University of Virginia Health System

Charlottesvilli Celiac Support Group - Meeting Highlights

Highlights from the May 22nd Meeting

The Invasion of the Celiacs at the Whole Foods™

This event was a tremendous success! Beautiful weather, decadent food, and a nutritional exploration through the isles of Whole Foods™ were just a few of the new adventures for our support group.  A comprehensive list of gluten-free foods that may be purchased from Whole Foods™ can be found at: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/healthinfo/gf_products.html.  A big thank you to the Charlottesville Whole Foods™ for donating their time/store, delicious foods and the talent of their baker Lee Tobin (who came up from North Carolina to put on this special program).  Of note, Whole Foods™ is planning on piloting a gluten free bakery in North Carolina – if it goes well, it may go nationwide (April - we should check on the wording of this with Whole Foods) Lee provided practice skills for preparing delicious, nutritionally balanced gluten-free foods.  Enjoy these photos!

Celiac Updates

NIH conference uproots international celiac community
Bethesda, MD was the international birthplace of celiac disease awareness. Last month (June 28-30^th), the National Institutes of Health hosted the Consensus Development Conference on Celiac Disease.  An interdisciplinary unraveling of the latest research from physicians, researchers, dietitians and members of the celiac community yielded recognition that celiac disease affects 1% of the population.  The time has come to bring awareness, as well as education, to both professional and public arenas.  The six key steps needed to treat celiac disease include: 

• Consulting a dietitian skilled in celiac disease
• Learning about the disease
• Maintaining a lifelong gluten-free diet
• Identifying celiac-caused nutritional deficiencies
• Having access to an support group
• Timely follow-up with appropriate specialists

Highlights from the conference were broadcast on CNN and ABC news. Read the highlights here:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/conditions/07/01/celiac.disease.ap/index.html
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20040630_2209.html

A full copy of the consensus report is available online at:

http://consensus.nih.gov/cons/118/118cdc_intro.htm
Paper copies will be available to pick up at our next meeting.

Cyber news
The Food Network has a low-carb cooking show in which tons of foods are prepared that just happen to be gluten-free.  Go to www.foodnetwork.com and choose from their list of shows “Low-carb and Lovin’ It”.  You can find lots of recipes for gluten-free desserts and main entrees.  Use CAUTION:  The recipes listed at this site are listed as “Low-carb”  NOT “Gluten-free”.  You still need to double-check the ingredients on their recipes. 

Looking for Gluten? 
The House Energy and Commerce Committee recently approved the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act.  Manufactures will be required to clearly state where a product contains any of the eight major food allergens: milk, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat and soy.  The next step will be a vote by the full Energy and Commerce Committee.  We will wait and see…….

Congress Supports National Celiac Awareness Month   The House of Representatives (Senate pending) issues a gavel of support that May will be celiac disease awareness month.  Read the full story: http://www.glutenfree.com/files/celiac-awareness-res.pdf

Upcoming Events: Are you ready for a Vacation? 

BOB AND RUTH LEVY’S
CLUB MED GLUTEN-FREE GETAWAY
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
January 22~29, 2005

We are excited to announce what we hope to be the first of many Club Med Gluten-free Getaways, the pioneers of the "All-inclusive" vacation - they now have over 100 locations all over the world. We need your participation to show them it pays to accommodate our Gluten-free Diet needs.

All the Gluten-free Drink and Gourmet Food you can eat! As on all Bob & Ruth's Gluten-free Getaways we'll be wined, dined and entertained in casual elegance.  Pack light - it's a week of mid-winter warmth and sunshine "Do As You Please" - Golf, water sports, touring, bocce ball, and much, much more.  All this from $699 pp dbl (Airfare not included)

Check out our website at http://www.bobandruths.com for all the details and forms to make your reservations.  If you have any other questions please give us a call at 410-486-0292!

Resources

Celiac chicks devour the Big Apple:  Learn about the latest celiac news, hot gluten-free food trends, delicious recipes and living life as a celiac in New York City.  Catch these celiac chicks at: www.celiacchicks.com 

Every celiac needs a copy of Shelly Case’s Gluten Free Diet: A Comprehensive Resource Guide. This comprehensive guide is available from us at any of our celiac meetings for $12.00.
 *Addendum: This edition (2003) no longer available as of  July 2006*

Fill your mind with the latest celiac research at our next support group meeting on July 31^st in our usual meeting place at UVA.  Here are a few of the articles that will be available:

• Going Gluten-Free: A Primer for Clinicians, article in Practical Gastroenterology from the April 2004 Issue  
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Evidence Report for Celiac Disease (June 2004)
• NIH Consensus Development Statement for Celiac Disease (June 2004)