New Gluten-Free Girl Scout Cookies: Yay!

For the 2015 cookie season, the Girl Scouts are offering two new gluten-free goodies, Toffee-tastic and Trios. Toffee-tastic is a buttery cookie with yummy toffee bits and Trios are peanut butter oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips. The gf cookies cost a dollar more than their non-gf cousins, but when everyone else is enjoying their Thin Mints and Samoas/Caramel deLites, it's amazing to be able to join in with your own tasty treat.

Toffee-tastic

Trios

Also new this year, the super helpful online cookie finder app. Just type in your location, or specific cookie, and the app will find the closest Girl Scout Cookie booth. It's the 98th year of Girl Scout Cookies and they just keep getting better and better!

Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity

You have all the symptoms of celiac disease: stomach pain after eating gluten, fatigue, headaches, "brain fog" - but your tests came back negative. What gives? Are you crazy? Is your doctor? Frustrated, you give up and stuff yourself with pizza and beer. It can't hurt, right?

Well, yes and...maybe. Debated about for years, recent research has uncovered a "less severe [than celiac disease] non-specific immune response," according to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, called Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS.) Both conditions are clinically similar, however NCGS does not cause long-term intestinal damage, nor does it seem to be genetic. In his new book, Gluten Freedom, Alessio Fasano, M.D.,world-renowned expert and founder of Massachusetts General Hospital’s Center for Celiac Research, explains the differences between celiac disease, NCGS and wheat allergy. "Celiac disease is not a food allergy. Food allergies, including wheat allergy, are conditions that an individual might outgrow." Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that never goes away; even with complete avoidance of gluten, sufferers will always have it. NCGS may go away on its own.

Should you be gluten-free?

Celiac disease affects about 1% of the population, or 1 in 133 Americans, while research estimates that 6% of Americans (mostly adults) suffer from Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity. Celiac disease can only be diagnosed by blood tests and biopsy. There is no definitive test for NCGS. Sufferers must be sure to first rule out celiac and wheat allergy, then follow an elimination diet and subsequent gluten challenge. Of course, whenever these maladies are suspected, it is important to find a doctor who has experience with gluten issues. This is not the time to self-diagnose.

Dr. Fasano says "Celiac disease is driven by even minimal cross-contamination of gluten. In gluten sensitivity, this is not necessarily so." Some NCGS patients may be able to tolerate a small amount of gluten; their symptoms emerge when they ingest too much wheat, rye or barley. They undoubtedly feel better off gluten, sometimes right away. Most celiac sufferers also begin to feel better soon after quitting gluten but it can take many years for the intestinal damage to heal, and often it never heals completely. Undiagnosed, celiac disease can cause serious long-term problems like osteoporosis, infertility and cancer.

So, is Gluten Sensitivity a fad? Sometimes. But sometimes it is a very real syndrome with very real symptoms. And if gluten causes distresses, by all means, stop ingesting gluten! But remember, it's always better to err on the side of caution and seek out educated medical help.

Gluten-Free in the News

You don't have time to keep up with the latest in GF news? I understand. Here's a little wrap-up for you.


Gluten-Free Olympians in the 2014 Winter Olympics
Fellow Examiner Jennifer Harris gives a great summary of all the GF athletes competing at the Olympics this winter.

Olympic Rings at Sochi 2014

Quicker Blood Test for Diagnosing Celiac Disease
Scientists may have come up with a quicker, easier way to diagnose CD, which doesn't involve snipping into the small intestine. Score!

Unmanaged Celiac Disease = Increased Risk for Hip Fracture 
Yet another reason not to "cheat" on your gluten-free diet.

9 Things You Should Know Before Going Gluten-Free
The Huffington Post gets in on the action, mostly warning away faddists. There is some useful info here.

Gluten-Free Celebrity News: Scandal's Dan Bucatinsky
A celebrity living with Celiac Disease.

A Gluten-Free Holiday: All I Want for Christmas is...Perky Villi

Two front teeth?  I'm okay there. Whiskers on kittens? Well, that would be great, but my husband would have a fit if we brought any more pets home. Bright copper kettles?  Well, maybe...

If you're in the market for thoughtful gift ideas for someone who has Celiac disease (or who must eat gluten-free) look no further. I've compiled a wish-list. And since I actually have Celiac, I should know, right?

In the Kitchen

For the newly diagnosed, it is imperative that they do a kitchen make-over. Most of their pots and pans, bowls and tools have been contaminated with gluten.  Yes, contaminated.  I know that sounds dramatic, but it's accurate.  Even long-time Celiacs, like myself, can use new stuff. Case in point: I was diagnosed with CD over 11 years ago, but recently I noticed that some of my symptoms were reappearing. I couldn't imagine what was going on: I'm always super-careful cooking at home, I constantly checked and re-checked ingredient lists and I was mindful of cross-contamination (and of course, I have a dedicated toaster.) It wasn't until I read Gluten-Free Cookware and Kitchen Utensils by Jane Anderson that I realized I needed to go shopping for some new kitchen items.  Many of these same items make very appreciated gifts.

