Trending Topic: Gluten

As seen in the April 15, 2010 edition of the Long Island Press.

Sandwiched between Zack and Miri Make a Porno and Lady Gaga, the Internet trend site TrendHunter.com lists gluten-free diets as a trend for 2009. There is little question consumer interest in gluten-free eating habits—as well as gluten-free products—is growing. Sales of gluten-free foods is the fastest growing U.S. grocery category, according to the Nutrition Business Journal, increasing by more than 18 percent per year.

Gluten, the Latin word for “glue,” is a protein contained in the cells of wheat, rye and barley. It is an important source of nutritional protein, both in foods prepared directly from wheat, and as an additive to foods like sauces and condiments, to boost protein. It gives kneaded dough its elasticity, allows leavening and is a binding agent that contributes shape, texture and chewiness to baked products like bagels and pizza. It is highly incorporated into vegan diets in the form of seitan as it absorbs flavor and has a meat-like consistency. Growth of convenience and fast foods has led to an increased use of gluten as an additive to non-wheat products, with the United States being the largest consumer of wheat gluten in the world. Because of bio-engineering, modern wheat contains almost double the amount of gluten it did a century ago.

For those without a gluten intolerance, gluten is harmless and avoiding it could cause dietary deficiencies. But for those with an intolerance, gluten causes the body to have an abnormal reaction and launch an attack on the body’s immune system.

Because celebrities like Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Zooey Deschanel, Rachel Weisz and Victoria Beckham have gone public with their gluten-free lifestyles, which they adopted either by necessity or by choice, word is spreading about gluten-free products, among those with gluten intolerance, and among fad dieters looking for the next trend.

But because this is a trend that, for some, is a way of life, many wonder whether all the attention gluten-free diets are getting belittles the severity of the actual disease or if it is a move in the right direction for the millions still undiagnosed.
Celiac disease affects 1 percent of healthy, average Americans. That means at least 3 million people in our country are living with celiac disease—97 percent of them are undiagnosed.

Gluten-free trend could fall like ‘a house of cards’

There has been a lot of buzz in the gluten-free forums and blogs about this article. What do you think?

Gluten-free trend could fall like ‘a house of cards’: "The mainstream adoption of gluten-free diets is a movement on the way out, according to trends forecaster Suzy Badaracco, president of Culinary Tides."

Celiac Disease: I'm Always Ahead of the Trend!

Clearly being diagnosed in 1981 and writing my blog for three years now (wow!), I am more than ahead of the trend.... I am the trend setter. ;-)

Ranking what's out, what's in as 2010 dawns
By Monica Hesse and Dan Zak - Washington Post Staff Writers

Out: Peanut Allergies
In: Celiac Disease

Enough with that decade. Where's the "dislike" button?

On to the tweens! Our hair's as greasy as Jon Gosselin's plugs, our Twitter feed as gummed up as the 111th Congress. The Epic Icon Flush left us orphans of greatness. Cronkite: OUT. Updike: OUT. Farrah and Swayze: OUT and OUT. Funny thing about dying, though: It makes you IN one last time. Upon their deaths, the King of Pop and the Lion of the Senate underwent an image makeover quicker than you can say, "Larry, you're being inappropriate. You really are."

What's left, then? Where are our legends-in-the-making? Queasy from a recessional hangover, we squirmed into our Snuggie (turns out: not comfy, not funny), watched some instant Netflix on our PS3s, and slipped into a sleep (no Propofol, we swear). We dreamed a dream and woke up with a dowdy Scotswoman spooning us in our cultural bed.

There is good news. Washington: Finally IN, and getting inner! So flee New York, head down the Appalachian Trail, grab a beer and join our summit here by the White House gates. We're not on the list, so we made our own. Yes, it's inappropriate, but we did this for the show.

Trendy Celiac

I guess Celiac Disease has now made it big since we got a shout-out in a posting on Gawker yesterday. Of course, Gawker being Gawker, was using Celiac Disease in a snarky manner but we did get a mention nonetheless.

The posting "The Fats: Why There Are No Fat People at Wesleyan" specifically said:

Since most Wesleyan feeder schools are either private or one of those rich suburban high schools where the girls all happen to have celiac disease, and the fat girls are treated like Martha Dumptruck, it's not surprising that the campus would look like an Undereaters Anonymous retreat. Skinny jeans, people! There's a reason they don't come in big sizes!

Now I know plenty of Celiacs and trust me, we ain't all wearing skinny jeans. I just find it irritating and irresponsible that they are equating Celiac Disease to a rich-girl eating disorder, which clearly it is NOT!!

Then again, Celiac is getting mentioned; should I complain?? And if Celiac Disease is truly the next big thing, then I am light years ahead of my time. Being diagnosed and gluten-free since 1981, I am clearly the Queen of this trend!