READ...READ....READ.....

...I was diagnosed with CD 12 long years ago, and quite frankly I was ecstatic! There WAS something wrong with me! it wasn't "all in my mind". So with that attitude I stormed headlong into investigating and researching this strange disease I'd never heard of!!! I surfed the net for any information I could find, and thanks to a wonderful Practice Nurse at my GP's I rang Coeliac Queensland (then called The Qld Coeliac Society) paid my joining fee and was introduced to the FANTASTIC Warwick area contact. I never looked back.

I have stayed a member for 12years and in that time SO many things have changed, the products have improved, ingredient ratings have changed (yes CHANGED) what was once considered taboo is now fine due to new processing standards and research in Australia has started. Every quarter there is new information about our funny little disease.

In time I became my Doctor's Coeliac Teacher. As with most GP's his knowledge is broad and its difficult for them to keep up to date with every piece of new information. So I would tell him the latest each visit and he would then add that information to his vast knowledge!.

So when I meet people who don't look thoroughly at information about products, ingredients and research it strikes me as odd. I wanted to know exactly what was wrong with my body and why. Although some of the questions are yet to be answered, I have been strictly GF for 12 years. Why risk it? My Mum has had 2 first stage Bowel Cancers 8 years apart, unique. If I was running in the Bowel Cancer Melbourne Cup I'd be the favourite!! So I am vigilant, strict and endeavour to stay and eat healthy.

Its really not hard! What you put into your body...is what you get out of it. So why then do some tempt fate for a moment of self indulgence? I know alot of people with CD who eat Spelt Bread, why? Would you eat a tiny bit of rat poison? Or take on face value that a product is GF just because you where told it was?

Read...everything you can get your hands on! That's my advise! The more you know the better! Just because the lady at the shop said it was GF doesn't mean it really is..did YOU read the ingredient list? What qualifications does this lady have to assure you that she is right?? All the information you need is available...you just have to look!

What the hell is a FODMAP?!?

As a licensed Nurse and the Owner of this little shop I get asked alot of questions about diet. My first question to my customers/patients is this "Have you seen a Dietitian/Nutritionist?" The answer most frequently is "No but I do see my Naturopath" *Doh! Slaps forehead* not the same thing...at all!!

When you have a muscle problem...you see a Physiotherapist...
When you have a tooth problem...you see a Dentist..
When you have a bad hair day....you see a Hair Dresser
Soooo (now stating the BLATANTLY OBVIOUS!) When you have a diet problem....you see a Dietitian/Nutritionist!!!

All humor aside this NEEDS to be the first stop of EVERY newly diagnosed Coeliac! Then its off to get a free bone density (yes the government gives us them for free as we qualify for the high risk category for osteoporosis...your Dietitian will tell you why!!)

When you have a problem you see a specialist! And thats what they are!! They will explain how to go about "refeeding" your sick and recovering gut, or your on going grumbly tumbly, or why you are still having symptoms!

They know the secrets of FODMAPS, the confusing contradictory "Gluten free even if wheat derived" products that I'm always being asked about. The strange but true reality of Men also being at risk of Osteoporosis! The importance of being strictly gluten free (and NO they can't have EVEN A LITTLE BIT...aimed at that ONE annoying person who just doesn't understand your new gluten free status!!) and why you can't "JUST HAVE A SALAD" (hint you need protein!)

Forewarned is forearmed...KNOWLEDGE is power.

Why the dramatics? ALOT of new and even the long time Glutenless sometimes waver at being confronted with the (rather rude) questions of...."Surely alittle bit won't hurt you", "Well if there's nothing on the menu...you can have the salad". I have learnt rather an impressive list of comebacks to these lovely statements but alas, not print worthy! Empowerment comes with a firm knowledge of what Coeliac Disease really is...what is HAS done to your body and health and what it WILL do and CAN do. Then you too can accumulate your very own repertoire of responses!

Lesson of the Day! DIETITIAN/NUTRITIONIST'S ARE COELIAC'S SUPERHERO'S!!!

Don't let CD take over you life.

