:: Gluten Free Works Blog ::

By John Libonati

Glutenfreeworks.com Editor’s Note: Mixes From The Heartland is giving away a free gluten-free package with every $25 order through their website for a limited time. Shipping is $10 on orders less than $100 and free above it.

I recently had the opportunity to try some of the gluten-free mixes sold by Mixes From the Heartland. I was impressed…

Located in Amarillo, Texas, Mixes From The Heartland makes it their mission to "make mealtime healthy, easier and normal for all people with celiac disease."

Mixes From The Heartland offers a cornucopia of gluten-free foods: more than 300 all natural, nutrient-dense soups, stews, meals, muffins, cakes, desserts, gravies, pancakes, snacks and the best sweet potato brownies I have ever had – period. (more…)

By Tiffany Janes

Almost everyone who plans a trip the first time after they start living gluten-free has the same question – "how am I going to eat safely away from home?" The answer is simply – by doing some gluten-free home work. They need to do research about gluten-free dining options where they're headed, and they need to pack some food for the trip.
Here is a list of things that are easy to find and are not likely to be confiscated by airport security. Most of these item can be used for a plane ride and upon arrival to your destination. Brands listed are not the only gluten-free options. (more…)

By Amy Fothergill

Wow, was that a good food show! The NASFT's Winter Fancy Food Show was held Jan 17-19 in San Francisco, CA. This food show highlights specialty foods, snacks and beverages from better name brands like Jelly Belly and Annie Chun's to Coco Chocolates from the UK and 479º Popcorn from San Francisco. One of the big trends is definitely gluten-free which is excellent news for anyone on a gluten-free diet. It was great being able to sample so many delicious gluten-free products from dips, crackers and pizza to cookies, cakes and granola. (more…)

By Trish Deitemeyer

The word is getting out that even though we can’t eat wheat, celiacs (and others who must follow a gluten free diet) still love to eat pasta. There are a few establishments in the Philadelphia area that offer gluten free pasta, such as Giorgio on Pine in Center City, Café Alessio in Doylestown, Café Monterosso in Yardley, City Kitchen Pizzeria in Southampton, and Maggiano’s Little Italy in Center City, King of Prussia and Cherry Hill, NJ. However, if you’re really missing home-made pasta, just like Nonna used to make, why not try to make it yourself? (more…)

By John Libonati

The traditional look of celiac disease was an underweight person. However, a large minority (39%) are now found to be overweight at diagnosis.

A woman with a history of struggling to lose weight is diagnosed with celiac disease. After starting the gluten-free diet she loses 50 lbs in less than a year…seemingly without effort. A middle-aged man who has never had issues with his weight is diagnosed with celiac disease, adopts the gluten-free diet and begins to pack on pounds and doesn't know why. A young man loses over 20 lbs in less than 3 months and reaches his ideal weight after going gluten-free.

These are true stories – in fact the last one was mine. (more…)

By John Libonati

The debate about autism and the effectiveness of the gluten-free, casein-free diet continues – this time due to irresponsible reporting of the mainstream news media who seem to have chosen sensationalism over objective journalism when covering an important medical paper on gastrointestinal disorders in autism.

This week, a panel of medical experts led by Timothy Buie, MD at Harvard Medical School published a consensus statement on the Evaluation, Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Disorders in Individuals with ASDs (Autism Spectrum Disorders) in the medical journal Pediatrics. You can find the full paper here.

The panel covered 23 topics in a document that is 20 pages in length, dealing with the diagnosis and care of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and gastrointestinal issues. The panel based its conclusions on available information which they agreed was limited and incomplete.

The Key Topic

“Individuals with autism spectrum disorders who present with gastrointestinal symptoms warrant a thorough evaluation, as would be undertaken for individuals without autism spectrum disorders who have the same symptoms or signs. Evidence based algorithms for the assessment of abdominal pain, constipation, chronic diarrhea, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) should be developed.”

