A Guide to Happy, Healthy, and Gluten-Free Holidays
By Madison Voorhies and Dr. Alice Hoyt
16 DECEMBER 2023 | NOLAFAMILY.COM antibody to wheat, and if you eat wheat, you react promptly– typically within minutes to a couple of hours– by experiencing hives, swelling, trouble breathing, and even vomiting,” says Dr. Hoyt. What Are Gluten-Related Disorders? Gluten sensitivity ranges from full-blown celiac disease with small bowel inflammation and damage, to allergies and the intolerance of gluten. General symptoms may include bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, tiredness, and skin rashes. A GF diet generally reverses or stops these symptoms. Dr. Hoyt describes three of the most significant gluten- related medical conditions: Wheat Allergy “A wheat allergy is when you have an allergic The winter holidays are supposed to be a time for family, fun, and food especially, because let’s be honest, most of us probably dream about pumpkin pie and sugar cookies year-round. However, around 6-7 percent of the U.S. population has a sensitivity to gluten, a protein commonly found in wheat, barley, rye, and pretty much any baked holiday good you can think of. Baking gluten-free (GF) during the holidays may seem like a daunting task, but luckily, Dr. Alice Hoyt, leader and founder of the Hoyt Institute of Food Allergy, is here to share some helpful tips on how to get through it.
Wheat allergy, the most common type of food allergy, can also lead to anaphylaxis. Treatment includes epinephrine, immunotherapy (like oral or sublingual options), and wheat avoidance. Immunotherapy helps build tolerance, making individuals either “bite-proof” or “free-eaters.” “Bite-proof” means the person won’t have an allergic reaction if they accidentally take a bite of a wheat-containing food. “Free-eaters” can eat as much wheat as they want without reacting. Celiac Disease (CD) This is an autoimmune disorder that causes your immune system to attack gluten in your gut. The attack can damage your small intestine and stop it from working properly. This is why people may experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, and other nutritional deficiencies. Since CD is an auto-immune disorder, other symptoms, such as rashes, can also occur. The treatment for celiac disease is gluten avoidance. Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) Simply put, this is a gluten intolerance and occurs whenever someone becomes sick after ingesting gluten. People with NCGS may experience brain fog, bloating, abdominal discomfort, tiredness, or diarrhea. CD should be ruled out before NCGS is diagnosed.
Fun Fact: You can be allergic to exercise! There is such a thing as a rare, but potentially severe, wheat-dependent, exercise-induced anaphylaxis (WDEIA) food allergy. This basically means that yes, you can be allergic to exercise! Dr. Hoyt says that in WDEIA, one of the most common allergens is wheat. For example, this can mean a person can eat a regular piece of bread any time of the day, except when they are about to exercise or just exercised. “Something about the exercise plus the wheat predisposes them to having anaphylaxis. Other times they can eat wheat with no problem,” says Dr. Hoyt. Avoiding Gluten in the Kitchen One of the biggest issues you can face when baking GF is cross-contact, sometimes also called cross- contamination. If you’re baking in a kitchen with gluten-containing ingredients nearby, it can be easy to mix up your safe ingredients with the dangerous ones (e.g. Mixing gluten-containing brownies in your favorite mixing bowl, then not cleaning the bowl before making gluten-free brownies). In the world of gluten- and wheat-avoidance, even small amounts matter. “You really just want to use good cleaning practices,” Dr. Hoyt says. “If you’re in a commercial kitchen, then ideally, have a separate area where you are
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