Cutting Board

 

Since it's the scratches in cookware and surfaces that hide microscopic particles of gluten, it's only natural that their cutting board is likely harboring tons of the little buggers. And there's no real way to get rid of them. Be safe; get your GF loved-one a dedicated GF cutting board like this one.

Dedicated Gluten-Free Cutting Board

Rolling Pin

If their rolling pin was ever used to make non-GF pastry or cookies, it's time for a new rolling pin. Nothing says Happy Holidays like a fresh new rolling pin. 

Cooking Tools

New cooking tools make great stocking stuffers, like this GF bamboo set. 

Bread Machine 

If your GF loved one is tired of paying upwards of $5.00 for a loaf of mediocre gluten-free bread, it could be time for a bread machine. There are many out there, but the Zojirushi consistently wins raves among the GF community. It has a gluten-free cycle and great GF recipes in the included cookbook.

Books and Magazines

Great gluten-free recipes can be found everywhere - cookbooks, magazines and all over the internet. There are so many great gluten-free cookbooks on the market, here are a few fan favorites:

Gluten-Free on a Shoestring, Quick and Easy: 100 Recipes for the Food You Love--Fast! by Nicole Hunn

Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef: A Love Story with 100 Tempting Recipes by Daniel Ahern and Shauna James Ahern

Unbelievably Gluten-Free: 128 Delicious Recipes: Dinner Dishes You Never Thought You'd Be Able to Eat Again by Anne Byrn

And these magazines offer the very latest health reporting, along with delicious recipes and great tips. A subscription is truly the gift that keeps on giving.

• Easy Eats  (online only) 

 

• Simply Gluten-Free 

• Gluten-Free Living  

• Living Without  

• Delight Gluten-Free  

Clothes and Accessories

 Do your friends have a "Gluten for Punishment" apron? Does your baby have a "Please don't feed me gluten" onesie?

Gluten for Punishment Aprons by trishf429
See more Celiac Aprons at zazzle.com

     

Please don't feed me gluten! t-shirts by trishf429
View other Gluten T-Shirts

Food and Drink

You can never go wrong with an edible present. If you eat gluten-free yourself and are confident in your skills, by all means, prepare your famous GF casserole or cookies and give that as a gift, along with a recipe card. If, however, you're afraid of "glutening" your friend or loved one, there are alternatives.  Many large grocery stores and health food stores have excellent gluten-free food selections. Gift baskets are always appreciated. Some suggestions:

A snack attack bowl - fill a bright plastic bowl with a variety of GF chips, cookies, candies and fun flavored sodas.

A tour of Italy - pile packages of GF pasta, olive oil, grated cheese and a jar of pasta sauce in a shiny new (read: uncontaminated) colander. 

If you don't think your gift basket skills are up to par, there are certainly companies that would be happy to make them and send them for you. I Can Have That! and Gourmet Gift Baskets are just two.

I Can Have That! The Nosh basket

Finally, if your gluten-free friends were beer drinkers once upon a time, I have a great gift idea for you. And believe me, I don't think anyone else is going to come up with this one. Present your GF pal with a 6-pack of flavorful GF beer and you'll have a BFF for life.

This is a list of the best gluten-free beers on the market, according to Bon Appetit  and Men's Fitness magazines.

 

• The Alchemist: Celia Saison
• Bard's
• Green's Endeavor Dubbel Ale
• Estrella Damm: Daura
• Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales: Tweason'ale
• Omission Beer: Lager
• Harvester Fresh Hop IPA
• New Planet Pale Ale
• Lakefront Brewery New Grist

 So there you have it - KindaReal's holiday gift idea list. I hope you find something for all the Celiacs on your list. I mean, we deserve it, don't you think? 

Happy shopping! :)

Happy Celiac Awareness Day! Have some Zucchini Bread.

I was going to write an informational post about Celiac disease for Celiac Awareness Day (which is September 13th), but my good buddy Jules, of Jules Gluten Free explains it better than anyone on her blog, Jules Speaks, so just go there. Really. I'll bet you'll learn more in just a few minutes than you have from some of your doctors! (Including what this guy has to do with Celiac disease...)

Dr. Samuel Gee 13 September 1839-3 August 1911

But since I'd be doing a disservice to my fellow Celiacs by just cheating and posting a link to someone else's blog, how about a recipe? Okay, so maybe it is another blogger's recipe, but still...my friend Nicole has written three great gluten-free cookbooks and has a super cool site, Gluten Free on a Shoestring. Her Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread is yummy; truly a delicious way to use up some of summer's bounty. (Nicole is the reason I have bags of shredded zucchini stuffed in my freezer.) It's called bread, but you'll say cake. Or "Mmmm." Or both.

www.glutenfreeonashoestring.com

 Gluten Free on a Shoestring's Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
by Nicole Hunn

Be sure to check out all the recipes on the site. You'll find great tips and different options there. -trish