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Celiac Disease & Gluten-Free Diet Blogs

The 40 Hour Work Week Challenge

I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. A lot of time. I think fully half of my personal Facebook posts are food related. One of my friends recently commented, "Do you ever get out of the kitchen?" To which I replied, "Sometimes I go to the bathroom!" I was joking. Kind of.   Being a homemaker is my full time job. An apron is my uniform. My job responsibilities include cooking food from scratch, keeping up the house, doing laundry, and taking care of my kids and my animals. In addition to my ful

domesticactivist

domesticactivist

It's Not You, It's Celiac

I was hanging at the pool one gorgeous afternoon and received a call from my GP. She had some interesting test results. She was getting ready to tell me something I had figured out a while ago but had not wanted to remotely admit. You seem, for sometime I had noticed I felt bad after eating breads or pasta and my symptoms were getting increasingly worse. As as I said I was by the pool...so it was late Spring...I had been sick since Christmas. I started asking for tests because I was dizzy, exha

lcolebank

lcolebank

California Firm Recalls Meatball Products due to Misbranding and an Undeclared Wheat

Kim Son Food Co., an Oakland, Calif., establishment is recalling approximately 84,000 pounds of cooked beef and pork meatball products because of misbranding and an undeclared allergen. The products contain a known allergen, wheat, which is not declared on the label. The products subject to recall include: 12-oz. and 5-lb packages of “KIM SO’N COOKED BEEF MEAT BALLS WITH CHICKEN & ANCHOVY FLAVORED FISH SAUCE ADDED” 12-oz. and 5-lb packages of “KIM SO’N COOKED PORK MEAT BALLS ANCHOVY FLAVOR

Scott Adams

Scott Adams

Zesty Spring Egg Salad

With all those chickens, we have lots and lots of eggs this time of year. One of my favorite ways to enjoy them is in a quick egg salad. This version celebrates Spring with an added kick from garden-fresh radishes.   The deal with fresh eggs, is that if you want them boiled, you have to think ahead. If you boil a very fresh egg, you won't be able to peel it without losing half the white along with the shell. Our trick is to let them sit on the counter a few days before boiling them. In order t

domesticactivist

domesticactivist

Going 100% Gluten-Free

Going gluten-free is harder than it looks. The pesky stuff is everywhere! Many people who are intolerant or have a wheat allergy can get away with not really worrying about trace amounts of contamination. But if you are going gluten-free because of an autoimmune problem like Open Original Shared Link, it's imperative that you get away from even the slightest cross-contamination. Some households do have mixed kitchens, but they maintain strict protocols to keep gluten-free space safe. This post i

domesticactivist

domesticactivist

Fast Food

Big chains I know of are Wendy's and Burger King. Wendy's is celiac heaven because the chili is gluten-free so you can get a filling meal of chili and a baked potato. I'm not crazy about the taste of BK food, but you can get the chicken salad and usually the french fries are in a dedicated fryer. Boston Market is another chain where we can eat a lot of the food. I also go to Chipotle and In-N-out but I think those are local chains.   Do check those McDonald's salads carefully. It looks lik

Skylark

Skylark

Starting Gaps

The GAPS diet is a major change for most people. We get asked how to get started all the time, so we've finally worked out the basics of what you need to do to be ready for success. We were already gluten-free, into cooking from scratch, and all about whole, organic, locally sourced foods when we started. Even so, it was a huge challenge for us!   You can do it on your own, but if you'd like help, we're here! LINKS TO OUR SERVICES STRIPPED OUT.   Figure Out Your Real Food Sources You'll nee

domesticactivist

domesticactivist

Coconut Macaroons

When you want a little sweet, a little chewy, these macaroons are just the ticket. We got this recipe from our friends at Open Original Shared Link. We like things a little less sweet than others, so we cut the honey down to 1/4 c.   Coconut Macaroons 6 egg whites 1/4 c honey 1.5 T vanilla extract OR 1 T vanilla extract plus 1 t almond extract 3 c shredded desiccated coconut   Pre-heat oven to 275 degrees. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Add the honey and extract(s

domesticactivist

domesticactivist

Enterolab: A Scientist's Viewpoint

I often get asked about Enterolab, as I don't hold their anti-gliadin stool testing in high regard.   Dr. Fine's story is pretty much on his website. He is a published expert on microscopic colitis. He started suspecting that in some patients the colitis was caused by an autoimmune celiac-like reaction. He was disappointed in the inaccurate serum tests so he developed highly sensitive stool tests. The discovery of gluten-caused microscopic colitis was a very nice piece of science.   The p

