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Celiac.com 05/29/2009 - Quinoa is making a comeback as a "wonder grain." Before going gluten free, most people have never heard of quinoa. But, once you embrace the gluten-free lifestyle, you should learn more about this amazing grain. Quinoa is an ancient grain that has been grown in South America for thousands of years and was called the "gold of the Incas." The grain resembles millet and has a bitter protective saponin coating that protects the grain from being eaten by birds and insects. Today, many companies that sell quinoa in the United States remove the bitter saponins. This allows you to prepare the quinoa without having to rinse it first. Quinoa is gluten-free, high in fiber and a complete protein, meaning it has all nine amino acids. Quinoa also contains high amounts of lysine, manganese, magnesium, iron, copper and phosphorus. Due to quinoa being a complete protein, it is an excellent food choice for the gluten-free vegan. To prepare the quinoa for cooking, either purchase pre-rinsed quinoa or rinse the quinoa in a strainer until the saponins are removed. To cook the quinoa, add one part of the grain to two parts liquid in a saucepan. After the mixture is brought to a boil, reduce the heat to simmer and cover. One cup of quinoa cooked in this method usually takes 15 minutes to prepare. When cooking is complete, you will notice that the grains have become translucent, and the white germ has partially detached itself, appearing like a white-spiraled tail. Serve quinoa as a replacement for rice or couscous. Quinoa is delicious served cold or warm and can be frozen and reheated. It is recommended to prepare the entire box of quinoa and freeze the unused portions for later use. Tuscan Quinoa Salad Recipe Ingredients 2 cups cooked quinoa ¼ cup scallions, chopped 2 cloves garlic,minced 1 box cherry tomatoes, sliced in half ½ cup pine nuts, toasted ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped ½ cup fresh basil, chopped 3 T olive oil juice from half of a lemon kosher salt and pepper to taste To Prepare Prepare quinoa according to recipe on package. Add remaining ingredients to quinoa. Season with salt and pepper to your liking. You may replace oil and lemon juice with Italian dressing. Sources for info on quinoa: Quinoa Corporation Eden Organics Homegrown Harvest

Celiac.com 10/16/2019 - For many decades, celiac disease was regarded as a rare condition with clear symptoms. However, as celiac disease research has progressed, once common assumptions about celiac disease have fallen away. More people are being tested, celiac awareness is rising, and medical perspectives are shifting. For example, contrary to common belief, recent research shows that only about one-in-three adult celiac patients experience diarrhea. Weight loss is also not a common sign. In fact, patients diagnosed these days are far more likely to be overweight, and to have atypical symptoms, or even no clear symptoms at all. Here are ten facts about celiac disease that might amaze you. 1) Celiac Disease is Linked to Neanderthal Ancestry Most humans share some degree of DNA in common with our Neanderthal cousins of yesteryear. That's especially true if you have celiac disease. That's because celiac disease is directly tied to Neanderthal DNA. If you have celiac disease, you can thank a distant Neanderthal ancestor. 2) Celiac Affects Hispanic, Asian, Arabic, and Many Other Non-European Populations While celiac disease mostly affects people of European, especially Northern European, descent, recent studies show that it also affects portions of the Hispanic, African-American, and Asian populations. Celiac disease has not been well-studied in the African-American population, though cases are not unheard of. There is also some evidence to show that more black Americans are avoiding gluten. Other recent studies show that populations in Saudi Arabia, India, Italy, and parts of Africa carry genes for celiac disease, and have higher rates than previously believed. Rates of gluten-related disorders as high as 11.8% in some Asia-Pacific groups. 3) There is No Cure or Vaccine for Celiac Disease The only current accepted treatment for celiac disease is a strict gluten-free diet. So far, efforts to make a vaccine for celiac disease have failed. 4) Celiac Disease Affects More Women Than Men Women suffer from celiac disease at about twice the rate of men. 5) Minor Dental Defects Can Predict Celiac Disease Defects in dental enamel are good indicators of celiac disease, especially in children. 6) There are Over 200 Signs and Symptoms of Celiac Disease Some patients have several of these signs and symptoms of celiac disease, some just a few. Many report non-gastrointestinal symptoms. 7) Most People Don't Have Symptoms It's true. Most people diagnosed with celiac disease never show any symptoms at all. 8) High Rates of Celiac Disease Among First-Degree Relatives If you have a first-degree relative, that is, a parent, child, or sibling with celiac disease, you have a much higher risk for developing celiac disease. 9) Cigarette Smokers Have Lower Risk of Celiac Disease than Non-Smokers Believe it or not, cigarette smokers have a lower rate of celiac disease than non-smokers. Researchers don't quite know what to make of this, and no, smoking won't cure your celiac disease, so best not to start. 10) These Ten Risk Factors Most Associated with Celiac Disease There are a number of risk factors for celiac disease. Here are the ten risk factors most associated with celiac disease.