Coeliac's have a food Hypersensitivity to gluten, well at least that's what Dr Sue Shepard states in her new book "Food Intolerance Management Plan". Usually we have a few other little allergies and sensitivities hanging along for the ride, most notably Lactose Intolerance or a problem with FODMAPS (other natural foods that cause IBS systems). All of these problems can tend to make life alittle challenging at times, to say the least. Yet life is good without gluten and health can resume as close to "normal" (whatever that is) if we stick to our diet.
I see time and time again people who have let Coeliac Disease completely take over their world, they blame every ache and pain or tummy upset on "I must have eaten something". Coeliac's have sensitive guts, that's indisputable, therefore we are likely to have a tummy upset before anyone else. Yet it doesn't ALWAYS have to be gluten.
If I have one too many coffee's during the day I'll pay for it later! Also onion and citrus foods, but theres no gluten in those! I've heard people claim Ludicrous cases of upset tummy's after consuming foods that are completely gluten free and could not have possibly have caused a Gluten Insult. Maybe you have a sensitivity to more that one ingredient?..maybe you just have a tummy rumble?...come in contact with a bug?
As a Nurse I can tell you that the leading cause of stomach bugs is inadequate hand washing and food preparation. The average person comes in contact with thousands of Bactria on a daily basis, on shopping trolly's, door handles, even on the money we have in our purse. It's not all the big bad Gluten's fault. Don't let CD become who you are ruling every meal every mouthful. Try to look at it as I do...THINGS COELIAC'S DONT HAVE.....

WE DON'T have to shoot up with Insulin 3 to 4 times a day (most of us anyway)
WE DON'T have to take nasty medications with terrible side effects.
WE DON'T have to undergo Chemo or Radiation Therapy to set us on the path of health
WE DON'T have to undergo brutal chest physiotherapy just to breath like people with Cystic fibrosis
WE DON'T have to spend long periods of time in hospital away from Family and Friends

There are many more, but I like to think in the scheme of things....we got off easy!

Glucose Syrup! Yep IT IS GLUTEN FREE!!!

One of my most asked questions "....glucose syrup's not gluten free...is it?" sure is people!! I must get asked this question 2 to 3 times a day! Usually after customers spot the Jelly Belly's on the top shelf! Glucose syrup is a liquid sweetener found in many candies and other desserts that contains wheat starch.

Obviously when the word "wheat" appears, most of us have our Spidey sense's tingling! However the Australian Coeliac Society assure's as that.. "Some ingredients are so highly processed, that they are gluten free even though a

gluten source is indicated. The most commonly used are:

▪ Glucose or glucose syrup from wheat

▪ Caramel colour (150) from wheat

▪ Dextrose from wheat

These ingredients are suitable for a gluten free diet"

And not to forget that under the Australian Food Standards code even if any ingredient is wheat derived (comes from wheat) rye, barley or oats, this it must be declared!
Therefore ingredients where the source of grain is NOT identified are from a non-gluten containg grain and gluten free! are therefore from a non-gluten containing .

So remember!!! There are some exceptions to the rules! and Glucose Syrup is one of them ITS GLUTEN FREE!!

Something for us all to think about...

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." --Martin Luther King, Jr

Gluten free right in our own back yard!

It's true it's true!! Gluten Free CRUMBED Calamari in our own town. Fibbers on Church was the scene this afternoon of my latest culinary delight. Crumbed Calamari....fresh. How wonderful to find a local high profile eatery catering to food intolerance's. But not only just catering....there where plenty of GF options on the menu for me to choose from...CHOICE! Keep up the good work Fibbers, I'll definitely be back.

Making a difference in your own little world!

You can't please all the people all the time. When I find the world alittle too taxing I read a quote like this....

"An old man walked up a shore littered with thousands of starfish, beached & dying after a storm. A young man was picking them up & flinging them back into the ocean. "Why do you bother?" the old man scoffed. "You're not saving enough to make a difference." The young man picked up another starfish & sent it spinning back into the water. "Made a difference to that one," he said.