SUPPORT GROUP: WESTCHESTER

How would you like a good gluten-free bagel? You might be able to snag one (or more) at the Sunday, December 3 meeting of the Westchester Celiac Sprue Support Group.

The meeting is scheduled to run from 2 to 4 pm at the auditorium of Phelps Memorial Hospital in Sleepy Hollow (accessible by car or a beautiful Hudson River train ride on Metro North), but arrive by 1:30 pm to purchase from Joan's GF Great Bakes (outstanding bagels) and Orgran (love that muesli!) as well as America's Healthy Meals, The Kitchen Table Bakers, and Gluten Free Naturals.

The guest speakers will be Ann Whelan of Gluten-Free Living and Anne Lee of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University. Topics include

Food labeling

Eating healthily on the gf diet

Celiac disease, diabetes and the gf diet

Managing the gf diet at school and at work

News on grains, nutrition, and ingredients from the recent symposium

Here are driving directions to the hospital. By Metro-North, you can go to Tarrytown (and take a taxi from there) or go to Philipse Manor and walk about 40 minutes, mainly through an attractive and somewhat hilly suburban development (check a map in advance before doing that).

Thanks to Sue Goldstein for spreading the word!

GIVING THANKS












Living gluten-free in NYC is a lot easier because of people who don't just look out for themselves but work on behalf of others, too.

I really appreciate the efforts of the individuals who volunteer to benefit the gluten-free community, so today I give special thanks to Shanel and Erin of The New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (founded by the CeliacChicks) and especially special thanks to the active members of the Westchester Celiac Sprue Support Group and the Gluten-Free Restaurant Awareness Program, which welcomes volunteers as well as donations (hint hint).

CELIAC DREAMS

Do celiacs dream of eating rye, barley, and wheat?


Source

QUESTION I think I've had one or two such dreams, though the details aren't coming to mind. How about you?

LECTURE: DR. PETER GREEN AT THE 92ND STREET Y

You've read his book! You've seen him on CNN! And, if you're a patient of his, you've quite possibly had him stick a thin tube down your gullet!

Dr. Peter Green
"Celiac Disease: An Emerging Epidemic"
92nd Street Y
1395 Lexington Ave., New York, NY
Tuesday, November 28 at 6:30 pm
Admission $10 ($5 May Center members)

This is a good chance to see Dr. Green in New York City, regardless of your insurance coverage (or lack thereof).

CNN: CELIAC NEWS NETWORK?















It wasn't very long ago that I heard a rumor that a TV newscaster was a celiac. Since then, I've learned of two: MSNBC's Keith Olbermann and CNN's Heidi Collins, a patient of Dr. Peter Green.

The CNN transcript of Monday's post-symposium interview between Collins and Dr. Green can be found past the halfway mark on this page. (You can also use the Find function to locate the phrase Millions of people.)

The CNN transcript of Tuesday's follow-up chitchat between Collins and anchor Tony Harris can be found past the halfway mark on this page. (You can also use the Find function to locate the phrase We wanted to follow up.)

Video links can currently be found here and here at the website for the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. (They didn't work very well for me, but maybe you'll have better results.) CNN also offers video for pay (though free trials are available) at CNN Pipeline.

Photo: David Marc Fischer

CELIAC DISEASE SYMPOSIUM: TEFF TALK

You might be hearing more about the African grain teff in times ahead. You might even be eating it, too.

Over the years, I've tended to think of teff as less of a food than as an almost abstract word referring to an alternative to wheat that just wasn't very available at the local grocery or health food store. (It's common in the Ethiopian bread injera, but never assume that Ethiopian restaurants in the USA serve gluten-free bread.)

However, at last week's symposium, Gluten Intolerance Group Executive Director Cynthia Kupper mentioned that the Gluten-Free Certification Organization had given its approval to teff tortillas made by La Tortilla Factory. She gave the impression that they're top-notch. I haven't seen much more about the product at the GFCO and La Tortilla Factory websites, but I figure it'll show up sometime soon.

Teff also came up during a talk by Frits Koning, Professor of Immunology at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands. Koning was almost casual when alluding to Dutch celiacs who already include teff in their diets. From what he had to say, it seems that teff was an excellent alternative to wheat that just hadn't gained much traction in North America.

But that situation might be changing.

QUESTION Have you or have you not tried teff? If you have tried it, what was it like?

GLUTEN-FREE MEDIA: THE NEW YORK SUN, CNN, AND REUTERS















While I catch my breath (and some shut-eye) after three days of intense celiazation, here's an article on the International Celiac Symposium from The New York Sun.

And Sue Goldstein recently announced that Dr. Peter Green will appear on CNN on Monday, November 13, at 11:30 am EST.

Finally (for now), here's a Reuters item about the link between celiac disease and type 1 diabetes.