Celiac Disease

Is anyone here familiar with celiac disease?

I was just diagnosed with CD and was told that it is basically an intolerability for the small intestine to process anything with gluten. I've been researching as much as I can on the internet before my appointment with the nutritionist, and have discovered that pretty much EVERYTHING has gluten! Bread, pasta, cereal, soy sauce, argh! I am also allergic to nuts and am lactose intolerant... geez, sometimes I feel like I am falling apart =/

Is there anyone that has celiac that can tell me a little about their diet???

Thanks :)

Mon. Jul 24, 3:27pm

Have you searched on WebMD? They have lots of articles about it, and it is a good place to start....

Monday, July 24, 2006, 3:38 PM

Yeah, I have looked through all kinds of internet articles and texts. I was just curious as to people's personal experiences rather than reading factual information.

Monday, July 24, 2006, 4:03 PM

there are some great wheat-free pastas. i enjoy the "quinoa" pastas, made the the whole-grain quinoa. very tasty! and there are plenty of other substitutes for wheat these days-maybe not in the regular supermarket, but ask at the customer service desk-you never know...in lieu of nut crackers, maybe try the rice crackers-a little more crispy than wheat, but definitely can stand in for your needs. i enjoy a wheat-free bread made with pumperknickel and rye-it is a bit more dense than wheat breads, but a little goes a long way. once you get used to looking for and finding alternatives to wheat-laden foods, it is quite easy to maintain the new life-diet. good luck!

Monday, July 24, 2006, 4:04 PM

Make sure products are labled gluten free, not just wheat free, as some wheat free items contain gluten. Check out this list of grains that are okay for you.

Link

Monday, July 24, 2006, 5:06 PM

I admit I don't live gluten free, so I can't entirely help you out. But I do live wheat free- and that's similiar. (I'm also corn free, and many wheat free products rely on corn, so I understand the dificulty of finding new foods)

Check out the link below to find all kinds of foods that could work. I had them compile a list for me of things they offered that were wheat and corn free, so I'm sure they could do wheat dairy and nut free for you.

The biggest problem you will find is wheat in potato chips, sauces, prepared meat products, etc. You will have to become an anal label reader. Beware that anytime it says "modified starch" that could be wheat. And sadly, eating out will become less likely, as wheat is SO pervasive in society that almost any meal you'll get at a restaurant is going to be gluten contaminated.

My diet has changed in that it's not grain based anymore, and I'm healthier for it. While there are great rice pastas out there, I rarely even eat them. My diet, the focus is on lean meat, veggies, and fruit. (With regular consumption of dark chocolate :)) If you find a local health food store to shop at, I'm sure they'll have many different options for you.

Link

Monday, July 24, 2006, 5:57 PM

That is perhaps the best link I have ever seen regarding special diet shopping. Thank you so much!!!

-OP

Monday, July 24, 2006, 6:53 PM

op, how did you find out you had celiac disease?

Monday, July 24, 2006, 9:00 PM

OP!! Read this!

My friend's daughter was just diagnosed with CD. She found an AMAZING support group at the hospital (lots and lots of help with nutrition). Also, Whole Foods has a program here in Cambridge, MA where they do CD food tours of the store and will show you all the options out there. As luck would have it, my friend did this tour, which she may have found out about through the hospital group, but the tour guide also does family cooking 'classes.' You go with a bunch of other people with CD or CD in their family, cook a bunch of recipes to take home and freeze. It has been a godsend for her.

I *think* this was all through Mass General Hospital in Boston, MA.

Monday, July 24, 2006, 9:30 PM

5:57 poster/shop by diet poster here :) OP, you're very welcome :) I love the site too

Monday, July 24, 2006, 9:45 PM

oh, I forgot there's also this site- doesn't do as much for me as there's a lot of corn infested stuff, but it might help you.

Link

Monday, July 24, 2006, 9:47 PM

my nephew was on a gluten free diet for a long time-he doesn't have celiacs, but he has a type of autism where they thought gluten exacerbated his troubles. He ate at lot of rice, quinoa, fruits, veggies, beans, etc. It is really difficult at first to get away from gluten, but once you get used to what to look for, you will find it's bearable.

A lot of natural food stores have gluten-free sections these days, and i know my sister even ordered some gluten free cookies and cakes online for my nephew. there are definitely resources out there!

you must be happy to have a diagnosis- i know a lot of people who suffer from symptoms like that of celiacs and often it takes years to diagnose! good luck!

Wednesday, July 26, 2006, 10:08 PM

To the 9:00 poster:

I was diagnosed with CD through a panel of blood tests as well as an intestinal biopsy.

Thursday, July 27, 2006, 1:15 AM

To the 9:30/9:45 poster

Thanks for all of the great information! :) I live right down the way from a Whole Foods store, so I will definitly check that out!

Thursday, July 27, 2006, 1:16 AM

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