Celiac.com 03/17/2017 - Want a super healthy gluten-free alternative to grain flour that is packed with natural fiber and protein, and tastes great? There is power in coconut flour! The amazing benefits of coconut products are astonishing and coconut flour is so versatile. It can be used to cook or bake or even to thicken sauces and gravies! Coconut flour is naturally gluten-free and considered hypoallergenic. It contains the highest amount of dietary fiber found in any flour! According to the Livestrong article by Jane Jester Hebert, one quarter cup of coconut flour is equal to about 14g of fiber! An adequate amount of fiber is essential in a healthy diet to promote a healthy digestive tract. It also lowers your risk of heart disease and diabetes, and helps you to maintain a healthy weight. Coconut flour is rich in lauric acid which promotes good skin health and manganese which is an essential trace mineral used in the body for energy production. It is also low in carbohydrates and low on the glycemic index making it a great choice for diabetics and people wanting to maintain a healthy blood sugar level. Coconut flour is a good source of coconut oil which also has amazing benefits such as being antiviral, antifungal, antimicrobial, antibacterial and antiparasitic. Coconut products are so healing that according to a Natural News article by Megan Rostollan, the Pacific Islanders are calling coconut the "Tree of Life" and believe it can heal almost any illness. She goes on to say that, "In many traditional cultures around the world the coconut has been used to heal: abscesses, asthma, baldness, bronchitis, bruises, burns, colds, constipation, cough, dropsy, dysentery, earache, fever, flu, gingivitis, gonorrhea, irregular or painful menstruation, jaundice, kidney stones, lice, malnutrition, nausea, rash, scabies, scurvy, skin infections, sore throat, swelling, syphilis, toothache, tuberculosis, tumors, typhoid, ulcers, upset stomach, weakness, and wounds." (1) What is coconut flour, you may be wondering? Coconut flour is the natural byproduct in coconut milk production. The coconut meat left over is dried at a low temperature and then ground up to make soft powdery flour, similar to wheat flour in texture; however, it does require special techniques in order to yield success. For example, you cannot substitute the same amount of coconut flour for wheat flour. Coconut flour is super absorbent and can produce a very dry end result when not properly paired with the right amount of liquid or binder such as eggs. When starting out with coconut flour it is best to strictly follow a tried and true recipe to yield good results. Above is a favorite shared by Megan Rostollan! As you can see, with the vast and amazing benefits of coconut flour and coconut products, and being naturally gluten-free, you can definitely indulge and, "have your cake and eat it too!" Lemon-Coconut Pound Cake by Megan Rostollan Ingredients: 3/4 c. organic coconut flour 1 tsp aluminum free baking powder 3 tbsp xylitol, divided 1/2 tsp sea salt 6 pastured eggs 8-10 tbsp organic butter, softened 3 droppers full of liquid stevia 2 organic lemons (juice and zest) Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8X4 loaf pan and set aside. Sift together dry ingredients (2 tbsp xylitol). Zest and juice lemons. Whisk together eggs, butter, lemon juice, stevia, and zest. Combine wet and dry ingredients, whisking until smooth (batter will become quite thick - if too thick to combine well, add a little water). Spread in pre-prepared pan with hands or spoon as needed, sprinkle with remaining xylitol and bake for 40 minutes. References: naturalnews.com livestrong.com

Celiac.com 06/02/2015 - Consider the real estate saying about: Location, location, location. Now, ask yourself how far would you go for a good gluten-free pizza? Or, alternatively, imagine yourself out in the middle nowhere, the middle of the pacific ocean, say, and ask yourself how over-the-top happy would you be to discover a floating bar serving cold beverages and wood-fired gluten-free pizzas? I'm guessing you would be very happy. You might even say you were on "Cloud 9." And, if you happened to be in Fiji, you would be correct. For Cloud 9 is the name for a bar and restaurant that floats off the west coast of the pacific island of Fiji, boasting a full bar, and wood fired Italian-style pizzas, including, yes, gluten-free pizzas. So, if you're lucky enough to find yourself in Fiji, and catch a boat or jet ski tour from the main island of Viti Levu, you can reach the picturesque oasis in about 45 minutes. Once there, you can take a seat at the bar, or grab a daybed or hanging chair. Feel free to plunge off the deck at any time and splash and frolic in the crystal clear blue water, while your gluten-free pizza cooks to perfection. Sipping your beverage of choice, nibbling away pizza as you ponder the sunny azure splendor of it all, I'm sure you'll feel that your pizza is, if the not best in the world, very much the most amazing. Cloud 9 even has DJs on the weekend and can accommodate weddings. For more information on Cloud9, including information on transportation from Fiji, check out the Cloud9 website.