Gluten-Free Inspired

I have been taking probiotics for quite some time now.  In fact, I started to take it for granted that most everyone knows what probiotics are.  Then I had a conversation with a good friend of mine about the supplements we both take.  We compared our lists and we discovered only one difference.  My friend doesn’t take probiotics.  Fortunately, she doesn’t have gut issues like me.  Perhaps this is the reason she never came across the word before.  After talking to her though, I thought that maybe I should write up a little something on probiotics since it appears that is still not a household term.

 
I discovered probiotics back in 1990.  Wow.  That’s twenty years ago!  I wish I could tell you I have been taking some form of probiotics for that long, but I haven’t.  You see, I discovered probiotics back in the summer of 1990 when I lived in France and I ate a lot of yogurt. (Yes, I ate other things too!)  I remember I liked going to the grocery store because it gave me the opportunity to study all the words in French on the food packages.   More often than not I would see this sentence on the yogurt containers: “avec du Bifidus” (with Bifidus).  I thought to myself, “What is it with these French people and their Bifidus?  What exactly am I putting in my stomach when I eat this yogurt?  Why don’t American yogurt containers say anything about Bifidus?  What a funny name…especially in French.”  “Que-ce que tu manges, Jennifer?  Je mange le yaourt avec du Bifidus!”

 
Well, as funny as the word sounds, I was actually putting something pretty darn important in my stomach: it’s called healthy bacteria, or probiotics.  The problem was that my encounter with “Monsieur Bifidus” would be cut short because I only spent the summer in France.  It seemed to take years before I started to see the word “Bifidus” on yogurt containers in the United States.  By then, I had already been diagnosed with IBS and not one doctor ever told me anything about healthy bacteria for my gut except for one doctor who practiced integrative medicine in a town about 40 minutes from my home.  It took me forever to find him and once I did, I only had him as my primary doctor for 2 years before he closed his practice.  If there was anything I took with me from that doctor-patient relationship, it was the benefits of taking probiotics.

 
Fast forward to the year 2009.  I am now gluten-free, taking a daily probiotic supplement, and I find an article about a Spanish research study that suggests that the gluten-free diet has a negative impact on intestinal bacteria.  When I read this article, I never thought that I should stop my gluten-free diet.  The article simply indicated to me that my daily probiotic would become even more important in maintaining healthy intestinal flora.   I was surprised to see that some people thought they should stop the gluten-free diet because of the findings of that very limited study.  Part of the problem was that the study did not expound upon how easy it is to take a probiotic supplement.

 
Probiotics are not cheap.  If you want a good probiotic, you end up spending about $1 a day.  Yes, my probiotic costs $30 per month.  I used to struggle to justify that amount of money for a supplement, but then I thought about all the other extra groceries I buy that I probably could do without.  A less expensive coffee brand, water instead of sodas, fewer coffees at Starbucks, there are surely a few areas where we can cut corners if we need to take a daily supplement.  Some people who are not lactose intolerant may even be able to bypass the need to buy the probiotic supplement.  They can get their healthy bacteria  in a daily cup of plain yogurt.  That probably turns out to be less that a $1 a day, and it’s even less expensive if you make your own yogurt at home.  What an idea!

 
Rather than tell you specific brands of probiotics that I have tried or recommend, I would like to leave you with a few articles to peruse.  And then I suggest you visit your local health food store if you are thinking you would like to try a probiotic.  Usually there is a refrigerated section where probiotics are kept.  Ask the sales clerk in that section to make a recommendation.  As a general rule, I find that the sales clerks who work in the vitamin section of a natural food store can be quite knowledgeable.

 
One little tip: the probiotics that are refrigerated are better than the ones that aren’t.  That’s just my personal experience.  It’s also good to switch brands every so often so that you take different strains of bacteria.  Don’t they say the same thing about shampoo?  Yes, they do!  Switch your shampoo every 14 days!  It’s the same with our gut.  Our gut gets used to the same supplement and it becomes less effective.  Best to switch things up a bit when you can!

Dr. Weil’s Thoughts on Probiotics

Women to Women: GI Health

February 1st, 2010 | Tags: Bifidus, probiotics | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (1)

I am not writing about gluten-free living this week.  I am writing about sending aid to Haiti.  If you have not done so already, please consider how you can help the victims of the earthquake.  Please watch this video which will provide you information about where to send aid.  Listed below are other helpful resources and websites.  You can also donate $10 by texting Haiti, 9-0-9-9-9.