Some of the other topics include recommendations for the banking of DNA samples, the complexity of diagnostic evaluation when ASD and gastrointestinal disorders present, the need for studies to determine the prevalence of intestinal permeability in neuropsychiatric manifestions of ASD, and the need for large studies to determine the effectiveness of the gluten-free, casein-free diet. (more…)

By Anne Steib

Post-holiday time can leave a hostess with many leftovers. This holiday I was left with an abundance of sweet potatoes after baking four good size ones for two sweet potato pies. I probably had enough to make two additional pies, but I wanted to try something different. And because of the nutritional value of sweet potatoes, I didn't want it to go to waste. Of course when you combine a super food like sweet potatoes and the whole grain of buckwheat with copious amounts of butter and sugar, the nutritional value is sure to decrease, but at least we know there is some redeeming quality in the dish. (more…)

By John Libonati

Gluten Free Works Publishing is helping people with celiac disease kick off a healthier 2010 by offering a $10.00 discount on the highly recommended celiac disease manual, "Recognizing Celiac Disease," now through January 8th.

"Recognizing Celiac Disease" is the ready celiac reference that thousands of people are using to get well and stay healthy.

"Recognizing Celiac Disease" lists over 300 symptoms of celiac disease and the nutrient deficiencies that cause them both before and after diagnosis. This comprehensive reference will help you understand gluten sensitivity, celiac disease, nutrient deficiencies and how they are affecting you so you can correct them and heal.

Doctors, dietitians, marines, chefs, hairdressers and celiac support groups across the country are using this invaluable tool. You can find dozens of reader letters on the Recognizing Celiac Disease website. Some are touching, some are amazing, but all of them rave about this fantastic resource and the information it gave them that helped them get better and monitor their health.

The list of experts from the most prestigious medical institutions who recommend the work is truly impressive. You can see them here.

"This masterful, comprehensive and easy-to-use resource guide will go a long way in helping folks restore their health and regain their lives, a goal we share. Recognizing Celiac Disease has a permanent place on my desk and I definitely will recommend this well-researched reference manual to healthcare professionals and patients alike."

-Alice Bast, Founder and Executive Director,
National Foundation for Celiac Awareness

Take advantage of this limited time offer and get your own copy now. You will be happy you did…

Click here for more information and to order Recognizing Celiac Disease.

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"Author Information: John Libonati, Philadelphia, PA
Publisher, Glutenfreeworks.com.
Editor & Publisher, Recognizing Celiac Disease.
John can be reached at john.libonati@glutenfreeworks.com."

By John Libonati

There is a new frozen gluten-free pizza on the market. Isabelle's Best gluten-free pizzas are now available at select Sam's Club locations. Isabelle's Best is a 12″ Pepperoni pizza that comes two (2) pizzas in the box. They sell for $13.38 which comes to $6.64 for each 12″ pizza.

Sam's Club is testing Isabelle's Best to see whether people buy gluten-free products. If they see good sales, they will expand their availability to more locations in the near future. I've been hearing good things, so I'll be picking up a box tomorrow.

You can find Isabelle's Best Gourmet Gluten Free Pizzas at these locations:

BENTONVILLE, AR (479)621-5537
LITTLE ROCK, AR (501)227-7119
FT. SMITH, AR (479)484-5454
FAYETTEVILLE, AR (479)587-1840
SHERWOOD, AR (501)945-2167
DOVER, DE (302)678-4220
WINDSOR HEIGHTS, IA (515)255-2252
SIOUX CITY,IA (712)233-3133
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (712)366-0130
WATERLOO, IA (319)236-9933 (more…)

By John Libonati

The following is a post I recently submitted to the Sillyaks listserv concerning attitude and nutritional deficiencies in celiac disease. I posted it in response to a heated exchange folks were having on the topic.

Hi there,

The "rage" we see in posts from time to time is part and parcel with celiac disease. My business is celiac disease. I own Glutenfreeworks.com and edited the book, Recognizing Celiac Disease.

I frequently see abnormal personalities in my travels, presentations, discussions and on listservs. I meet people with anxiety, depression, irritability, distrust and other unexplained "attitudes." There is an explanation and no they aren't jerks, as much as people might want to call them that. Whether they are gluten-free or not, they are sick – malnourished in fact.

Nutrients play a huge part in our attitude.

Here is an example. While dropping off a shipment of Recognizing Celiac Disease books at the post office on Friday, a woman in line with thinning hair and poor skin color noticed my Gluten Free Works label. She asked what the packages were and I told her the packages contained books I was sending to customers.

She immediately launched into a tirade about how only biopsy-proven people have celiac disease and people are making money off celiac disease and how she should write a book because her daughters have celiac disease and she has read all the research and knows everything… (more…)