A Little Awareness Goes A Long Way (pass it on)

WHAT is Celiac Disease?

• Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder where the villi of the small intestine become damaged by consuming gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley and rye)
• When a Celiac consumes gluten, the body reacts by attacking itself because it views gluten as the enemy
• Untreated, Celiac can cause anemia, malnutrition and increase the risk for other autoimmune diseases as well as some Cancers
• Some people with Celiac also suffer from Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) which is a condition where the skin breaks out in painful rashes and blisters
• Celiac is genetic, meaning it can be passed down in families
• There is no known trigger, but those with the Celiac gene can develop the disease at any point in their life
• Once the disease manifests, there is no "off" button and a strict gluten free diet is important

WHO should be tested

• 1st-degree relatives of someone with Celiac such as a sibling, child or parent
• Those with unexplained infertility
• People with Down Syndrome, Turner Syndrome, Osteoporosis or Type 1 Diabetes
• If you have unexplained and chronic GI issues or have iron, B12 or folate deficiencies

WHY accurate testing is important

• With an accurate Celiac diagnosis, you are able to start a gluten free diet without doubt and you will have a better chance adhering to it
• If you have a negative blood test and symptoms are still present, further testing needs to be explored as an IgA deficiency can cause a false negative blood test
• Ruling out Celiac is just as important as confirming it. It enables you and your physician to further explore your symptoms and hopefully pinpoint the cause

HOW to be tested properly

• Remain on a normal gluten-containing diet (cutting back gluten will sku test results as well)

• Have your physician run a blood test to measure levels of certain antibodies - anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG) anti-endomysium (EMA) and the anti-deamidated gliadin peptides (DGP)

• While a positive antibody test is able to suspect Celiac Disease, it is not conclusive (false positives can happen for various reasons) and further testing needs to be explored. This is where a biopsy comes into play as it allows Doctor's to check for damage to the lining of the small intestine

• Feeling better when gluten is avoided does not necessarily mean you have Celiac Disease. Irritable Bowels Syndrome (IBS), Celiac, Chronic Fatigue and various other autoimmune disorders are easily confused for one another

• If you are already adhering to a gluten free diet, you will need to undergo a gluten challenge to ensure accurate test results. This means you will need to consume 10 grams of gluten (4-5 slices of wheat bread) daily for up to 8 weeks. If this is not an option for you, there is genetic testing available. It won't diagnose you as Celiac, but it can rule it out if you do not carry the gene.

Catelli Gluten Free Pastabilities Challenge

Celiac Awareness month takes place in May. The great folks at Catelli asked me if I would like to participate in their Gluten Free Pastabilities Challenge to help celebrate. The task - to create an original gluten free pasta recipe, using any cut of Catelli Gluten Free pasta. I chose to work with Penne, which Catelli then graciously supplied me with.

Catelli Gluten Free Pasta is made from a unique four-grain blend of white rice, brown rice, corn & quinoa. It is is produced in a dedicated gluten-free facility. Certified by the Canadian Celiac Association’s Gluten-Free Certification Program, it is available in Spaghetti, Fusilli, Penne, and Macaroni. The pasta is made with ingredients that are declared GMO-free as well as Cholesterol and preservative free. You can find Catelli Gluten Free Pasta at all major retailers across Canada

After playing around with some ideas, I came up with a recipe which I have dubbed "Maple Brunch Penne". I'm a big fan of comfort food and for me, this really hit the spot. I hope you will enjoy this as it has quickly become a family favourite in my home of picky eaters.

" Maple Brunch Penne "

Serves 4

Core Ingredients

1     box Catelli Gluten Free Penne     
4     eggs
5     strips of bacon cut into 1-inch pieces
2     tablespoons maple syrup
      shaved parmesan cheese and pepper to taste 

Marinara Sauce Ingredients

3      tablespoons olive oil
1/2   cup finely diced onion
4      cloves garlic, minced
1      jalapeno pepper, finely diced
1      teaspoon brown sugar
1      tablespoon white sugar
1      teaspoon salt

3      tablespoons tomato paste

1      796ml can crushed tomato
    



Directions

1) Heat olive oil in large saucepan or wok, on medium-low heat
2) Add onion, garlic and jalapeno pepper. Cook until soft, but not brown. Stir frequently
3) Mix in brown sugar, white sugar, salt, and  tomato paste. Continue to stir frequently
4) Separate juices from crushed tomato and set the juice aside
5) Add crushed tomato and stir. Bring sauce to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until sauce reduces. About 15-20 minutes. Occasionally stir mixture
6) While sauce is simmering, bring pot of water to boil and cook Catelli Gluten Free Penne per directions on box
7) While pasta is cooking, fry bacon until slightly crisp and drain. Place bacon in a bowl and drizzle with maple syrup. Add the maple syrup coated bacon to sauce
8) Add the reserved juices from crushed tomatoes to sauce and stir
9) Fry eggs sunnyside up in bacon grease
10) While eggs cook, drain pasta (do not rinse!!!) and add to sauce
11) Place finished pasta mixture in 4 bowls and top each with fried egg. Add shaved parmesan and pepper to your liking. Serve and enjoy!


You can use an egg ring like I did, to produce a nice rounded shape.

Like what I have created here? Feeling up for a challenge? 

Visit Websaver.ca and grab a coupon for $1.00 off of any one Catelli Gluten Free 340g product. Then, create your own Catelli Gluten Free pasta recipe and share it here on Catelli's Facebook page. The recipe can be for breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert! The choice is yours. Catelli's Gluten Free Pastabilities Challenge will be held for the public from May 4-31, 2015, and Catelli is offering major prizes for delicious, out-of-the-box gluten free pasta ideas. The three people whose recipes get selected and have the highest number of likes on Catelli’s Facebook page will receive a year’s supply of gluten free pasta, courtesy of Catelli! How cool is that?!



**Disclosure: I received compensation in the form of  product for this post

Save Money With Gluten Free Coupons Canada

We all know that eating gluten free can be both daunting and very costly. Fortunately, there is a silver lining in the form of gluten free coupons.

Head to GlutenFreeCoupons.ca and sign up to have amazing Gluten Free coupons, mailed directly to your home (Canada only). You will receive a selection of coupons from brands such as Enjoy Life, Pillers, Rudis, Pillsbury and many more! Depending on the region you live in, you could get coupons from more than 16 brands.

By signing up, you will also be able to stay up to date on new gluten free products in the grocery store.


The Canadian Celiac Association endorses this program. Each coupon you use provides much needed financial support to further the hard work done by the CCA.