Aurora, Illinois, flipped through her mail one afternoon, she paused to read a postcard from her veterinarian: Max, her 8-year-old terrier mix, was due for his annual shots. Glancing at Max who lay curled at her feet, Groom shook her head. The dog had been battling itchy skin and hot spots due to worsening seasonal allergies. Groom wondered whether booster shots might compromise his already weakened immune system. She put down the mail and dialed the vet.
Try it
Living Without's Favorites: Sweet Treats
Soon after Jill Brack and her daughter Stella were both diagnosed with celiac disease, Brack buckled down to make gluten-free cookies that would be indistinguishable from the other kids’ treats.
Living Without's Favorites: Natural Choice
No time to bake? Mixes from Gluten-Free Naturals Foods, LLC, bake up impressive alternatives to made-from-scratch recipes. Founded in 2004 by the Graven family in response to a relative’s celiac diagnosis, GFN tests its bakery items on celiacs and non-celiacs alike to assure universal appeal.
Living Without's Favorites: Father Knows Best
It started with a dad trying to make palatable gluten-free bread for his daughter’s lunch. Young Gillian had just been diagnosed with celiac disease and her father, executive chef Robert Otolo, worked until he created a loaf that won her approval.
Living Without's Favorites: Saucy!
Dunk. Douse. Drench. Dip. A bottle of Cormier’s Gold is a call to action. Chef Glenn Cormier, owner of Cormier’s Kitchen, concocted these gluten-free cooking sauces for serious, robust flavor—and they deliver.
Read it
Living Without's Favorite Books: Homemade Goodness
Kelli and Peter Bronski, who cook, eat and blog gluten free, have put together a flour blend of six ingredients. From that blend explodes a repertoire of over 250 gluten-free recipes from around the world.
Living Without's Favorite Books: Time for a Tune Up
Here’s a health program for detoxing your body and losing weight that may make sense for those with gluten intolerance and food allergies. Talk to your doctor about it and give it a try.
Living Without's Favorite Books: Advice from a Pro
Even without chef Robert M. Landolphi’s culinary credentials, the fact that Gluten Free Every Day Cookbook (Andrews McMeel, LLC) contains five (yes, five) recipes for pie crust is reason enough to add his book to your collection.
Living Without's Favorite Books: Which Is It?
Allergy, intolerance, sensitivity, “problem” food—the definition may be important. The Food Intolerance Bible (Conari Press) can help you determine whether the foods you’re eating are making you ill.
Make it
Start Your Morning with a Gluten-Free Breakfast!
Subscribers OnlyThese homemade gluten-free cinnamon rolls are just like you remember them—small, warm rounds of springy dough bursting with cinnamon and topped with an old-fashioned sugar glaze.
Food for Thought
Balancing Act: Celiac Disease
Since Mike was diagnosed with celiac disease, the sacrifices Katie makes seem to have grown exponentially. No longer do we grab a quick bite at Katie’s favorite fast food chain. Most meals must be prepared. No longer do we steal away for a day trip. Everything must be planned for and packed. ‘Spontaneity’ is a concept this lively 12-year-old girl is becoming unfamiliar with.