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Peter · 10:09 AM

My mother and two younger brothers are sufferers, which means it is a pain in the ass to buy anything. Really woke me up to the issue:

Coeliac disease is caused by a reaction to gliadin, a gluten protein found in wheat (and similar proteins of the tribe Triticeae which includes other cultivars such as barley and rye). Upon exposure to gliadin, the enzyme tissue transglutaminase modifies the protein, and the immune system cross-reacts with the bowel tissue, causing an inflammatory reaction. That leads to flattening of the lining of the small intestine (called villous atrophy). This interferes with the absorption of nutrients because the intestinal villi are responsible for absorption. The only effective treatment is a lifelong gluten-free diet. While the disease is caused by a reaction to wheat proteins, it is not the same as wheat allergy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coeliac

Anyone here suffering from wheat or other intolerences?

I'm really tempted to start an online database that lists all wheat free / allergy free food.

Eug · Jul 25, 2008, 08:14 AM

Weird usage of the word. I would have thought:

"My mother and two younger brothers have celiac disease", or maybe in some informal usage "are celiacs".

Whatever you do, don't go to a Buddhist restaurant. They use wheat gluten as a meat substitute. However, our local children's hospital has lots of frozen gluten-free desserts. Gluten-free pie crust is surprisingly good. No, I don't have the disease, but I knew someone that did.

Peter · Jul 25, 2008, 10:09 AM

i think you're right, kudos.
Thats what I get for typing in the morning

Eug · Jul 25, 2008, 10:38 AM

phantomdragonz · Jul 25, 2008, 10:41 AM

Shop at Whole Foods or a similar store they carry MANY gluten free products. Tell them you have celiac and they should be able to help you out!

—Zach

wallinbl · Jul 25, 2008, 10:47 AM

A friend of mine has it. I'm amazed at how many restaurants can offer a gluten free meal.

phantomdragonz · Jul 25, 2008, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by wallinbl

A friend of mine has it. I'm amazed at how many restaurants can offer a gluten free meal.

Celiac disease is incredibly common, if you work at a food establishment (restaurant/grocery store) I would be amazed if you dont know about it. I would think anyone who sees all the "Gluten Free" products would figure it out before too long...

-Zach

analogika · Jul 25, 2008, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by wallinbl

A friend of mine has it. I'm amazed at how many restaurants can offer a gluten free meal.

Actually, pretty much any restaurant could - it just means that they simply have to know know exactly what's gone into their food and leave off or replace those ingredients. If they can't offer at least one gluten-free menu, I'd consider that a bad sign.

A good friend of mine has coeliac disease - the pastries and cakes he bakes are incredibly delicious.

Eug · Jul 25, 2008, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by wallinbl

A friend of mine has it. I'm amazed at how many restaurants can offer a gluten free meal.

They have to be careful though. A lot of the alternative offerings aren't actually gluten-free, but the waiters don't know any better.

For example, a lot waiters might recommend spelt cuz it's on their alternative pasta list, but that's actually full of gluten.

Uncle Doof · Jul 25, 2008, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by wallinbl

A friend of mine has it. I'm amazed at how many restaurants can offer a gluten free meal.

I wouldn't trust those restaurants too much if I were him.

I have the same with "veggie" meals at restaurants. Unless it's a full veggie restaurant, there's simply no trusting the chef. Not because he's being a barsteward or anything, but because he may not have the knowledge to get ingredients which are actually properly veggie.

wallinbl · Jul 25, 2008, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by phantomdragonz

Celiac disease is incredibly common, if you work at a food establishment (restaurant/grocery store) I would be amazed if you dont know about it. I would think anyone who sees all the "Gluten Free" products would figure it out before too long...

-Zach

It's been 12 years since I worked as a cook, but it never came up when I did.

Eug · Jul 25, 2008, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by wallinbl

It's been 12 years since I worked as a cook, but it never came up when I did.

I'd be surprised if more than 5% of the waiters out there knew what it was.

Kerrigan · Jul 26, 2008, 12:01 AM

Wow, it's been a while since I've seen one of these "UNITE!" threads. Good times...

phantomdragonz · Jul 26, 2008, 02:38 AM

Originally Posted by wallinbl

It's been 12 years since I worked as a cook, but it never came up when I did.

it's probably because of where I live...

Boulder colorado is pretty much a hippie college town...

-Zach