Celebrate- September 13th is Celiac Awareness Day!

A little history on how this day began   

I would like to quote the information from  the Celiac Sprue Awareness Association:

"The date of September 13 was chosen because it honors the birthday of Samuel Gee, MD a British physician and pediatrician. Dr. Gee published the first modern description of the clinical picture of Celiac Disease and is credited with being the first to identify the link between Celiac Disease and diet. One of Gee’s famous quotes on celiac disease is “if the patient can be cured at all, it must be by means of diet.” Dr. Gee was born September 13, 1839 and died August 3, 1911. So you see, Dr. Gee was ahead of his time. Many Doctors today are also starting to recognize the importance of a person's diet and how it associates to their health. Even if you do not have Celiac, this is a great reminder to try going gluten free, even if just for one day. One day might turn into the rest of your life.

What is Celiac Disease?
Celiac Disease is a disorder that can effect a person in many different ways if they ingest or, in some cases, even use a product that contains gluten. Symptoms can be anything from nutritional deficiencies, continued unexplained weight loss, diarrhea, bloating and even hair loss (among other things). Gluten damages the intestines when glutinous grains are eaten such as barley, einkorn, emmer, kamut, rye, spelt, wheat and sometimes oats. Although some may disagree, many Celiac and gluten intolerant people find great relief by eliminating gluten from their lifestyle.

Some important Facts about Being Gluten Free
I would like to thank LUNA’s in-house nutritionist, Tara DelloIacono for providing me with these special tips to help me keep my reader's healthy , happy and feeling great.

Make sure to eat your vitamins: Women with gluten intolerance are more prone to mal-absorption of vitamins and nutrients such as iron, calcium, B12 and folic acid. LUNA Protein bars* are rich in iron, calcium, folic acid, and vitamins D, B12 and more.

Eat smaller meals frequently throughout the day: Eating five small meals a day may help relieve digestive discomfort associated with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. I recommend eating a combination of protein and carbohydrates such as fruit and nuts for longer lasting satiation and energy

 

Find ways to get your fiber: Getting your recommended fiber intake without whole grains like wheat and oats can be a challenge, but fiber can be found in many other sources such as rice and fruit. Chicory and rice flour contribute to LUNA Protein bars’ three grams of fiber.

Beware of hidden traps: Some packaged gluten free foods add sugar and fat to make up for a bland taste. Make sure to read your labels and do your research to find a healthy medium.

*Please check the labels on LUNA bars to ensure that it is a safe snack for you

What Grains CAN I Eat?

Being gluten free does not mean that you are limiting your grains- you are simply replacing them with other grains. Gluten free grains and flours include amaranth, buckwheat (although it says wheat, it is not), corn, millet, oats, quinoa, rice, sorghum, tapioca and teff. Some individuals with Celiac or gluten intolerance can be sensitive to oats so use caution.

How Am I Going to Celebrate?

I recently revised a cookie recipe to include gluten free oats and rice quinoa cereal. They are good as cookies but can also be made in a square pan and cut into bars just as easily. I have made them for my family for today's treat- I hope your family enjoys the recipe just as much.

Chocolate Chip Cookies  

2 Bananas, Mashed

4 ounces Applesauce

2 Teaspoons Ener-G Powdered Egg Replacer

1 Cup Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Oats (uncooked) OR replace with 1 Cup GF Cereal or Flour of your Choice

1 Cup Arrowhead Mills Rice Quinoa Cereal (uncooked)

1/4 Cup Non-Dairy Milk of your choice

1/2 Cup Enjoy Life Foods Chocolate Chips

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

1 Teaspoon Cinnamon

*Optional- 1/2 Cup Raisins or other dried fruit

Preheat the oven to 350°.

In a large bowl, combine the mashed banana, applesauce and egg replacer. Mix well. Add all of the remaining ingredients and mix until blended.

Makes approximately 15 cookies.