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[Jeanne]

BTW, gluten isn't just in wheat. It's also in oats, barley, and rye. All favorites of mine. Sigh.

I know the feeling.  But, there are companies that make "gluten-free" oats.  The oats themselves are actually gluten-free, but the manufacturing process "contaminates" them with gluten.  I have found gluten-free oats at Trader Joe's.  There are also Bob's products, Van's products and Nature's Path products that contain gluten-free oats.  One of my favorite company names is "Glutenfreeda", which has good food items and also Glutino.  When I began back in 2001/2002, there wasn't all that much out there.  I felt like the Mel Brooks 2,000 year-old man trying to find natural foods and having to settle for rocks, trees, etc.  Now, it's much better.  I also check to make sure the food is non-GMO.  You don't want to avoid wheat and then wind up eating genetically modified corn.

I hadn't heard about gluten-free oats. I basically gave up oatmeal. It was just too irritating.

Yes, there's a lot more to choose from now. I'm a big fan of Food for Life breads and, more recently, Udi's. Trader Joe's now has two gluten-free breads, both of which are quite good--and reasonably priced.

[Jeanne]

I don't recall exactly when I cut back on wheat, but it was probably about the same time you did, Dan. I used to read a lot of Dr Sherry Rogers' books. NO MORE HEARTBURN was my bible for digestive issues. It contains a wealth of information, and I then followed up with a phone consultation with her. There is far more awareness of these issues now.

[George]

BTW, gluten isn't just in wheat. It's also in oats, barley, and rye. All favorites of mine. Sigh.

Some time ago, I remember seeing a bottle of vanilla extract with "Gluten-free" featured prominently on the label.  I didn't know vanilla could even have gluten.

[George]

Topic of the Day:

Beauty That Drives a Man Mad [Some Like It Hot]
The Boy From... (not officially "Broadway," but lyrics by Sondheim...good enough for me )
Capped Teeth and Caesar Salad [Song & Dance and/or Tell Me On a Sunday]
The Grass is Always Greener [Applause]
Shy [Once Upon a Mattress]
That'll Show Him [Forum]
There's Always a Woman (cut from Anyone Can Whistle)

And many more.

[Jane]

Most vanilla's have alcohol, and I suppose what grain the alcohol is made with might cause it to have gluten.

[Dan M]

Yes, there's a lot more to choose from now. I'm a big fan of Food for Life breads and, more recently, Udi's. Trader Joe's now has two gluten-free breads, both of which are quite good--and reasonably priced.

Udi's is good, I like it.  Try Rudi's, it's sometimes at Costco.  Three Bakers is another good brand.
Whole Foods has some other brands, including their store brand that also makes cakes, cookies and pies.
Against The Grain is another brand to try.  They use as their primary flour, tapioca, which gives a really nice texture, particularly for the pizzas they make and that Whole Foods carries.

[George]

Well, I must be off.  Today is the rededication of The Washington Center for the Performing Arts.  They remodeled and updated the outside, so it's much more protective of the building underneath it all.  I was just going to go as a patron, but they needed more volunteers, so I signed up to work for it.

Be back later!

[George]

Most vanilla's have alcohol, and I suppose what grain the alcohol is made with might cause it to have gluten.

That makes sense...I never thought of that.

[Jane]

Something is wrong with my left wrist.  I don't even know how to describe the problem but it is very disconcerting & occasionally somewhat painful. 

[Jeanne]

For about two years I was strictly off wheat. The conventional wisdom said that if you're allergic to wheat you substitute spelt. I did so, only to learn that I don't tolerate spelt much better than wheat. I was eating wheat-free cereals, one of which was high in corn. Ditto corn. I had to give up a lot of foods, but I no longer have the allergic reactions.

[George]

Bye, all!

[Jeanne]

BTW, gluten isn't just in wheat. It's also in oats, barley, and rye. All favorites of mine. Sigh.

Some time ago, I remember seeing a bottle of vanilla extract with "Gluten-free" featured prominently on the label.  I didn't know vanilla could even have gluten.

Lots of products say that now. I suspect a lot of people don't understand what gluten is, but they think it's good to be gluten-free. I think that's the reasoning behind the labeling.

[Dan M]

Most vanilla's have alcohol, and I suppose what grain the alcohol is made with might cause it to have gluten.

Yes, be careful.  But, most "clear" spirits are okay due to distillation.  Recently, I have read that there are new "gluten-free" bleu cheeses (and bleu cheese type cheeses).  These kinds of cheese are started on bread molds.  The molds mimic the gluten protein and if you have any sensitivity to gluten, these cheeses will cause problems.  I have to avoid all bleu cheeses unfortunately even after trying the so-called new bleu.

[Jennifer]

I think I made the point in the notes that some people are gluten free out of necessity - I'm quite sure I made that point in the notes.  I'm equally sure that there are many people, including some I know right here in LA, that have gone gluten free for no other reason than it is a current fad.  And I can equally guarantee that they will not be gluten free a year from now.

Exactly.  I work with a woman who has Celiac disease and for people like her who need it, it's definitely a good thing.  A couple of years ago, I'd read (skimmed) an article that said that people who go gluten free just to lose weight, won't.  That's not what it's for.  And people are needlessly spending a lot of extra money because it's the latest "trend."

There are obviously people who have celiac disease and who need to be gluten-free. But I think there are also people who have had stomach issues and such who are just trying to see if going gluten-free will make them feel better.

[MBarnum]

That was a very good interview DR MBARNUM with some nice photos and film clips.