Help Haiti

Red Cross

How You Can Help in New York City

January 15th, 2010 | Tags: haiti earthquake | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

I rarely eat out in restaurants anymore.  It sounds funny when I say that given that I once wanted to be a food critic.  In the past two years, it has become increasingly difficult for me to eat out because of the number of foods I can’t tolerate and because I simply don’t enjoy dining out as much anymore.  This is not to say I don’t enjoy scouting out restaurants with gluten-free menus when I have the chance, but overall, I find myself longing for a meal cooked in the comfort of my own home with fresh ingredients that I have purchased . 

My two weeks in Italy were special in that way.  Even though I didn’t cook the entire time I was there, I was completely aware of the simple, yet delicious ingredients Elizabetta cooked for us each day.  I don’t think she was aware of how happy I was with her cooking.  Preparing meals is something she does day in and day out, but for me, it was as if I had been given a special gift.  I have not eaten that well since my mother was alive.  The ironic part is, for all that I ate, I didn’t gain any weight in Italy.  I probably lost a few pounds.  My digestive tract was happy and I ate food that was prepared with love.  That’s the secret ingredient restaurants don’t include.  Love.  Piatti preparati con amore.  Platos preparados con amor.

Tonight I felt like Primo from the movie Big Night.  If you have seen the film, you know that Primo is the Italian chef who opens up a restaurant with his younger brother Secondo.  Secondo wants to be successful with the business, and so does Primo.  The problem is, Primo wants to hold on to his old world recipes and customs instead of making changes to accommodate the American palate.   He suffers as a result both because his restaurant is empty and the few people that eat in his restaurant haven’t the foggiest idea about real Italian cuisine.  You can watch one of my favorite scenes from the movie in this post.

I have learned that if I don’t have any expectations for the real thing in a Spanish restaurant in the United States, I will be less disappointed.  I imagine it works that way with everything, right?  You have no expectations, you don’t get disappointed.  Well, tonight I guess I had a few expectations without realizing it.  Or perhaps it was that I had not eaten out in so long, I forgot to leave my expectations aside.

Don’t get me wrong, if you eat at Ibiza in Hamden, you might think it is quite good.  That all depends on whether or not you have spent any significant time in Spain.  Once you spend time in Spain, the restaurant loses all its appeal.   

I told the waitress that I would be ordering “American style” because I have food allergies and I can’t eat all the ingredients in the dishes my father ordered.  When I say American style, that means that we each get our own dish and we don’t share the plates like you traditionally do with “tapas” in Spain.  The problem was, the waitress didn’t tell us that the dishes would be brought out to the table in no particular order.  They were served in the order in which they were ready.

That meant that my main course came out before my appetizer, and my father was served a mystery dish that neither of us could recognize.  When I asked the waitress what she had served my dad, she said,

“Oh, that was a mistake.  We didn’t mean to serve that to you.  We won’t charge you.  Go ahead and enjoy it.”

By the time she responded, he had already eaten two or three mouthfuls.  The dish resembled what I had ordered as my appetizer, but since the chorizo didn’t really look like chorizo, I figured it wasn’t what I had ordered. 

The waitress then returned with my father’s “main course”, not what he had ordered first, and she informed me,

“That dish we served your father was actually your appetizer.  I thought you realized that.  We have no control over the order in which dishes come out of the kitchen.”

Lesson learned.  Never expect that the dishes will be served in the order in which you asked for them.  At least not at Ibiza in Hamden, CT.

As our reversed meal came to an end this evening, I couldn’t help but ask the young waitress about the chorizo in my appetizer (which, by the way, got consumed by my father while I was eating my main course).  You see, this chorizo didn’t look like any chorizo I had ever eaten before.   It tasted more like a Polish kielbasa.  At best, maybe a Portuguese chorizo that I wasn’t familiar with.  I would have expected a bit more pimentón.  Especially since they said it was chorizo “Rioja Style”. And I also had never seen such a thin chorizo.  Usually a slice of chorizo is about the size of a quarter, not a dime.    This chorizo was particularly thin.  Maybe it was homemade?  I asked the waitress,

“Could you tell me, does the chef make his own chorizo?”

“Oh no, everything we get here is from Spain.”

“I see,” I responded. I wasn’t so convinced.

Before departing from Ibiza, I took a look at the ceramics in which they had served my dad’s coffee, cream, and sugar.  I love Spanish ceramics.  Each region has its own particular design and style, and the ceramics on our table were not familiar to me.  I decided to turn over the sugar bowl to see if I could identify the region from which it came. 

