Did you see this episode of Nightline last week? It’s questioning if the gluten-free diet is really good for people that DO NOT have celiac disease. It brings up the fact that many of the gluten-free foods that are available often lack nutrients and that the gluten-free diet may be harmful to people without celiac disease.

Over and over again, these reports keep surfacing and spreading misinformation about the gluten-free diet. I’ve written about it numerous times and I’ll continue to write about it. If you’re a non-celiac and you’re buying gluten-free desserts and packaged food because you think they are a healthier option, then you are definitely wrong. But, if you are trying to eat a well-balanced diet with naturally gluten-free food, then you will benefit greatly. All of the hype (in terms of it being healthy), all of the celebrities, and all of the non-stop talk about the gluten-free diet in the blogosphere isn’t talking about getting healthy by eating gluten-free donuts, it’s talking about eating a diet rich in naturally gluten-free foods. A diet with meats, vegetables, some fruit and devoid of gluten will not hurt anyone and my bets are on that it will make them feel better. Packaged gluten-free food is there simply to replace “gluten-filled” packaged food. For a person with celiac disease, that means being able to enjoy the same guilty pleasures as everyone else. For a non-celiac following a gluten-free diet, that gluten-free donut is also just a guilty pleasure while they’re attempting to follow the lifestyle.

The fact is that most food that is considered good for you is naturally gluten-free. We don’t need wheat, rye, barley or oats in our diet to be healthy. There are plenty of other sources of fiber (and the many other nutrients that skeptics say we are missing) in naturally gluten-free foods.

If you are thinking of trying the gluten-free diet for the dozens of health benefits that you’ve been hearing about, do yourself a favor and do some research on the subject and then decide for yourself whether or not it is right for you. Better yet, give the diet a try and see how you feel. Also, remember that all of the gluten-free items that you’re bombarded with at your local supermarket are not necessarily healthy — in fact most of them are not.

I’d love to hear from some non-celiacs who have adopted the gluten-free diet as well as those who have not had success with it. I have a feeling that this is going to be a hot topic for some time to come.

I’m somewhat new to following Wasabimon!, but from what I’ve seen so far, it has the potential to be a great gluten-free resource. Wasabimon! is written by Stephanie Stiavetti, a food writer living in San Francisco. Her mission is to take everyday foods and make them edible by anyone, regardless of dietary restrictions.

Stephanie’s recipes are diverse and not for the faint of heart — vibrant dishes like Uber-Hearty Oxtail Soup or Vegan Fried Squash Blossoms with Potato Pumpkin Seed Filling are plentiful throughout this blog. Whichever recipe you try, you’re bound to get something delicious, nutritious as well as something that was made with gluten-free ingredients in mind. What more could one ask for?

Since following Wasabimon!, I’ve been amazed at the diversity of Stephanie’s recipes as well as the diversity of her posts. It’s a little bit of the everyday food that she mentions as well as a little bit of the exotic — a great combination to keep things interesting.

Wasabimon! »

I’m always searching for new gluten-free blogs. I’m always impressed when I come across one that is updated frequently and is full of great photos of great looking gluten-free food. I’ve showcased a few here so far that I love and that continually publish content that is not only relevant, but that really furthers the knowledge base of the gluten-free community.

One blog in particular that has recently caught my attention has been Celiac Teen from Lauren, a teenage blogger who has a vast collection of gluten-free recipes and random musings. This would be impressive coming from anyone, but the fact that Lauren is 17 is truly mind blowing. I haven’t come across many 17 year olds with this level of focus and commitment. A tip of the hat to Lauren for managing to create such a great celiac resource while managing the rigors of high school and all of its overly-dramatic daily issues.

Her recipes are one mouth-watering dish after another. You could easily go through these recipes and have enough to try for a long, long time and know that you will have an exciting personal menu to eat safely from. The recipes that I have tried of hers have all turned out perfectly and have been exactly as described.

I’m really excited to see where this blog might go in the years to come. I will definitely be following it and anxiously awaiting each new post.

Celiac Teen »

In a recent study (via medpage Today) by Christopher Hammerle, MD, and Sheila Crowe, MD, of the University of Virginia, it is believed that more patients with celiac disease may have refractory celiac disease, which means their bodies stop responding to the gluten-free diet.  It is thought that refractory celiac disease is on the rise and is caused by celiac patients not strictly following the gluten-free diet.

Two of the treatments of choice for refractory celiac disease are corticosteroids and thiopurine. The corticosteroids run the risk of a steroid dependence while the thiorpurine has a better record.

Non-compliance is really the same thing as being untreated — and untreated celiac disease can not only be the cause of severe discomfort, it can lead to serious illness and even death. Keep this in mind the next time you think about cheating on your diet. Those thoughts alone are enough to keep me away from temptation.

Gluten Free Gobsmacked follows the adventures of Kate, a woman diagnosed with celiac disease back in 2000. She’s been sharing her gluten-free recipes with the world since at least 2005 and comes up with some amazing treats. Seasonal goodies like a recent post on Gluten-Free Pumpkin Fries, desserts like Chocolate Chip and Tahini Cookies, and savory dishes like Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Carrots and Fennel Bulbs are all things that will make your mouth water. Gluten Free Gobsmacked is a “go to” blog for celiacs everywhere and should be for you too.