Thank you JRand. It was a fun one to do, also. I think he has a good career ahead.

[Dan M]

For about two years I was strictly off wheat. The conventional wisdom said that if you're allergic to wheat you substitute spelt. I did so, only to learn that I don't tolerate spelt much better than wheat. I was eating wheat-free cereals, one of which was high in corn. Ditto corn. I had to give up a lot of foods, but I no longer have the allergic reactions.

I couldn't tolerate spelt either.  I think it's too closely related to wheat.  Sorghum is a good substitute.
Pamela's brands from Ukiah, CA has some excellent almond based flours (provided you do not have a tree nut allergy).  I think their pancake mix is wonderful (you can even make chocolate chip cookies from it).

[Jeanne]

Yes, there's a lot more to choose from now. I'm a big fan of Food for Life breads and, more recently, Udi's. Trader Joe's now has two gluten-free breads, both of which are quite good--and reasonably priced.

Udi's is good, I like it.  Try Rudi's, it's sometimes at Costco.  Three Bakers is another good brand.
Whole Foods has some other brands, including their store brand that also makes cakes, cookies and pies.
Against The Grain is another brand to try.  They use as their primary flour, tapioca, which gives a really nice texture, particularly for the pizzas they make and that Whole Foods carries.

Thanks for the suggestions. Whole Foods' prices are pretty high for these breads. There's a health food store near me that used to put them on sale on a rotation basis and I'd stock up. Then I discovered TJ's, which are equal to the sale price every day. They freeze well, so that helps.

[Jennifer]

I have been a nervous wreck all morning waiting for my sister to call. My niece was doing a retelling of a story for a competition at her school (in front of the whole school and the parents of the kids doing it).  I just found out that it well very well.  They are just waiting for the results.

I am sorry you couldn't be there.

I wouldn't have wanted to be there. I was nervous enough just thinking about her speaking in front of 500 people.
They ended up judging the french and english speeches together. And they only gave the prizes to grade 4s (she is in grade 3). And they gave two of the prizes to the English speeches (hers was in french).  It's much harder for an English kid to give a speech in french.

It was just an honor for her to be chosen to speak. Only two kids from each class got to do it (one french and one english, but the same kid cannot do both).

[Jennifer]

Rob's job was the good news we received this week.  Here's the bad news, Richard's last uncle:

Judge George H. Palmer

Sorry DR Ginny!

[Dan M]

Topic of the Day:

Beauty That Drives a Man Mad [Some Like It Hot]
The Boy From... (not officially "Broadway," but lyrics by Sondheim...good enough for me )
Capped Teeth and Caesar Salad [Song & Dance and/or Tell Me On a Sunday]
The Grass is Always Greener [Applause]
Shy [Once Upon a Mattress]
That'll Show Him [Forum]
There's Always a Woman (cut from Anyone Can Whistle)

And many more.

No, "The Boy From . . . ." is a song I mentioned earlier and it is from a Broadway show from 1966, so it counts.

[Jeanne]

Dan, you're probably right about the spelt being too close to wheat. They're biological cousins, I believe.

[Jeanne]

Jane, do you think you sprained your wrist somehow? It's very easy to get a sprain. (At least for me, as I'm a klutz.)

[Dan M]

Dan, you're probably right about the spelt being too close to wheat. They're biological cousins, I believe.

I think that was mainly suggested as an option for people who are gluten-free by choice.  I learned that the hard way unfortunately.

[MBarnum]

DR Ginny, the obituary for DH Richard's uncle was quite nice.

[Jeanne]

Dan, you're probably right about the spelt being too close to wheat. They're biological cousins, I believe.

I think that was mainly suggested as an option for people who are gluten-free by choice.  I learned that the hard way unfortunately.

It was the conventional wisdom for many years for people who are allergic to wheat.

[Jeanne]

See how many posts Bruce's gluten-free tirade generated?

[Jeanne]

TTFN.

[elmore3003]

Topic of the Day:

Beauty That Drives a Man Mad [Some Like It Hot]
The Boy From... (not officially "Broadway," but lyrics by Sondheim...good enough for me )
Capped Teeth and Caesar Salad [Song & Dance and/or Tell Me On a Sunday]
The Grass is Always Greener [Applause]
Shy [Once Upon a Mattress]
That'll Show Him [Forum]
There's Always a Woman (cut from Anyone Can Whistle)

And many more.

No, "The Boy From . . . ." is a song I mentioned earlier and it is from a Broadway show from 1966, so it counts.

DR Dan M, "The Mad Show" was never on Broadway; it was an Off-Broadway show, which means it did not play in a large mid-town theatre in the theatre district.

[Dan M]

Topic of the Day:

Beauty That Drives a Man Mad [Some Like It Hot]
The Boy From... (not officially "Broadway," but lyrics by Sondheim...good enough for me )
Capped Teeth and Caesar Salad [Song & Dance and/or Tell Me On a Sunday]
The Grass is Always Greener [Applause]
Shy [Once Upon a Mattress]
That'll Show Him [Forum]
There's Always a Woman (cut from Anyone Can Whistle)

And many more.

No, "The Boy From . . . ." is a song I mentioned earlier and it is from a Broadway show from 1966, so it counts.

DR Dan M, "The Mad Show" was never on Broadway; it was an Off-Broadway show, which means it did not play in a large mid-town theatre in the theatre district.

Oops!  I guess I root for the underdogs.  I tend to like Off-Broadway shows better.

[Jrand74]

Vibes for the wrist of DR JANE.