NEWS

Gluten and skincare

Gluten can’t cause damage to the small intestine when it’s absorbed through the skin. If you have coeliac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis, you don’t need to worry about gluten in cosmetics or medicines that are topically applied (to the skin, hair, nails, etc). Rarely, gluten/wheat may cause skin irritation Some people with coeliac disease report … Read more

Gluten free brownie

Blocks of chocolate don’t last long enough in my pantry to be used for cooking, so I love the cocoa-based ‘Coconut Chocolate Brownie’ recipe from the trusty Edmonds Cookbook. I’ve modified this recipe to be gluten free (and dairy free if required). It’s my ‘go-to’ for bake sales, bring a plate events or for visitors who … Read more

Will my children have coeliac disease too?

If you, your partner, or one of your children has coeliac disease, you may be worried about the rest of your family. If you’re been wondering about the likelihood of your children, or their siblings, developing coeliac disease’, here’s what you need to know… The odds are in your favour! If your child’s parent or … Read more

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… even the most clued-up and vigilant of us can sometimes accidentally get ‘glutened’. But although regularly doing so increases a person with coeliac disease’s risk of nutrient deficiencies, … Read more