Also, take a look at her About page to learn what “Gobsmacked” means. Whenever I have heard the term, I usually associate it with the British and their love of such over the top words. I always imagine hearing a word like this in an accent similar to Margaret Thatcher.  It’s nice to see (and so appropriate) in this context.

Gluten Free Gobsmacked »

Hey, that tastes good! is a blog by Jill Elise, a gluten-free food blogger living in Connecticut. It’s an amazing resource for anyone seeking recipes and insight into gluten-free comfort food. Everything from Pecan Pie to Salisbury Steak to Coconut Rice Pudding (and everything in between) — she’s got it all covered. There’s also some great insight into traveling gluten-free as well as recommendations for places that she’s visited while on vacation.

With a recent redesign of her blog and amazing photography, you will find yourself spending hours digging through her archives in search of that perfect recipe for whatever you might be craving — needless to say, you’ll undoubtedly find something that you’ll love.

In her own words, “…how I learned that gluten-free doesn’t mean taste-free”.

Hey, that tastes good! »

Gluten-Free Goddess is written by the delightfully poetic Karina Allrich, an L.A. script writer, photographer, mother, and of course a gluten-free genius.

Her recipes are out of this world, her photography is beautiful, and her taste is second to none. The blog has been around since at least 2005 and it has been an important source of wonderful gluten-free recipe ideas as well as Karina’s musings on life and family.

Somehow, every time I read any of her posts, I finish with a smile and usually an idea or two for something to prepare for my family in the following days. So, if you haven’t visited the Gluten-Free Goddess yet, do yourself a favor and do it now — just make sure you give yourself enough time to read through the volumes of Karina’s work.  It’s well worth the time.

Gluten-Free Goddess »

What can I say about Elana’s Pantry? Elana Amsterdam is a prolific writer who never ceases to amaze me with her endless stream of great ideas. All of her recipes, whether it be desserts, entrées, snacks, or drinks all have a focus on all natural and healthy ingredients. She an advocate of using almond flour and has written two books on the subject, Gluten-Free Cupcakes: 50 Irresistible Recipes Made with Almond and Coconut Flour and The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook.

I’ve tried dozens of Elana’s recipes and every one of them has been exactly what I expected them to be (and more). I will never miss the so called “real thing” when eating like this. And to know that what I’m eating is so much healthier than the “real thing” is an added bonus.

Elana is definitely one of the gluten-free communities superstars. She is destined to be a huge success. I will continue to anxiously await her new posts and will definitely continue using her recipes.

Visit Elana’s Pantry »

Hilary Davidson’s Gluten-Free Guidebook is the home of the Reader Report. Along with Hilary’s own great travel focused posts, she shares her viewers travel tips from around the world.

It’s no wonder that Hilary does a travel based blog as she has written both Frommer’s New York City Day by Day and Frommer’s Toronto. After one of Hilary’s posts, you will get a great feel for a particular city and what it has to offer in terms of gluten-free dining options.

Beyond the travel related posts, she’s posted some great content like, “Would you pop a pill to eat gluten again?” and “More about that celiac pill“. She poses some wonderful questions and opinions that need to be read by every celiac.

Hilary Davidson’s Gluten-Free Guidebook is yet another great example of a great gluten-free blog with an incredible amount of valuable information that will help you make great travel decisions as well as furthering your insight into the gluten-free diet.

Gluten-Free Guidebook »

Uber-networkers Kim and Kelly started the Celiac Chicks blog back in 2003 and have produced one of the largest collections of relevant gluten-free information on the Internet. Restaurant visits, event reviews, celiac awareness, giveaways, gluten-free travel, product reviews, and so much more — there is so much to read here, that you will walk away “in the know” about what’s happening in the world of both celiac disease and the gluten-free diet.

I can never guess what they will write about next as their is so much variety in their posts. Their knowledge is enviable and their access to important figures in the celiac community continue to make their work both important and a great resource for anyone wanting to learn more about the gluten-free diet.

Celiac Chicks »

Shauna James Ahern’s Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef is arguably one of the most widely read gluten-free blogs in the world. Do a Google search for “gluten-free” and it’s the first blog that comes up (behind just a few of the top celiac websites). I’m sure her traffic stats are out of this world. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a gluten-free blog that didn’t mention this blog in their blogroll or links section. I even read a post from a restaurant owners blog recently that said something like, “OMG, the Gluten-Free Girl just came in…” — that just shows you the kind of following that she has.

Both her and her husband, “The Chef” continually write about what they know best, amazing gluten-free food — both naturally gluten-free as well as food that’s adapted to be gluten-free. Great writing and great photography make this blog a treat to read (and look at).

Shauna has an infectious appreciation for life that will surely give any post diagnosis celiac hope that their life can truly be fulfilling. If by some remote chance you haven’t been there already, join the club and see what all the fuss is about.

Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef »