Image: CC--Jay

I run into many parents who are in quite a quandary about instituting a gluten-free diet for their child. A typical scenario is that one of the parents is gluten intolerant and is highly suspicious that their child is as well. Due to the child being 'relatively healthy' the non-gluten intolerant spouse suggests that the child be able to 'live a little' and enjoy the cake and pizza that is so prevalent during children's parties and sporting events.

Image: CC--Nicki Dugan Pogue

Misdiagnosed my sophomore/ junior year of High School, 3 years ago, with celiac disease, I became obsessed with the science of this ailment and how it was supposedly affecting me. I was shocked by how little is known about this autoimmune disease and the many gaps in research done on it. One such gap is that of cross-contamination in the household, where it is likely to have a daily impact on those following gluten-free diets. Because of this, I decided to help fill this gap in scientific knowledge with a manageable project based on cross-contamination in the home, asking whether one can share common kitchen cookware that is used with gluten containing foods, or if people, to help maintain a gluten-free diet, need designated ones for their food preparation.

Photo: CC--Thirteen of Clubs

How tightly are doctors following current guidelines for diagnosing celiac disease?

Current guidelines by the British Society of Gastroenterology recommend that doctors take at least four duodenal biopsy specimens at the time of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy when looking for celiac disease. The practice has been shown to increase celiac diagnoses, and to reduced missed diagnoses.

The Society recently sought to assess compliance with their own guidelines within their institution. Here's what they found.

Image: CC--Donnell King

A half-time report on what we've learned about each other so far in the Relational Aspects of Food Sensitivities research.

The study is geared toward gaining perspective on the perceived impact one adult's food restrictions cause in a household when cohabitating with other adults. It may ultimately yield strategies to address the social and emotional impact of living with food sensitivities. It aims to provide coping strategies, solidarity and empowerment to our community.

Image: CC--Robert Ashley

Long ignored and dismissed as unscientific and crude, are intestinal worms destined to be the future of autoimmune disease treatments?

Hookworms. Intestinal parasites. They sound gross. The thought of having one's gut infected with a parasitic worm generally makes people's skin crawl. Indeed, intestinal worms, like hookworm, have a bad reputation among health experts, and have been the subject of fierce public health campaigns seeking their eradication. However, researchers have also documented the gut healing abilities of parasites like hookworm.

Respiratory Infections and the Risk of Celiac Disease? Photo: CC--Natasha Meyers

Many researchers feel that the rising number of celiac disease cases supports the idea that common infections prior to the onset of autoimmune diseases could play a role in triggering the immune response. Do more respiratory infections in childhood mean a greater likelihood of celiac disease later in life?

To answer that question, a team of researchers recently set out to explore the relationship between early clinical events and the development of celiac disease in genetically predisposed infants.

Photo: CC--Christopher Aloi

Pork chops are one of the best things grill. Brine is the key. These pork chops are brined in buttermilk, so they cook up tender and juicy. Buttermilk and brine are the key to these tender, juicy grilled pork chops.

Image: CC--ap220859

In Pennsylvania, there is a six-year-old little girl (we'll call her Amy) who has not been allowed to see her mother (we'll call her Cindy) since June 21st because Amy's dad takes issue with a diet that excludes gluten and other allergenic foods. You might think that this is due to a dispute arising out of the dissolution of a marriage, but that is not the case. However, I'm getting ahead of myself. I need to start describing this situation as it began about six years ago, when her father was arrested for public drunkenness, resisting arrest, and creating a public disturbance, when Amy was less than a year old. Dad (we'll call him Steve) struggled with unemployment and part-time employment as a truck driver, falling further and further into arrears on his child support payments. Cindy had primary custody, and every second weekend, Steve took care of Amy.

All our styles are all natural, all fruit and gluten-free and vegan. The ciders are unpasteurized but cold filtered 4 times so that they are fresh and clean to the taste. They are a lower calorie , lower alcohol alternative to wine and beer and very refreshing.

Is your water gluten-free? Photo: CC--Taro Taylor

Is your water hip? Is your water cool? Is your water gluten-free? Does it say so on the label? Does it matter?

