Celiac Disease

Official Website of Celiac-Disease.com

You are here: Home / Blog

Blog

Possible Treatments for Celiac Disease

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff Leave a Comment

There are many conflicting opinions about whether or not we should be placing our hopes on medication for celiac or gluten intolerance. Many people would take a drug in a New York minute if they could, just so they could eat a “normal” diet so to speak. Others argue that “normal” for us is avoiding gluten since our bodies clearly provide proof that we can’t tolerate and digest gluten properly.

Everyone should do what works for them as always, but presently about 60% of people who are told to follow a gluten-free diet for medical reasons do not do so. Many live on over-the-counter medications and eat whatever they want to. Even some insanely wealthy people do this which is baffling since they can afford to purchase the finest gluten-free foods from around the world. They can also afford to eat at the finest restaurants that offer gluten-free meals.

In the end, it might all come down to convenience. Would people rather spend a couple of hours tracking down safe places to dine out at on vacation, or take a pill or enzyme and eat wherever they want to? The answer for the majority of Americans seems to be the latter. They want things to be easier and that’s understandable to a degree. It’s concerning though that our culture seems to consume prescription medications like they are candy.

If you watch the news in Europe, you’d think the American population was made up of a bunch of drug addicts. It’s quite alarming really.  While many counties use herbal medicinal treatments, a vast majority of Americans are happy to pop pills, even when they have horrible side effects. An example of this happening is depression treatment. St. John’s Wort is commonly used with much success by many people in Europe for the condition. There are few, if any, negative side effects for people using this natural supplement. Alternately, most Americans with depression are taking mind-altering drugs that most of the time, have pretty bad side effects.

The companies that make St. John’s Wort supplements do not have salespeople going into doctors’ offices around the country to give out free samples as the prescription medication companies do. Therefore, many Americans are not even aware of the existence of St. John’s Wort. Count the commercials for depression medications on your nightly newscast sometime. It’s shocking how many drug advertisements are run daily, all day. It was once prohibited by law for pharmaceutical companies to advertise on TV. Finally, the big pharma lobby won out and Congress changed the law to allow them.

For many who can’t eat gluten, taking some type of drug seems the best option for them to feel “normal” again. Not everyone feels abnormal and many of us have never felt better since going off gluten, but there is something to be said for not having to worry about gluten for every meal, snack, and event we might encounter in a day. This week in the L.A. Times, there is an article that explains the research being done to try and conquer celiac disease. The method of using hookworms sounds particularly gross but apparently, they brought relief to some partaking in the study. Hopefully, any treatment that is forthcoming will do more good than harm to those who choose to take advantage of it.

Recipe: Easy Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 4 Comments

I am not a great cook, or baker, and certainly not that adventurous in the kitchen, as my blog readers know! But when I find a good recipe, an easy recipe, I will use it over and over again, and share it with everyone that will listen! These peanut butter cookies are so easy it is crazy, and they are so delicious! I make them for the Annual Boulder County Celiacs cookie exchange because we bring several dozen cookies each, and these are nice and easy to make.

The ingredients are very easy to remember, so much so that they are dubbed “cuppa cuppa egg” by many people. You need:

  • 1 Cup of Peanut butter
  • 1 Cup of Sugar
  • 1 Egg
  • (1 Hershey Kiss per cookie)

I usually make these in big batches. Three cups of peanut butter, three cups of sugar, and three eggs, makes enough batter for about 4 dozen cookies (2 cookies sheets of 24 cookies).

They don’t run when you bake them, so you can place the cookies pretty close to each other and get a lot of them on one cookie sheet. You have to get your hands dirty here, but luckily when you mix the ingredients well (using just a spoon is fine) it won’t stick to your hands too badly. Roll the dough in to balls about 1 inch in diameter or the size of a small ping-pong ball, and place them on the lightly greased cookie sheet (I use spray Pam). If you have a Silpat that would would great, and if you don’t know what that is check it out! I only have one, and I make two cookie sheets at a time, so I don’t use it for these cookies.

