NEWS

The coeliac genes

Coeliac disease has a hereditary component, which is why you’re more likely to develop coeliac disease if you have family members with the condition. More than 99% of people with coeliac disease have either the HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8 gene (or parts of them), but these genes aren’t rare – in fact, around 30% of the … Read more

Gluten-free playdough

This gluten-free playdough recipe is quick and simple to make. The kids won’t notice the difference and you won’t panic if they take the odd lick! Ingredients: 1 cup white rice flour 1/2 cup cornflour 1/2 cup salt 1 Tbsp cream of tartar 1 Tbsp vegetable oil 1 cup warm water Food colouring, as desired … Read more

A history of coeliac disease

If gluten is a no-go for you, you would have come across your fair share of non-believers. Comments like, “There was no such thing in my day” and “Just a little bit won’t hurt” can wear you out, but are they true? Let’s have a look at the first of these — “There was no … Read more

The gluten challenge

A blood antibody test, ordered by your GP, is the first step in working out whether or not you have coeliac disease. If this is positive, you’ll be referred to a gastroenterologist, who will take biopsies from your small intestine to look at under a microscope in order to confirm the diagnosis. But, there’s one … Read more

Coeliac disease — more common than you think

Coeliac disease affects more than one in 70 New Zealanders. Increased awareness is what’s needed to help the estimated 57,000 New Zealanders who have coeliac disease but don’t know it. An autoimmune condition with symptoms triggered by the ingestion of gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye and barley), coeliac disease is thought to affect … Read more

A lesson on lactose intolerance

If dairy causes you gut symptoms you’d rather forget, it may pay to delve a little deeper before saying goodbye to this highly nutritious food group. Unlike being allergic to dairy, which is always an immune-system reaction to the protein in cow’s milk, it’s possible to be intolerant to either the protein or the lactose … Read more

Surviving the crumb

Unwittingly ingested gluten? Read on for tips on beating it after eating it. Extreme tiredness, aching joints, a bloated stomach, a desperate urge to rush to the… I know the feeling. I’ve lived well with coeliac disease for 18 years – and ensure my children with gluten-free, dairy-free and soy-free needs do the same – … Read more

Coeliac disease symptoms

Coeliac disease without gut symptoms Extreme tiredness, aching joints, a myriad of niggly, unexplained symptoms… could gluten be to blame? 80% of the 1 in 70 New Zealanders with coeliac disease (an autoimmune condition triggered by ingested gluten) are not aware that they have it. This is an alarming statistic when you consider that undiagnosed … Read more

Beer – can I drink it?

Confused about beer and the gluten-free diet? You’re not alone! Despite what you may have heard, drinking beer brewed from gluten-containing grains isn’t a good idea if you’re on a gluten-free diet. This has a lot to do with the constraints of the test-method used to detect gluten in beer. Wondering what that means, exactly? … Read more

Are oats gluten free?

Why the little oat can cause a lot of confusion. Oats are a contentious issue for Kiwi coeliacs. They’re considered a ‘safe’ food in many countries around the world, but not in New Zealand or Australia – and there are two main reasons why. Reason #1: It’s very easy for oats to become contaminated with wheat, … Read more