This is what it said:

Made in Poland.

Everything they have at Ibiza is from Spain?

Except the Polish ceramics and chorizo!

January 2nd, 2010 | Tags: chorizo, Ibiza restaurant | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (2)

Photo: Bernat Casero

Happy 2010 to all of you!  We have made it to a new year, a new decade, and I am truly filled with optimism and good energy.  And you?

 
As I sit down to think about what Gluten-Free Inspired holds in store for the future, I have reflected on this journey of mine which started in November 2007.  In the beginning, my goal for this blog was to focus on and share gluten-free discoveries that have made my lifestyle change easier.  More than a recipe blog, I wanted to share resources, provide support, and create community (something I love to do!).

 
I believe to some extent, I have met that goal.  That doesn’t mean that Gluten-Free Inspired will cease to exist because a goal has been achieved.  I realize that some of my readers may have been diagnosed recently with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity and the content here will continue to be useful for readers regardless of where they are in their gluten-free journey. 

 
For me, however, making a major dietary change has lead me to explore other ideas and issues that are all closely intertwined with food intolerances and nutrition.  Given the focus and title of this blog, I have not written to any great extent about the other areas of interest which have emerged for me over the past two years.   I am starting to think that to keep this blog fresh and engaging for everyone, including myself, these other topics should be included in 2010.

 
Oh no! More Food Intolerances?
Well, I have discovered that I have more than just gluten sensitivity.  Yes, unfortunately, I have difficulties with soy, corn, and dairy.  I have not eliminated these foods completely from my diet, but I eat them far less than before.  Having so many food sensitivities, I have been forced to examine the quality of the food we put on our table in this country.  Could any of these food sensitivities have been prevented?  Did I play a role in destroying my digestive tract, or is there something bigger at work here that has affected my ability to digest certain foods?

 
Sustainable Agriculture
As a result of this ever growing list of foods I can’t tolerate, I have become very interested in food politics.  I am extremely concerned about what the future holds in store for children who grow up on a diet filled with:
• pesticides
• GMOs
• growth-hormone treated foods
• antibiotic treated foods

The truth is, our food chain is in a state of disarray and it’s not getting any better.   I am not sure what impact I can have on changing the course of this path we are headed on, but I feel compelled to share information I learn to create awareness about the food we eat in this country.

 
Healthcare
Connected to this interest in food sustainability is my concern for those people who cannot afford to nourish themselves properly.  What happens when a family cannot afford to buy gluten-free products?  As we all know, gluten-free food can cost from twice to three times as much as regular food.  I have heard on numerous occasions that there are people who simply don’t follow a GF diet because they cannot afford to buy gluten-free food.  It’s true that there are initiatives sprouting up to help food pantries stock gluten-free products, but is that enough?  Are we reaching everyone?  What about a healthcare system that subsidizes the additional costs associated with gluten-free foods?  As many of us know, in Italy, celiacs receive a monthly stipend to help with gluten-free food purchases.  Isn’t it about time our healthcare system takes responsibility for the care and treatment of celiac disease?  Just because celiac disease cannot be treated by a pill covered by health insurance doesn’t mean we should have to foot the bill.

 
Holistic Healing
Yes, you probably guessed I am also concerned with our healthcare system and its overall philosophy on treating disease.  Healthcare in the United States needs to take a preventative and integrative approach.  The vast majority of doctors in this country treat symptoms instead of looking at the underlying source of the problem.  There are many natural and holistic remedies that get overlooked when treating disease because we have become a pill-popping country.  Take a pill for this, take a pill for that.  Heaven forbid we don’t keep the pharmaceutical companies in business.   This year I would like to start sharing more information about how holistic healing has helped me both cope with and manage my own digestive issues. 

 
Awareness & Advocacy
Of course, there is always the topic of how having dietary restrictions can isolate us and make us feel excluded from socializing around food.  In Italy, celiac disease is called a “social disease”.  I don’t think it’s much different in any other country where social gatherings are laden with glutinous food offerings.  Food is not just about nourishment.  Food is also about traditions that take place around the table with friends and family.  When we cannot partake in a social tradition that includes food we cannot eat, we feel excluded.  Sure, we adjust, we make modifications, we educate family members, but there are emotions that can surface when we find ourselves with people who don’t understand food intolerances.  The good news is that food intolerances are getting more media coverage.  Slowly but surely, we find restaurants including gluten-free menus.  There is still so much work to be done though.  We need to have the goal of creating awareness across the board so alternative food options are offered wherever we might be.

