Celiac-specific News of Interest ~

I signed up for Goole Alerts a while ago to track a myriad of work clients and all things gluten-free, and I'm amazed at the stories that pop up once or twice per day. I highly recommend that every Celiac sign up for these news alerts, as most of them are fairly informative and helps keep you up do date on new research, products, etc.

I just finished researching this new home screening test for an article, but wanted to share the story with you - very interesting:

Home Screening Test Now Available

The Biocard™ Celiac Test Kit is an at-home test that measures IgA antibodies from a fingertip blood sample. While this easy test gives a high degree of certainty that you are either developing celiac disease or already have celiac disease, you still need to see your doctor for a confirmation. Confirming a diagnosis requires a small bowel biopsy in which an endoscope is passed through the mouth into the stomach’s upper intestine so that the lining can be examined and a biopsy taken.

The only treatment for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet for life. Still, the day you’re confirmed celiac and start your diet, is the day you’re on the road to recovery.

Information on celiac disease, the Biocard™ Celiac Test Kit, and links to key informational sites can be found at www.celiachometest.com/. The kit can be purchased online, or at London Drugs, Rexall Pharma Plus, and other major Canadian retail chains.

Also, I found this video story on YouTube - it's a segment from The View on ABC with host Elizabeth Hasselbeck, who has Celiac Disease. What intrigued me was the interview with Dr. Peter Green, author of "Celiac Disease - A hidden epidemic."

Happy Saint Valentine’s Day – Gluten-free of course

I love Valentine’s Day, not for the cards or candy OR flowers (though you can't go wrong with these gifts) but for the memories the day conjures up from childhood. I specifically remember carefully writing out all of my Valentine’s cards for everyone in my third grade classroom, coloring red hearts and sticking glitter everywhere. Then the fun part was dropping them off into the little “heart pockets” that every student in class created and taped to the sides of their desks. Then came the joy of opening each card and eating sugar cookies with Red-Hot hearts and cream-cheese frosting – I can still taste their sugary goodness, and oh, the smell of a fresh baked sugar cookie. Happiness.

Being a Celiac on Valentine’s Day can be just as enjoyable and hopefully a bit more romantic, now that I’m all grown up, well almost. I do have some very lovely V-day memories in my mind and heart that warm my soul. It’s just such a great day to share some love and joy with all those you know and care most about. But this year I got to thinking about the history of this lover’s day and assumed it must have been born from the romance of Italy somehow, and I was right...leave it to the Italians (of course) or one Italian, to be exact, to be the muse of this lovely holiday, shared by many all around the world.

A little history – who was Saint Valentine?


Saint Valentine is the patron saint of affianced couples, happy marriages, lovers, travelers and young people, amongst other things. Scholars believe that he was a priest in Rome, even possibly a bishop. Legend has it that he was imprisoned for aiding martyrs in prison. While he was imprisoned he converted the jailer, and restored the sight of his young daughter, to which he was then released. Another opinion is that St. Valentine was himself a Roman martyr for refusing to give up his Christian faith. Whoever he was, Valentine really existed because archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to Saint Valentine.

In 496 AD Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom. There are many theories about the origin of the Valentine’s celebrations. The first being that the Romans had a mid-February custom in which boys drew girl’s names in honor of the sex and fertility goddess, Februata Juno. In order to suppress this practice, pastors “baptized” these pagan holidays with the names of saints, such as Valentine.

Another belief is that birds began to pair up on February 14th, and by 1477 the English associated lovers with the feast of Valentine because on that day “every bird chooses him a mate.”

Isn’t that fun?!

So I must share another special event happening for me this week...I just finished writing my first article for Living Without magazine’s June/July issue! I’m so excited to be affiliated with such a great publication, dedicated to Celiacs and people living with allergies and food sensitivities. If you haven’t picked up a copy or subscribed to this publication, you really should for your own health and good.

The editing process still must take place, but I found great liberation and passion in writing about something that’s the essence of who I am – and has so shaped my life. Writing is a true joy, when you are able to express something that’s near and dear to your heart. If I could, I would be writing full-time, all of the time...one day soon, I hope.

I’ll let you know when my story will be hitting the newsstands and provide a link. I can hardly wait, but on the other hand I’m also quite nervous about putting my words out there, in glossy print for all to see.

Since being diagnosed as a Celiac, I’m meticulously careful about what kinds of chocolate/sweets I will put into my mouth, but I will tell you that this weekend I’m planning to indulge in a bar (or two) of wonderful Dagoba chocolate that is gluten-free and organic. I have a lavender bar with my name all over it. Mmmmmm

Enjoy this beautiful day of love and make sure you read all of the ingredients carefully of any delicious sweets you are about to consume...

Saint Valentine’s Day should be about love and eating wonderful food, not being sick!

Buon San Valentino per lei!

Good morning...Gluten-free Tahoe ~

Don't you just love waking up to and sipping a warm, frothy hot chocolate or latte, such as this one above? Mmmmmm. I do, and I consumed this little delight at a the Blue Mountain Coffee Co. in Tahoe City last weekend - they used Ghirardelli chocolate that's gluten-free! Stop by for one, yourself.

January 2009 was quite a rough month and start to the New Year for me, health-wise, let's just say. I was hit hard with gluten poisoning on Jan. 3rd and then with a terrible flu bug a week ago, so needless to say, my stomach hates me right now. As terribly careful as I am when eating out, it's obviously still not enough...so another lesson learned the hard way.

