Imagine having to monitor everything you eat. Every food label needs to be scrutinized. Every dish prepared separately from others in the family. Every time you take the family out to eat, you have to question the servers for ingredients and brands for items used to prepare entrees. That’s what everyday life is like for one who has to live gluten free.
A dear friend of mine has a son with Celiac Disease. An intolerance for gluten translates into a disease that damages the villi of the small intestine, compromising the absorption of nutrients. Before he was diagnosed, my friend noticed that her son was small for his age. He suffered from unexplainable episodes of cramping and severe abdominal pain. There were days when he was cranky and irritable. Later, she learned. Her son had the disease.
What makes Celiac Disease so difficult is how difficult it is to identify foods with gluten. It’s in so many things from the obvious like bread to the inexplicable, candy. The first year after diagnosis is tough. One needs to get educated about what they are up against. Then there’s the food.
Fortunately, clear labeling and an increased awareness now make it easier to buy gluten-free products. Cookies and cereal are not off limits. Of course, preparation is a concern. My friend’s son can have a reaction even if the same spoon is used in a gluten and a gluten-free dish.
Fortunately, there are support groups. Every year we participate in the International Walk for Celiac Disease. While neither my husband nor I have the disease, we enjoy the samples of gluten free foods available after the walk. We too, try to get educated and learn more about this disease.
Eating is such a wonderful simple pleasure. For those with Celiac Disease, education is a must. Photo by Dustin DeKoekkoek
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A dear friend of mine has a son with Celiac Disease. An intolerance for gluten translates into a disease that damages the villi of the small intestine, compromising the absorption of nutrients. Before he was diagnosed, my friend noticed that her son was small for his age. He suffered from unexplainable episodes of cramping and severe abdominal pain. There were days when he was cranky and irritable. Later, she learned. Her son had the disease.
What makes Celiac Disease so difficult is how difficult it is to identify foods with gluten. It’s in so many things from the obvious like bread to the inexplicable, candy. The first year after diagnosis is tough. One needs to get educated about what they are up against. Then there’s the food.
Fortunately, clear labeling and an increased awareness now make it easier to buy gluten-free products. Cookies and cereal are not off limits. Of course, preparation is a concern. My friend’s son can have a reaction even if the same spoon is used in a gluten and a gluten-free dish.
Fortunately, there are support groups. Every year we participate in the International Walk for Celiac Disease. While neither my husband nor I have the disease, we enjoy the samples of gluten free foods available after the walk. We too, try to get educated and learn more about this disease.
Eating is such a wonderful simple pleasure. For those with Celiac Disease, education is a must. Photo by Dustin DeKoekkoek