Why Not Gluten?

So…you can’t eat wheat? You’re not alone! Here are some of the many reasons some people are advised to avoid wheat, the major gluten grain. Be sure to consult your health professional if you suspect that wheat bothers you.

Food Allergies and Intolerances: Some people are allergic to wheat, while others are intolerant to it. The difference? Typically, allergies involve a reaction by one’s immune system, while an intolerance is usually a digestive or metabolic disorder. You should consult a health professional to get a proper diagnosis and a more thorough explanation of this condition.

My cookbooks help you cook without the most common food allergens of wheat, gluten, dairy, and eggs––and some of my books also avoid corn, soy, and peanuts. Special sections in the appendix offer tips for making substitutions in your own recipes. Many recipes also tell you how to use alternative sweeteners in place of white sugar.

My books are recognized as important resources by the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (formerly known as FAN) and Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America and York Nutritional Labs. See Resources for web sites.

Celiac Disease: Also known as celiac sprue, this is an autoimmune condition where gluten, a protein in wheat and related grains such as rye, barley, and spelt, prevents absorption of nutrients. Symptoms may include weight loss, anemia, fatigue, and diarrhea––although not everyone has the same symptoms. Experts at the University of Maryland say the incidence of celiac disease is as high as 1 in 133. But for every person diagnosed, another 4000 go undiagnosed. Experts call it the "common disease no one knows about."

My recipes use wheat-free, gluten-free flours (e,g., rice, bean, corn, sorghum, potato, tapioca––no spelt or oats) and all other ingredients are also gluten-free. Celiacs around the world use all of my books, which are recognized as important resources by the Celiac Sprue Association, the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America, and the Celiac Disease Foundation. See Resources for web sites.

Autism: A perplexing developmental disorder, autism (and related conditions such as Asperger syndrome), is perhaps far more common than originally believed. Some experts recommend gluten-free, casein-free diets as part of the overall treatment. Consult your health professional for guidance here.

My cookbooks (especially Food Allergy Field Guide) are suitable for the gluten-free, casein-free diet often recommended for autistic children. Special Diet Solutions is also a good resource, and includes yeast-free recipes as well. For more information about autism and diet, see www.gfcfdiet.com. Visit an excellent web site by Karyn Seroussi and Lisa Lewis’ at www.autismndi.com. Both are mothers of autistic children and authors of books about autism.

Blood-Type Diets: Many of my recipes are suitable for blood-type diets, especially Type O, as recommended in the book Eat Right 4 Your Blood Type by Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo with Catherine Whitney and "Your Body Knows Best" by Ann Louise Gittleman, M.S., with James Templeton and Candelora Versace.

Candida Diets: For those with food sensitivities AND candida or yeast overgrowth, Special Diet Solutions is the recommended cookbook and a bestseller. For more information about yeast, see Dr. William G. Crook’s web site at www.yeastconnection.com. The late Dr. Crook was a world-renowned expert and author of several books on this topic.

Vegans: My cookbooks offer creative substitutes for dairy, eggs, and other animal-derived ingredients. A gluten-fee vegan diet can be challenging, and many in this group use Special Diet Solutions as their guide.

Autoimmune conditions such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia. Many experts see a connection between food and the symptoms exhibited in these conditions. Ask your health professional for guidance here.