 
So, as you can see, becoming gluten-free has opened up a more expansive area of interests for me over the past 2 years.   If I must say, I think having food intolerances has brought out “the advocate” in me.   My interests have evolved and I have evolved with them.   It’s no surprise to me.  I have often thought that I need at least one more day in the week to accomplish all my goals!

 
You may come to this blog hoping to find a new restaurant review or recipe in 2010.  There will probably be fewer reviews going forward as I hone in on the new topics of interest that have emerged for me.  This doesn’t mean I won’t talk about being gluten-free, but I would like to take a more expansive approach in 2010.  I would like to discuss my own personal journey a bit more, even though it might be unique from your own.

 
To include multiple perspectives and experiences, I hope to invite more guest bloggers write for Gluten-Free Inspired.  If you blog and you would like to write for Gluten-Free Inspired, please contact me at info@glutenfreeinspired.com.

 
I would also like to connect with the ever growing global GF community I have discovered as a result of social networking.  My Facebook friend list has increased by at least 150+ in the past 3 months!  Many of these people live in Latin America and Europe.  I am hoping to feature some of their ideas and accomplishments to give you a taste of what is happening around the globe with celiac disease awareness and gluten-free living.

 
In summary, I hope you will continue to find this blog helpful and engaging as Gluten-Free Inspired enters into a new chapter.  I am looking forward to connecting with more of you in 2010 so don’t hesitate to post a comment.  Blogging is all about the comments so register with my blog and start sharing your impressions and thoughts with our community.

 
Peace and good health in 2010 to all my Gluten-Free Inspired readers!
Jennifer

January 1st, 2010 | Tags: food intolerances, gluten intolerance, sustainable agriculture | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (1)

I was happy to see that there is another gluten free food pantry initiative getting started in the United States.  In addition to the Greater New Haven Celiac Group’s local initiative, there is another program gaining momentum in the state of Colorado.  Dee Valdez has started a GF food pantry initiative at Loveland’s House of Neighborly Service in Loveland, Colorado.

You can read the full article, Gluten-Free Food Banks – Please Help , and you can contact Dee Valdez directly if you are a manufacturer and you would like to get involved. 

The ideal way to contact Dee is through her blog www.GlutenFreeDee.com. Next best is with a call or text message (970-308-1062) letting her know you sent an email (GlutenFreeDee@Gmail.com).  She also likes Twitter direct messages for all you peeps that send tweets!  Her username on Twitter is GlutenFreeDee.

December 13th, 2009 | Tags: celiac disease, Dee Valdez, gluten free dee, gluten free food bank, gluten free food pantry | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (2)

If you have not been to Bertucci’s since you became gluten-free, you are not alone.  I too have not eaten in Bertucci’s in quite a while.  There’s good news though!  Bertucci’s now has a gluten-free menu and they have collaborated with the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America to train staff and develop this special menu.

I have yet to visit Bertucci’s, but I would love to hear from readers if you have already given the menu a try.  I know that our experience dining out is about more than just the menu.  It’s about feeling that the waitstaff is well informed and that your food has been prepared in a designated area that is not in contact with the glutinous items in the kitchen.  So, when you provide feedback here, please tell us about the overall experience.  For example, Pizzeria Uno has a protocol where the manager always serves the gluten-free items to customers.  The manager comes back to check on the customer to make sure everything is in order.  I hope they still follow this protocol, and I hope that Bertucci’s also has a similar process for serving gluten-free diners.

Take a peek at the Gluten-Free Menu from Bertucci’s.

December 3rd, 2009 | Tags: bertucci's gluten free menu, celiac disease, Gluten Intolerance Group of North America | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Italians are now moving to the rhythm of Celiac Rock thanks to Alessandro Palazzo, an Italian from the city of Modena, Italy.  Palazzo, a celiac himself, has composed a song in Italian to create more awareness about celiac disease in Italy.

I happen to stumble upon Celiac Rock as I perused a celiac group discussion board on Facebook.  I was so impressed and moved by Alessandro’s music and enthusiasm, that I contacted him and asked if I could publish the lyrics of his song on my blog.

Music has long been a vehicle to educate the public and create awareness about issues that impact our society.  Palazzo has utilized his musical skill to get the word out about celiac disease in a country where there is no shortage of glutinous dishes being served.