Next place a thumb print in to the top of the cookie, which is where the Hershey’s Kiss will later go. Since the cookies don’t spread out as they bake, be aware of the shape the outside of the dough makes as you make the thumbprint. If the dough cracks, then the cookie will be cracked, and will be more likely to fall apart when it cools. It is best to make these slightly smaller, and make the thumbprint more shallow, so as not to crack the dough and cause the cookie to later fall apart.  Bake cookies for 10 minutes at 350 degrees, pull them out, top each cookie with a Hershey’s Kiss, and put back in the oven for another 5 minutes (this will not melt the Hershey’s Kiss, but will set them to the cookie). Allow them to cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes for trying to move them to cooling rack. If you want to try something different, top the cookies with a pecan, some other candy, or wait for the cookies to cool and with jelly!

I have no idea who came up with this recipe first, so I don’t know who to credit with the information. I know I have heard this recipe from coworkers and friends, people who aren’t gluten-free and just like how easy it is. I have seen a lot of versions of this cookie, gluten-free versions, that call for gluten-free flour and other stuff. Why do all of that extra work? These are easy and taste great! They are super sweet and rich, so you can’t eat too many! Enjoy!

Simple Money Saving Strategies for Gluten-Free Shopping

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff Leave a Comment

Finding gluten-free groceries that don’t break the bank is tough enough, but with the rising cost of, well, everything, it is getting harder and harder know what to buy and where. Some tips are simple, and universal, including buying “in season” produce, and looking local. But what about the gluten-free foods, which are never “in season” and usually far from local?

Neighborhood Grocery Stores

Believe it or not, many local grocery stores are now carrying gluten-free pasta, bread, and cookies. In some cases, stores are even labeling their private brands with “gluten-free.” Wal-mart labels their Great Value brand pizza sauce “gluten-free,” along with some more obvious things, like canned veggies and cottage cheese. Kroger (King Soopers) is making a real effort to carry a variety of gluten-free foods, including breads and frozen meals (in some locations). In Longmont, CO, King Soopers is carrying Amy’s frozen meals, Pamela’s cookies, and Udi’s bread. Usually, the average family grocery store is less expensive than the big name organic and specialty stores. When you visit the neighborhood grocery store for eggs and butter, check the aisles for new gluten-free additions.

Note: For help finding grocery stores in your area that carry gluten-free items, check out our gluten-free groceries by state page.

Online Deals

Online shopper? There are some great deals online. Kinnikinnick products are yummy, but sometimes hard to find. Thankfully, you can order all of their products on their website, and they offer $10.00 flat-rate shipping cost and monthly specials. If you have any experience with Amazon.com you know they offer some great deals, like 33% off of a 3 pack of Pamela’s Baking Mix. You have to buy in bulk, but if you have a freezer, or a large family, the savings are worth it. Amazon.com offers Free Super Saver shipping on many items, which usually takes 5-9 business days. If you are a frequent Amazon.com shopper, they offer the Prime Membership for $79.00 per year, and you get free two-day shipping, or one-day shipping for just $3.99 per item, which could save you money if you shop on Amazon.com often. Sign-up for emails from your favorite companies which may include coupons, recipes, and online specials.

Shop Smart

Some things are obvious, like fresh produce, beef, butter, milk (cow, soy, rice…) and can easily be purchased, usually for less, at your local grocery store. Remember to read labels and buy products that you can get at the neighborhood stores that are naturally gluten-free, and save the specialty stores for the specialty products. Look for your favorite products online, and buy in bulk at a discount.

Clip Coupons

You may find coupons for gluten-free foods online or in magazines, but don’t forget the coupons for cleaning products and hygiene products in the weekly newspaper. If you can save on the other grocery items, the gluten-free goodies won’t seem like such an expense.

Ruth’s Chris Gluten-Free Menu

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff Leave a Comment

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve received several requests that we research Ruth’s Chris steakhouse and publish any known gluten-free information. Because this steakhouse is found all throughout the United States it made sense for it to be the next restaurant featured here.