But on a brighter note, I did dare venture out to dinner for the first time in six weeks while in Tahoe last weekend, at the Lone Eagle Grille, part of the gorgeous Hyatt Regency property in Incline Village. I love the atmosphere of this Tahoe-esq restaurant and the bar scene is so much fun -lively people gathered 'round rustic, elegant tables and the outdoor fire pit, along with tons of children enjoying a night out with mom and dad - it's lovely and the view of Lake Tahoe (before sunset) is wonderful. But really, I'm mentioning this because you CAN eat very well and very gluten-free at the Lone Eagle. Over the years of visiting this haute-spot on the Lake, I've never had an issue with my food being prepared improperly, and this time was no exception. The server was very well versed in all things gluten-free, and guided me through my meal choices. It was very reassuring.


I ordered this delicious salmon dish (above)created with care and corn starch! And I was able to order their fantastic Butternut squash/apple soup that was perfectly gluten-free. It was a delicious and safe meal, not to mention the lively atmosphere, great music and company.

Eating at the Lone Eagle Grille is a treat...meaning that it is rather pricey and perhaps saved for a special night out, but truly it's worth it to be able to dine safely and with quite the view for dessert.

Enjoy Tahoe!

Celiac Awareness, Local Style ~

As many of you may or may not know, I've been on a kick for a while now to really promote the heck out of Celiac Disease and create awareness on every level possible. And since I work in the world of public relations and have easier access (sometimes!) to the media, I decided to pitch my celiac story again and see if one of my reporter friends would bite on it. It worked! My friend Patranya, from KTVN, Ch. 2, the CBS affiliate in Reno is really good at her job and helped me put together a quick story to help elevate the level of celiac disease throughout Northern Nevada.

Take a look when you have some time, and pass it along to anyone you know who might be a Celiac or gluten intolerant. Education is the KEY!

In the meantime, get outside and enjoy this day - it's gorgeous and gluten free ~

Europe modifies gluten-free standards

Glorious raindrops are falling on my head...sort of. I'm staring out my office window (taking a little break from work)to see the rain that's finally falling, and it's a wonderful sight...ohhhh the smell of rain and fresh air. It definitely renews the senses and the spirit.

I love rain.

I also love Europe and eating gluten-free on that Continent, and have just learned today, thanks to a new colleague I'm working with in the gluten-free world, that Europe or the UK specifically, have established new rules for gluten free food. Right on the heels of learning there were no mechanisms in place for labeling and monitoring the gluten-free labels in Europe, comes this report......The new guidelines will follow the United States Allergen guidlines that 20 parts per million of gluten is considered gluten-free.

Have you ever wondered how much is 20 parts per million? Imagine a basketball court covered with 999,980 grains of sand. If you add 20 more grains of sand, you’ve got it.

Though the packaging of all GF foods in Europe/UK aren't required to go into effect until January of 2012, those manufacturers who are ready can begin using the new labeling system immediately - giving Celiacs who travel to Europe (and live there, of course) even more peace of mind about exactly what they are eating in their gluten-free products.

This kind of news is so important for Celiacs to be aware of - if you have a great story or informative article you would like to share with the world, please send it my way.

I'm going to continue sipping my warm tea now and watching the rain fall...while dreaming of eating gluten-free in some charming cafe in Europe. And to share my favorite quote with you all, since it's such a perfect day for such words..."There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be diminished by a nice cup of tea."

~Bernard Paul Heroux(1900's Basque philosopher)

Be well.

Be informed ~

Celiac and Social Media Mix ~

As you might have guessed...I'm on a mission to educate as many who will listen...about Celiac Disease and the ever-increasing number of Americans (and worldwide citizens) who are newly diagnosed, or yet to be. And, as most of you already know, 1 out of every 133 Americans has Celiac Disease!

Therefore, I created a new group on Facebook for any and all to join and learn more about the fight for awareness and one day, a cure! If you are a Facebook member or want to become one, please do join my new group: Gluten-free Bowl of Soul

The more the merrier...the greater the awareness!

Cheers and thanks for joining.

A Gluten-free New Year ~

I'm not a huge fan of making resolutions in the New Year, though I have been known in the past to put together "a list" of all my good intentions and hopes for the coming 365 days, however, this year I did make one resolution I'm determined to stick with - NO MORE GLUTEN POISONING!!

Need I say more...

Well yes. You see, I'm in the midst of starting off this New Year severely under the weather due to eating a substantial, and accidental amount of flour last Saturday night at a favorite Mexican restaurant that I've frequented over the last few years. Even after asking the appropriate questions and requesting the "plain mild green salsa"...there was a communication breakdown...and they used the salsa sauce WITH flour added to cut the spiciness.

Needless to say, I've never been so ill from consuming gluten. Sigh.

On a more uplifting note, "gluten-free" is becoming more and more prevalent in the mainstream news and I'm sure that 2009 will not be an exception to this new rule.

Here's some very interesting stories that I wanted to share with you all; one on NPR News that I found to cast a different light on "gluten" and the other was posted on my hometown news radio station, KCBS and reported on by food editor, Narsai David.

And finally, a story in the Chicago Tribune this week regarding Whole Foods pulling some of its GF products off the shelf.

So here's to a happy, healthy, gluten-free 2009!!

Happy New Year!