Skylark

Skylark

Almond Meal Pie Crust

Here is an easy crumb crust, both for baked and unbaked pies. If using it for a sweet dessert, I add a half tablespoon of honey. If for savory, like a quiche, I leave the honey out. Enjoy!   Almond Crust makes a single 9" pie crust 3 c crispy almonds 1/4 t fine sea salt 1/2 T honey (optional) 4 T unsalted butter, cut into 8 or 10 chunks 1 large egg, lightly beaten   Grind almonds in food processor until about the consistency of corn meal. Add salt, honey (if using), and butter. Pu

domesticactivist

domesticactivist

Nettle Quiche With Almond Crust

Being on a restricted diet presents an interesting challenge when invited to a pot luck. Do we bring all of our own food and don't share? Seems rude. Do we eat the stuff that looks safe? Seems risky. Do we bring a dish that combines both protein and vegetable and then eat only that? Bingo.   What better way to combine protein and vegetable for a spring potluck than a quiche! Flush with eggs and nettles, I decided to make a caramelized onion and nettle quiche. Delish! I used the 9-1/2" pie plat

domesticactivist

domesticactivist

Transforming Leftovers - Rabbit Pesto Saut

This post is a part of Open Original Shared Link. The other night we had a truly delightful sit-down dinner of roasted rabbit with nettle-walnut pesto, spring fennel & strawberry salad, and broccolini. So the next day when I got home after dark, exhausted from hours of driving people here and there, who could blame me for wanting to use up what was left of it?   Lucky for me, when Kelsy made the pesto, she froze a few jars for later and, contrary to popular opinion, one rabbit really does

domesticactivist

domesticactivist

Spring Fennel & Strawberry Salad

Nothing could have made me happier than finding the first fresh strawberries of the season at a local farmers' market, and that's just what happened last Saturday at Market Q! We had a couple of them right away but didn't want to eat too many at once. We're still adjusting to being on the full GAPS diet, and we take new foods slowly and carefully. Strawberries seemed a little risky, because they have a high histamine content and the pollen has been out. We didn't really want to be terribly conge

domesticactivist

domesticactivist

Q&a: All About Dairy

Sometimes people send me questions, and I'd like to share the answers. I'm going to start posting these Q&A's as blogs, with personal details obscured. If you send me a question and *don't* want me to share it, or want specific things changed, please let me know. Here's the first: I can not link to books on this site. If you want the links with pictures, view the original post.   I wanted to say I liked your posts about the GAPS diet but I know nothing about it. I'm interested in learning

domesticactivist

domesticactivist

Nettle-Walnut Pesto

Early spring in Portland, Oregon means fresh basil is still months away - but pesto doesn't have to be! Yesterday we Open Original Shared Link. We dried some for tea, scrambled some up with eggs, and used the rest for this Nettle-Walnut Pesto. The flavor is fresher and milder than basil pesto, and you don't have to worry about Open Original Shared Link. Here's the recipe:   Nettle Walnut Pesto makes 1 1/2 cups   1 clove garlic, roughly chopped 1/3 c crispy walnuts 1/2 c parmigiano reggiano

domesticactivist

domesticactivist

Sustainable Lawn Maintenance

Back in "Open Original Shared Link" we discussed the reasons lawn has had such a negative impact on the environment. In "Open Original Shared Link" and "Open Original Shared Link" we decided on a MicroClover blend and installed the lawn. But now it needs taking care of!   Right now the lawn is still coming up. Here are the tricks we'll use to maintain a more sustainable lawn, once it has grown in:     Water deeply, only as needed. Lawns should only be watered until the water stops infiltrat

domesticactivist

domesticactivist

Harvesting Stinging Nettles

Yesterday we were pleasantly surprised to find that the property hosting our friend's birthday camp-out was full of nettles! Yes, the stinging kind. The owners were happy to let us collect them to our heart's content, though they were a bit curious about our plans for them. Nettles have a Open Original Shared Link, but we like them best as a delicious treat! Ours are destined for tea and Open Original Shared Link.   If you're going to be spending any time out in the woods, along a stream bank,

domesticactivist

domesticactivist

Installing The Lawn

Back in "Open Original Shared Link" and "Open Original Shared Link" we decided to make a lawn in an area that I'd sheet mulched, grown potatoes in, and then let go to weed.   When working on the design for our whole lot, we realized that the arbor next to the carport in this area hadn't been successful because the area was so high traffic, so I took it out and saved the lumber for another project.   Rather than spraying out the weeds, I hand dug them. Since the soil had great tilth, the we

domesticactivist

domesticactivist

Choosing Lawn

In "Open Original Shared Link", we decided that we needed a place to share meals, relax, and enjoy the sun, and where it should be. Now we had to decide what to use for a ground cover!   I set out to researching our options for creating an area with the functionality of a lawn. We were especially interested in Open Original Shared Link, and some flowering lawns can be truly beautiful, giving a meadow feel and blooming in a succession of colors. But the thing about flowers is that they attract

domesticactivist

domesticactivist

Variety On A Restricted Diet & The Meal Where My Mouth Is Challenge

This post is part of Kelly the Kitchen Kop's Open Original Shared Link!   No matter what your special diet, it's likely you'll get tired of it. When that happens, it's not pretty. Here are some of the keys to living with limited food choices - we'd love to see you share your tips as well!   Learn to Love Leftovers... Later Leftovers are the convenience foods of a special diet. When you have to make everything yourself, in your own safe kitchen, it's a lot of work. It can be tempting to make

domesticactivist

domesticactivist

Lawn, Really?