Gluten-free has become such a marketing buzzword that the words "gluten-free" are now appearing on all kinds of things that most certainly gluten-free, such as, yes, bottled water.

Would you be more likely to buy water labeled "gluten-free?" Would you feel safer? More nourished?

Colonial Williamsburg. Photo: CC--Ron Cogswell

Facing charges that it forced a young boy with gluten-intolerance to eat outside in the rain, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation has issued an official statement in which it denies violating any laws or mistreating an 11-year old Maryland boy with a food allergy, while he was eating in Shields Tavern with a school group in May, according to a filing Monday in U.S. District Court.

The lawsuit, filed by a Maryland family, alleges that Colonial Williamsburg violated federal and state law by discriminating against the boy, referred to as J.D. in court documents, by not allowing him to eat his food inside Shields Tavern May 11. The suit further contends that the boy was forced to eat alone in the rain.

Photo: CC--Matt Brown

Are we at the beginning of the end for celiac disease? The last few years have seen numerous advances in celiac diagnosis and treatment. People diagnosed recently and in the future face a very different world than that faced by celiacs just five or ten years ago.

In the old days, the process of properly diagnosing involved blood tests, endoscopies, and biopsies. In the near future, a simple blood test may do the trick.

Will new tests change the way we diagnose and treat celiac disease and diabetes? Photo: CC--AJC1

The FDA has granted clearance for Immco Diagnostics' ELISA for celiac disease, and for Roche's Benchtop Analyzer. What does that mean?

Immco's test is conducted as a solid phase immunoassay and is intended for the qualitative or semiquantitative detection of IgA or IgG antigliadin antibodies in human blood, and thus to aid in diagnosing patients with celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis in conjunction with other laboratory and clinical findings.

Image: CC--Lablascovegmenu

When you or a loved on has celiac disease there is often a plethora of dishes made with rice. Tired of plain old rice in most of your meals? Try cauliflower rice instead! Stir fry is easy and quick to make for company, family meals, dinner or weekly lunches. Use different proteins to change the flavor profile.

Hunter. Image: CC--+gAbY+

Once an obscure dietary regimen practiced by an odd band of misfits, the paleo diet has only recently reached larger consciousness by those wanting to improve their waistlines and general health. So what exactly is "paleo”?For for the overwhelming majority of our time here on this planet we've all followed a paleo, or hunter-gatherer, diet.

Photo: CC--Kevan

It’s summer and the consumer market reports are flying. Most of them project major growth in the gluten-free market and its numerous components over the next decade.

The latest is a report by Grand View Research, Inc., which projects rising incidences of celiac disease, diabetes, and obesity across developed economies will help to drive the global gluten-free products market to USD 33.05 billion by 2025.

In addition, the rising consumer awareness of celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is expected to aid product demand.

At Gluten Free Mall, this is our promise to you and we strive to achieve it every day!

One of the first to recognize the need for easy and convenient access to gluten free foods, Gluten Free Mall has been providing delicious, high-quality solutions since 1998. We specialize in offering new and unique items that you might not find at your local market or grocery, and are one of the only online retailers offering frozen shipping right to your door!

Gluten-free foods are now mainstream store products. Photo: CC: Bruce Szalwinski.jpg

Gluten-free food is now so mainstream that its lack of gluten is no longer a highlight, but is now just another of the many ways manufacturers signal a healthy product.

Gluten-free has gone from specialty niche to mainstream, says David Sprinkle, research director of the market research firm Packaged Facts.

Photo: CC--Ren Kuo

Did you know that it's not uncommon for many McDonald's stores in Europe to offer gluten-free buns?

If you're lucky enough to find yourself in Europe any time soon, here's a quick list of European countries where you can get Gluten-Free McDonald's Buns. Remember, not every McDonald's location offers gluten-free options, so always check first.

Beyond Celiac has launched Go Beyond Celiac™, a digital community that will accelerate treatment options beyond the gluten-free diet. Go Beyond Celiac is designed to make it easier for people with celiac disease to share their stories at a population level with researchers and to participate in research themselves.