Vogue

Gluten-free has never been so fashionable. And Vogue is one stylish mag that wont compromise its appearance to present an intelligent story.

In the November issue, Sarina Lewis has written 'Our Daily Bread' which starts by explaining that coeliac disease is "more than just a fear of carbohydrates". Damn straight.

After ill health, most of us coeliacs rejoice over good food that sustains and nourishes us; food which includes carbos. For many, diet is no longer about losing weight or staying slim, it's about maintaining  good health and feeling alive.

The article is an accurate and thoroughly researched report, covering almost every pressing topic for a coeliac disease sufferer and their dummy friend.

For anyone who wants to get clued up on symptoms, tests, associated illnesses, cure progress, even the "trend" of gluten-free eating, see if you can score the November issue from a hoarding fashionista's magazine collection and turn to page 152.

The December issue will currently be on shelves in replacement of the glory issue. That's the problem with being so trendy - they're always one step ahead.

Venezia (Part Uno)

I wrote a post supposedly summarising Gluten-Free Venice, but after a wonderful encounter with the owner of a Venetian mecca, Mea Libera Tutti, I was shot to shit. Edit Post... Delete.

There will now be multiple parts to my 'celiachia' experiences in this floating island. I'm not sure if summaries are now appropriate, given the new world of information I have been invited into, so think of Part Uno as a little index of what's to follow.

1. Pharmacies and Health stores stock teeny tiny ranges of 'senza glutine' products.

2. Supermarkets, Billa and Coop also assign almost non-existant spaces for suitable foodstuffs, which are often hidden among regular pastas and crackers.

3. Two restaurants which specialise in cooked GF meals are La Fondamenta and Ristorante Da Poggi. I am yet to find a few more. Reviews to come.

4. God Bless the ladies from Mea Libera Tutti. Your one-stop shop for gnocchi, puff pastry, hand-made biscuits, sweets, bread, the list goes on. Everything in the store is for you!

5. The Italian Coeliac Association website can also be read in English. Just my luck that this option is being reconstructed at the moment. Visiting www.celiachia.it will open doors to the harshly different food laws in Italy.

Watch this space. I am almost certain even the index will be updated plus reviews, reviews, reviews! I'll try to keep them short, sweet and always Senza Glutine. x

Nitty Gritty Ingredients

I stumbled today. That's what happens when one proclaims to know-it-all. After 3 years on the diet, 1 year in remission, a healthy glow, finally some energy and a blog to prove it all, I didn't think I'd be asking another question. My job is to provide the answers!

Pop quiz...
In my hand: a bag of boiled lollies
On the bag: ingredients listed
On the list: 'Glucose Syrup (wheat)'
Below the list: 'CONTAINS WHEAT'
Me: Perplexed
You: ?

For those of you who have no clue what I'm on about, there are several food ingredients that a coeliac sufferer knows to be gluten-free despite the ingredients having a '(wheat)' partnering it. Glucose syrup is one of those ingredients, along with caramel colour (wheat) and dextrose (wheat). This is because the ingredient is so refined and processed, that the gluten is apparently stripped out of it, like the paint of a refreshed antique table.

But what threw me about this case was the very BOLD warning below - CONTAINS WHEAT. Never seen that before. The BOLD was challenging my pre-learnt notions. After confirming with the The Coeliac Society online, my worries were soothed the way my accused glutenous sweet was melting on my tastebuds. Just as well - I was onto my third.

So, rest assured, glucose syrup is SAFE even if you do find it's nasty counterpart creeping up on you, or screaming in your face. Phew.

A Cure

The following article came from The Sunday Telegraph's Body + Soul Section on Sunday February 7 2010. Reading it prompted me to call the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research - the Melbourne organisation responsible for trialling a possible vaccination for coeliac disease sufferers, offering a cure for the intolerance. If successful, this could be available to us in 5-10 years. Only 40 people have been selected to trial the first phase. I've put my name on the waiting list for the next phases. Exciting!!!