As a North American who recently just returned from Italy, my impression was that Italy is much further ahead of the United States with regards to celiac disease awareness and education.  I joked with my Italian friends that Italy seemed to be like a paradise compared to the United States.  I am certain that celiacs living Italy wouldn’t agree with me, but I am sure they would be surprised at the lack of awareness that exists in this country compared to their own.    I hope the United States can catch up with Italy someday.  We have significant work ahead of us.

Of course, being ahead of the rest of the countries doesn’t mean that Italy should rest on its laurels.  Italy should continue with their campaign to educate the public and set an example for other countries that need to advocate for celiac disease research and awareness. 

I congratulate Alessandro for his effort and creativity.  May Celiac Rock travel throughout Italy building a stronger celiac community and heightening awareness about this disease.

Below is a translation of a few lines from the song:

“I am affected by a food intolerance,
but I already have on my boxing gloves for the struggle,
against: orzo, wheat, rye, oats
I don’t tolerate them anymore.

But how many friends I have,
and if I don’t have your love,
I will sing Celiac Rock!
But how many friends I have,
and if I don’t have your love,
I will sing Celiac Rock!

…because this song
won’t be a solution
but it will have its importance
to beat ignorance, in the end gluten,
it’s not that it’s something of substance,
it’s enough to know what it is and that’s enough.”

 
Visit Alessandro Palazzo’s My Space page to hear all of his songs!

November 19th, 2009 | Tags: alessandro palazzo, celiac disease, celiac disease in Italy, celiac rock, Celiachia, Celiachia in Italia | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (1)

Greetings from Italy!  In case you were wondering where I have been recently, I am on vacation in Calabria.  Curinga to be exact.  If you follow my other blog, Carmelo Orlando, you know that I am doing geneology research on my grandfather’s side of the family.

With this post, I would like to report that it has been very easy to eat gluten-free in Italy.  It was also very easy to eat on the plane!  I don’t know what other airlines are like, but Alitalia had a gluten-free meal option.  I didn’t know about it until I heard the steward speaking to a passenger behind me.  He was confirming that the passenger would be eating “senza glutine”.  When I heard him say “senza glutine”, I flagged him down and asked if I could also have a gluten-free dinner.  No problem what so ever!

Was the food good?  Ehh… it was typical airplane food.  The good part was that I got served before everyone else and I probably ate better than the rest. 

My hats go off to Alitalia for making my flight over to Rome and very good one!  Molto grazie a Alitalia!

October 13th, 2009 | Tags: Alitalia gluten-free | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (1)

The other day during my lunch break I was having a pity party.  I knew I needed to do something to shift my negative energy, so I got in my car and I took a drive to my favorite artsy, eclectic store in the Hamden Plaza.  As I strolled around the store, I came across a cookbook with a small sign that said, “Proceeds go to the Amy O’Neil Fund.”  I looked a bit more closely at the sign, and I realized she had a disease I had never heard of before: Epidermolysis Bullosa.  EB is a rare autoimmune disease where mild rubbing of the skin (both external and internal) causes blistering and infections.  It is a disease that can require constant medical attention, depending on the severity of the case.
After I left the store that afternoon, I kept thinking about Amy and her condition.  I felt ashamed for feeling sorry for myself because I know I have a relatively easy life.  My digestive issues and food intolerances are nothing in comparison to what Amy lives with everyday.  I also felt a bit helpless because I knew that purchasing a $15.00 cookbook wouldn’t change her life drastically, even if did help pay for some of her medical expenses.
On the way home from work that day, I stopped off at the Whitneyville Food Center to buy some groceries.  As I stood in the butcher shop waiting for my meat to be packed, I saw the cookbook again.  It was standing there on top of the display case with the same sign and picture of Amy.
It’s a day later and I am still thinking about why I saw that book two times in one day, especially on a day when I wasn’t in the best of moods.  Tonight I decided to do some searching online for Amy and I discovered that we live in the same town.  She has a website and a place where you can buy the cookbook and make a donation to help her with medical expenses.  There is also a video you can watch to learn more about Amy and her condition in her own words.
I encourage you to visit this website to learn more about Amy and her condition, Epidermolysis Bullosa.    There are a number of ways you can help Amy too.  You can buy a cookbook, make a donation, or attend a fundraiser in late October here in Connecticut.  You can even enter a contest to design the CD cover for a CD that is being produced for the Amy O’Neil Fund.

October 1st, 2009 | Tags: amy o'neil, Epidermolysis Bullosa | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment