Comments | gorkabear: Joining a new club

gorkabear

Joining a new club

Jul 26, 2011 23:20

A couple of months ago I had a tube inserted up my rectum to check why I've been anemic for more than 2 years. That, in addition of a specific analysis have determined that I'm a coeliac. Up to this moment, I didn't have any perception that this could happen. As far as I know, just badgerpdx has the same issue in my friends list. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm ( Read more... )

coeliac, sick

Comments 26

dorisduke July 27 2011, 00:22:36 UTC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluten-free_beer

SO many things one can eat without gluten. But I am in the USA so who knows what you will find.

gorkabear July 27 2011, 07:42:06 UTC

Well, I have to say that the local associations have worked hard and there are plenty of gluten-free products. However, there's currently only one brand of beer that sells "gluten-free" but I've been warned strongly not to drink it because it's still being homologated despite their claims: http://www.estrelladamm.com/ca/daura/millor-cervesa-celiacs.html

(But googling now I just found a German one, I have to ask: http://www.actigreen.com/cat/cerveza-ecologica-de-mijo-premium-sin-gluten-330ml.html)

Will see!

nzguy1 July 27 2011, 00:45:43 UTC

As you say it's not a major problem and somethimng that doesn't require medications...but very annoying and inconvenient at least...and I agree with you about the inflated prices for gluten-free products! (Not that I have to worry about it myself). Our hospital dietician always suggests people try to make their own bread,cookies and so on.

HUGS

gorkabear July 27 2011, 07:46:52 UTC

Thankfully, the local associations have worked a lot and at least two chains of supermarkets correctly label everything. One of them, in fact, happens to be owned by a man whose daughter is coeliac. So when you buy, let's say, spaghetti sauce, their brand states clearly whether you can have it or not (you can, actually, it's the most common example).

djmadadam July 27 2011, 00:48:32 UTC

Yikes, Celiac's disease. I don't know anyone with this, or at least I don't think I do. It does take a lot of adjustment, both in terms of your actual routine and psychologically. So, surround yourself with support. Does your doctor know of any support groups in your area? Can you research this online?

gorkabear July 27 2011, 07:35:06 UTC

Yes... Thankfully both the Catalan and the Spanish coeliacs association is very active. They have managed to have 60% of products in supermarkets labeled gluten-wise. In addition, the EU is enforcing new regulations (from January 2012) to specify clearly all possible allergens in food (gluten, lactose, soya, etc...). It looks like most of the things in the supermarket are catching up!

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gorkabear July 27 2011, 07:49:08 UTC

Thank you!
I don't have to eat pasta for a while but I've seen a couple of tricks to make it very palatable. Soba noodles, as long as they're made with rice, are acceptable BUT imported brands can be tricky and aren't recommended. GRRR

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Re: "Sin gluten" gorkabear July 27 2011, 07:54:27 UTC

If they say that they don't contain something, it's likely that a similar product has it. It turns out that yoghurt can have "natural" gluten if they use glucose syrup (usually derived from wheat here) to sweeten or if it includes cereals. Or some spaghetti sauce: even my mother has added sometimes some flour to make it thicker. So it isn't a minor thing. In fact, there is an upcoming EU regulation that states that all possible allergens have to be described for safety.

Well, because of your condition you have to reduce carbs a lot (tell my father-in-law who sneaks into the kitchen to steal cookies). I was told to replace my carbs cravings with rice, but, although I like it, I'm not a huge fan.