A Gluten Free Learning Fair will be held at Akins Natural Foods in the Brookwood Shopping Center on Saturday, October 10 from 11 AM until 2 PM. Enjoy delicious samples, pick up literature and tour the store.

A colleague of mine, after years of stomach distress, recently discovered the cause by adopting an elimination diet followed by methodical reentry of food items. The verdict appears to be gluten sensitivity. Liz is an accomplished, creative, and adventurous cook. So she views her new dietary regimen as a challenge rather than a restriction. “It is delightful not to have a stomach ache every day.” 

Gluten sensitivity can be a genetically inheritable anomaly and could present itself in more serious forms such as celiac disease in which an immune reaction occurs in the small intestine.

A gluten-free diet is free of ingredients derived from gluten-containing cereals in bread, pasta and confections such as wheat, barley, and rye. Gluten as a food additive may be hidden in flavorings, stabilizers or thickening agents. Prescription medications, vitamins, and some lip cosmetics may contain gluten--and don't forget alcoholic beverages.

Several grains including amaranth, millet, buckwheat and quinoa make excellent wheat flour substitutes. Starches such as corn, potatoes, rice, sweet potatoes and tapioca are also acceptable. Various types of bean and nut flours are sometimes used in gluten-free products to add protein and fiber.

Since embarking on this alternative diet, Liz has been virtually free of stomach ailments while exploring a variety of less frequently used foods. One of her favorite recipes, Gluten Free Lemon Ricotta-Almond Cake, can be found at www.recipezaar.com. As awareness increases, the demand for ready-made gluten-free products and meal preparation options has spawned great websites. Liz recommends: glutenfreegirl.com, glutenfreegobsmacked.com, and glutenfreemom.com.

Celebrity Elisabeth Hasselbeck, of "The View", suffers from celiac disease. She has authored G-Free Diet: A Gluten-Free Survival Guide, one of the helpful items located in the Health Neighborhood.