Official Website Menu Information: Ruth’s Chris Gluten-Free Menu
Location Finder: Find a Ruth’s Chris Location Near You

Unfortunately, a review of their official website didn’t uncover any official gluten-free menu information so I decided to do some additional research and see what I can find. Steakhouses typically have several foods which can easily be prepared gluten-free and it appears that Ruth’s Chris steakhouse is no exception.

Here are the menu items we’ve been able to confirm are gluten-free (as is the standard disclaimer, please make sure to educate your server of cross-contamination concerns):

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse Gluten-Free Menu

Appetizers/Soups/Salads

  • Barbequed Shrimp
  • Shrimp Remoulade
  • Onion Soup (no croutons)
  • Ahi Tuna is (no sauce)
  • All salads (no croutons)
  • All salad dressings except Ranch

Entrees

  • All entrees (steaks are only seasoned with salt, pepper, and butter)
  • Stuffed Chicken Breast (no Ranch dressing)

Sides

  • All potatoes are acceptable with the exception of Au Gratin and French Fries (both are fried in the same fryer as the Onion Rings)
  • All vegetables are acceptable except Creamed and Au Gratin.

Desserts

  • Chocolate Sin Cake
  • Crème Brulee
  • Berries with Cream

So there you go. Not a bad selection at all! As always, when dining out gluten-free, do your due diligence and make sure the staff understands your needs. There are very few restaurants that are 100% gluten-free, so cross-contamination is always a risk. If you don’t feel comfortable with what you are hearing from the staff, perhaps it is best to dine elsewhere.

For information about other gluten-free restaurants menus, check out our gluten-free restaurants page.

Have you eaten gluten-free at a Ruth’s Chris steakhouse before? Please share your experience in the comments!

Are All Nuts Gluten-Free?

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff

Nuts in their pure form are gluten-free. Peanuts, almonds, pecans, macadamia nuts, walnuts, pine nuts, pistachios, cashews, Brazil nuts and all other natural nuts are gluten-free. Sesame seeds and sunflower seeds are also gluten-free. The thing you have to watch out for with nuts is  packaged nuts that have flavors added. Many of those are gluten-free but several brands make nuts with wheat added into the seasonings that have been added to the nuts.

Blue Diamond and Planters both make many flavored nuts that are gluten-free. Read the label to determine the gluten-free status of any nuts. Typically, any nuts that contain gluten do so in the form of wheat, not barley or rye. Nuts are one food category that has fairly easy to read labels, making it simple to determine the gluten-free status of the products. Candied nuts are also an area of concern when it comes to gluten. Some brands are gluten-free and others are not. Naturally Fresh Salad Toppings nut products are all gluten-free, according to the Atlanta based manufacturer.

Candied nuts in restaurants contain gluten more often than not. For whatever reason, the Chefs at many places add flour to the coating mixture for candied or spiced nuts. Often times I’ve ordered salads that come with candied nuts, only to be advised that I can’t have the nuts due to them containing gluten. It’s extremely easy to make both candied and spiced nuts without any flour whatsoever – gluten or otherwise. Here are a few tasty recipes from Recipe Zaar, in case you want to make some for the holidays.

  • Candied Spiced Nuts 
  • MAG’S Extra Special Delicious Candied Pecans
  • Candied Cinnamon Pecans (Copycat Outback Steak House)

Nuts are something you have to read the labels of, just like every other item that is not labeled gluten-free. The main thing to remember is that plain, unadulterated nuts are gluten-free and all others need to be checked for their gluten-free status. Any time I’m ordering a dish with nuts when dining out, I double check with the  server, asking them to double check with the Chef that the nuts are indeed safe for me to have. For some reason, nuts are one of those things that are often overlooked when dining out, in regards to gluten. When looking for safe foods to enjoy at holiday parties, remember not to assume the nuts on the table are gluten-free.

Have a question about the gluten-free diet that we haven’t covered yet?  You can now submit your questions here! (Note: All medical questions should be directed to your physician)