I used to be an anti-lawn crusader. Everywhere I went, the lawn went, too. So when we moved in to our current place, the first thing I did was dig out lawn, sheet mulch large areas, and put in veggies and fruit trees wherever I could. While we didn't end up meeting all our needs with this approach, the soil is much improved and our fruit trees and shrubs are now starting to produce!   There are all sorts of reasons not to have a lawn. If we're talking about a standard suburban lawn maintained

domesticactivist

domesticactivist

Off To Camp!

Twice a year I take our Camp Fire club to Open Original Shared Link. Camp Fire Columbia has a Open Original Shared Link! We stay in a cabin for two nights, play games, sing songs, have camp fires... and we eat in the dining hall with all the other clubs.   The kitchen is run by volunteers, the costs are kept low, and the food is aimed at keeping the masses happy. Pretty much everything comes from a can or a box, and every meal is loaded with gluten. This never really worked for our family, but

domesticactivist

domesticactivist

Hidden Onion And Turnip Borscht

One of the best things about the GAPS diet is what it has done for our picky kids. We once had one sugar-crazed kid who wouldn't eat meat and one meat-crazed kid who wouldn't eat vegetables. While things are still far from perfect, at least our vegetarian is eating meat and our carnivore is eating more vegetables. They will now eat nearly any vegetable.   Except for turnips and onions. Which I totally understand! Onions are slimy and turnips are squishy. What's the best way to get around these

domesticactivist

domesticactivist

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  • Blog Comments

    • dixonpete

      I suppose it's all in how you ask the question. I just asked ChatGPT how much it would cost to resolve my gut issues the way hookworms have, and ChatGPT's response was "$15,000–$30,000/year for the most plausible UC biologic/small-molecule route, or $10,000–$40,000+/year for omalizumab-style allergy modulation".

      That assumes such medication actually worked. Considering that all I have now is a reactivity to nuts, I'm highly doubtful that a drug result would even come close to what hookworms achieve for me for free (free because I incubate).

      I completely agree that most celiacs won't get a free pass on gluten from hookworms. However, I also do believe that most celiacs would have their reactivity to gluten reduced, some greatly so, and that has value. My own reactions to gluten when I'm not on hookworms are catastrophic, completely disabling, even when the exposure is small. I'm completely free of that now. Would you seriously argue I am making the wrong choice?

    • Scott Adams

      My question to ChatGPT:
      Is purposeful Hookworm infection a reasonable treatment for those who have many food intolerance issues, including those with gluten intolerance who want to eat gluten?

      Answer:

      No — purposeful hookworm infection is not a reasonable or medically accepted treatment for broad food intolerance, gluten intolerance, or for people with celiac disease who want to eat gluten.

      There is real research behind the idea: hookworms can alter immune responses, and small celiac studies explored whether Necator americanus infection might make gluten exposure less symptomatic. But the best placebo-controlled trial found that hookworm infection did not restore tolerance to sustained gluten intake of 2 grams per day. It was associated with some symptom/quality-of-life improvements, but not enough to make gluten safe or to replace a gluten-free diet. (PubMed)

      For celiac disease, this is especially important: fewer symptoms does not necessarily mean the immune injury is gone. A person could feel better while still risking villous damage, nutrient deficiencies, anemia, bone loss, neurologic issues, infertility risks, or other complications from gluten exposure. The only established treatment remains a strict gluten-free diet.

      For non-celiac gluten sensitivity or multiple food intolerances, hookworm therapy is even less justified. Food intolerance can come from many causes: IBS/FODMAP sensitivity, lactose or fructose intolerance, histamine issues, mast-cell disorders, SIBO, bile acid problems, eosinophilic GI disease, medication effects, true food allergy, or poorly controlled celiac disease. Infecting oneself with a parasite does not diagnose or reliably treat those.

      There are also real risks: hookworms can cause abdominal symptoms, rash at the entry site, anemia/iron deficiency, eosinophilia, protein loss, and complications in people who are pregnant, immunocompromised, underweight, anemic, or medically fragile. Helminth therapy is not FDA-approved as a treatment, and outside a regulated clinical trial it is basically self-experimentation with a live parasite. (Medical News Today)

      A safer path would be: confirm whether this is celiac disease, wheat allergy, or non-celiac gluten sensitivity; check for nutritional deficiencies and inflammation; and work with a gastroenterologist/allergist/dietitian on a structured elimination-and-rechallenge plan. For someone with celiac disease who wants future gluten tolerance, the more reasonable options are legitimate clinical trials of drugs, enzymes, immune therapies, or vaccines — not deliberate parasite infection.

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