Celiac disease and Gluten Intolerance have been on the rise in Canada bringing the population afflicted with the conditions to a total of 6 percent. Complications can range from deterioration small intestine, pain, memory, depression and infertility. One woman in Lethbridge wishes to make the lives of those afflicted easier.
For those who are unaware gluten is the protein found in wheat, barley, rye and some oats. It holds the dough together and adds flavour to your food. Burgers, fries, onion rings, pizza, dried fruits, spices, breakfast cereal and alcohol all of these foods have one thing in common, they all contain gluten.
There has been criticism about the rise of manufactured gluten-free foods in grocery stores and eateries in mainstream media from commercials and TV personalities like Dr. Oz.
However, for people like Carlee McElhaw, there’s no choice but gluten free food. McElhaw is one of the many Canadians diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine that can occur in people from infancy. It is caused by a negative reaction to gluten that damages the small intestine lowering nutritional absorption and immunity to illness.
“When I was young, I suffered from a various amount of ailments. Gastro-intestinal issues, joint inflammation migraine headaches, the list goes on. And we discovered it was in fact wheat and gluten. It was a huge challenge for me to find anything and I was teenager. There was nowhere I could eat in town. I had to make everything myself and I’d have to take it to school with me. Even at the schools there was nothing besides salads and that hasn’t really changed.” McElhaw recalled.
Since diagnosis twelve years ago McElhaw has gone into business as a gluten free baker to create greater options for her fellow celiac sufferers than what the supermarket has to offer. Her mother and co-owner even challenges commercial breads tastes to the products in their bakery.
“There are definitely products that are gluten free and they do have sugar and they do have preservatives. That’s kind of what we steer away from. Being a small family owned business, everything we make is homemade, preservative free, from scratch. I do understand how people have that stigma attached to it. In all actuality if you’re using gluten-free products properly they can be a phenomenal life change for you.” Said McElhaw in reference critics of gluten-free food being unhealthy.
If you experience symptoms of celiac disease such as rashes, irritability, digestive problems or bloating, it is important to contact a medical professional before diagnosing yourself with celiac disease and going on a gluten-free diet. If avoided gluten will be harsh on your system if it is reintroduced.
The baking that comes from Gluten Free Cravings is often what local restaurants use as their gluten free options. The bakery is located over the overpass on Stafford Drive North.
