coeliac disease | Gluten Free By The Sea
Clare’s Gluten Free Cafe Closes
I’m very sad to bring you this announcement from Clare, though happy to report she will still be selling online, but her cafe is closing: “Hi, our shop will be closed until further notice. We are still taking orders via e-mail, telephone or website order form, for either collection (from our St. Budeaux address), or for local delivery (from £3.00). Any businesses who feel that providing homemade gluten free options in their outlet will benefit/increase their customer turnover, please feel free to e-mail/phone for more information. We will provide individually packaged gluten free items, so as to avoid any cross contamination risks. Apologies to all our customers and friends for any inconvenience.”
I will personally miss the cafe massively, and can only pass on my thanks to Clare for giving coeliacs somewhere so safe and comfortable to eat gluten free. Be sure to check out her website for ordering options: http://www.claresglutenfreecatering.co.uk/
Traditional Puddings Range Change
Unfortunately Traditional Puddings experiment at making their entire range 100% gluten free has come to an end. Sadly it seems the term still puts some people off and I think that’s still a battle we have to win. Tina Hurford is now going back to baking both types of puddings, and note she had her gluten free puddings tested to <20ppm when doing this previously. They are delicious and well worth trying. Here’s the announcement: “IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to circumstances beyond our control as from 16th July 2014, traditional Puddings will only be able to offer Gluten Free puddings on an order only basis. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. We will of course still attend Gluten Free fairs and venues with a the GF puddings“.
Holland’s Diner Opens
Those that attended the Coeliac UK Plymouth Group AGM in May might have spoken to Tracy and Chris Holland who were there to spread the word about their retro American Diner that was due to open in Frankfurt Gate, with a large gluten free menu. I’m happy to report the diner is now open and in full swing and I’ve heard good reports. I hope to be visiting and brining you a full review of this one soon. In the mean time check out the gluten free information on their website: http://www.hollandsdinerplymouth.co.uk/#!gluten-free-/c1ud4
I am sure many of you will remember Julie and Mark Petvin who used to run Plymouth Greengrocer when it was based at Chaplins. They are now back with a new venture called Westcountry Produce, mainly selling and delivery eggs around Plymouth and at local markets. However, they’ve now started selling Soupy Do gluten free products and are adding many more gluten free items to their delivery options. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for more information.
Kingfisher Fish and Chips Extends Gluten Free Choice
Hopefully you’ve read my review of Kingfisher Fish and Chip Shop in Chaddlewood that I recently posted. Gluten free is served all day every Monday. I’ve been informed this week that they have added sausages to their gluten free range and these will be available both battered and without batter from this Monday. I am also very happy to report that from the same day gluten free curry sauce will also be on the menu!
I hope you will all join me in supporting the great local gluten free businesses we have in and around Plymouth, it really is a case of use them or lose them.
Tags: coeliac, coeliac disease, food, gluten free, gluten free diet, gluten free food, plymouth
This week is Coeliac Awareness week, an event which run annually by Coeliac UK to help raise awareness of Coeliac Disease. As many of you know I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease in 2011, and I now spend much of my time spreading the word and trying to help fellow coeliacs. The disease affects an estimated 1 in 100 people in the UK according to Coeliac UK. However only around 15% of this number have been properly diagnosed. That means a massive 85% of those with coeliac disease are still being made ill, with the long term risk of osteoporosis or even bowel cancer remaining without treatment.
When a coeliac ingests gluten, an autoimmune response will cause the body to attack the lining of the small intestine. This leads to damage to the villi (small finger like projections lining the gut). These are flattened reducing the surface area of the gut, preventing food and nutrients from being properly absorbed. This can lead to malnourishment and anaemia. There is currently no medical cure for the disease, and the only treatment is a lifetime gluten free diet. This means strict avoidance of wheat, rye and barley.
Gluten is commonly found in foods such as pasta, bread, cakes, biscuits, pizza, pastry and flour. Food is not the only issue, as many drinks such as beer and cheep cola’s can also contain gluten. Other symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, bloating, headaches, joint pain and fatigue. Coeliac disease is also a hereditary condition, so if you have a family member with coeliac disease you are at an increased risk. Many patients are also incorrectly diagnosed with IBS. So does this sound like you? Make sure you see your GP and get tested.
Coeliac UK are this year running an awareness week campaign to encourage supermarkets to sign up for a “gluten free guarantee”. The campaign aims to improve availability of gluten free food for coeliacs, and the charity is asking supermarkets to guarantee the following core items are always stocked: fresh white bread, fresh brown bread, bread rolls, breakfast cereals, pasta, flour, crackers and cereal bars. You can read more about this campaign and how to get involved here.
For more information on coeliac disease, please take the time to read the story of my diagnosis here. I would also be really grateful if you could share this post to your Facebook and Twitter feeds to help spread the word. If you think you could be suffering from Coeliac Disease visit the Coeliac UK website for more information, and above all please visit your doctor and get tested before eliminating gluten from your diet.
Tags: awareness week, celiac, coeliac, coeliac disease, coeliac uk, gluten free, gluten free diet, gluten free food, health