The Vancouver Chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association is excited to present Dr. Mohsin Rashid, a fantastic speaker on Celiac Disease! Dr. Rashid is a Professor of Gastroenterology at Dalhousie University in Halifax and a member of the professional advisory board for the Canadian Celiac Association. He is in town for a conference, and they were able to arrange for him to speak at this event.

The Celiac Association will have an engaging talk titled “All You Need to Know about Celiac Disease”, including information on paediatrics, the 2008 Members Survey, and when Celiac Disease is diagnosed later in life. They will be allowing time for general questions and answers too; however personal medical issues cannot be addressed during the event.

Location:
Multipurpose Room at Bonsor Community Center
6550 Bonsor Avenue
Burnaby, BC

Admission:
$5.00 CCA Members (includes immediate family)
$10.00 Non Members

Refreshments and snacks provided.

Event Registration:
Members of the Canadian Celiac Association and their immediate family pay $5 per person to attend. Non-members pay $10 per person. Visit celiac.ca for more information on how you can become a member of the Canadian Celiac Association.

Registration deadline for cash/credit card payments is June 22nd, 2010; if paying by cheque, please mail it by June 18th, 2010.

To pay by cash: Call 604-736-2229 and leave a message of how many will be attending.
Payment will be collected at the door.

To pay by cheque: Send a cheque for the appropriate amount to:
Canadian Celiac Association – Vancouver Chapter
360-1385 West 8th
Vancouver, BC V6H 3V9

To pay by credit card: Visit vancouverceliac.ca

*Please note that this event is being hosted by the Vancouver Chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association. Please direct any inquiries about the event to vancouverceliac.ca

Choices Markets and the Canadian Celiac Association have joined forces once again to host the Fifth Annual Gluten-Free Health Fairs. The lower mainland events take place at the following dates:

St. Mark’s Anglican Church, 1805 Larch Street in Vancouver Saturday, May 29, 9am-2pm

Choices Markets’ South Surrey location, Sunday, May 30 from 9am–4pm.

Gluten-free living doesn’t have to be boring—this is what Choices’ Annual Gluten-Free Fair hopes to make clear for those living with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. From 9:00am–12:00pm, the event will kick off with lectures by the following experts:

Those who are new to the gluten free diet will gain a solid understanding of Celiac Disease and the gluten-free diet. For Celiac veterans, this event will offer insight about the many conditions associated with Celiac Disease and how to maintain optimum health.

Choices’ Dietitian, Desiree Nielsen stresses the importance of helping people get past simply surviving without gluten: “Living Gluten Free is about more than just finding gluten free foods. As we learn more about the nature of gluten intolerance and Celiac Disease, we have the opportunity to go beyond just gluten free. We have the resources to help people thrive with a nutritious diet that explores new foods and cuisines and makes food fun again.”

Celiac disease affects 1 in 100 people, but 97% go undiagnosed. Some of the many symptoms of celiac disease include unexplained low iron, recurring or persistent diarrhea or constipation, stomach pain, bone and joint pain, depression, infertility, recurrent miscarriages, and migraines.

Space is limited and registration is necessary for Choices gluten free fairs. All who register for the lectures will receive a complimentary gift bag full of coupons and delicious gluten-free goodies.

To register for the Vancouver event, call Choices Markets Kitsilano at 604-736-0009.
To register for the South Surrey event call Choices Markets South Surrey at 604-541-3902.

Admission fee is $15 at the door. All net proceeds will benefit the local chapter of the Celiac Association.

For those interested in tasting just how good gluten-free can be, there will be complimentary samples of gluten-free foods available from 11:00am–4:00pm at the South Surrey Event. Sampling is open to the public, and registration is not required for food samplers.

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The Canadian Celiac Association is a volunteer-based registered charity that provides resources and support to people with celiac disease. It also hosts and promotes public awareness and research initiatives within the community. For more information on the Vancouver chapter of the Celiac Association, visit www.vancouverceliac.ca

Choices Markets is recognized as one of the leading suppliers of gluten-free products in Western Canada and is proud to carry an extensive line of food for all types of dietary needs. Choices is also the only grocer in BC with its own Rice Bakery that specializes in hand-made, gluten-free foods.

A Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity Update

Celiac Disease is the most underdiagnosed disease in North America today, with an incredibly low 3% diagnosis rate. This has led to the metaphor that diagnosed celiacs represent only the visible tip of a much larger undiagnosed “iceberg”. In fact, the average length of time it takes for a symptomatic person to be diagnosed with celiac disease in North America is 11 years, compared to only 3 weeks in Italy!
Some of the more common diagnoses patients receive before obtaining the correct celiac assessment include irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, anemia, anxiety, and depression.

Join Crystal Di Domizio, holistic nutritionist and featured speaker Dr. Arjuna Veeravagu, naturopathic physician, for a journey into the world of celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

At this month’s meeting we will review the history of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, current celiac screening and diagnosis, new lab tests to screen for non-celiac gluten sensitivity and the many signs, symptoms and illnesses potentially triggered by gluten ingestion.

Featured Speaker:

Dr. Arjuna Veeravagu is a naturopathic physician, registered acupuncturist and founder of Sage Clinic in Yaletown. He has studied the work of several CD and gluten sensitivity experts, including Kenneth Fine MD and James Braly MD. Dr. Veeravagu offers the new screening tests for gluten sensitivity in his practice at Sage Clinic. More information about Dr. Veeravagu and Sage Clinic can be found at www.sageclinic.com.

Location:
Canadian School of Natural Nutrition
101-2245 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6K 2E4

Tickets:
$20 in advance

Please note that registration and payment is required in advance as seating is limited.

I wanted to try something a bit different with the wild rice this time so I picked apart several pilaf recipes and came up with my own. This recipe can be easily adapted to cater vegetarians and meat eaters alike.

Ingredients:
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 cup wild rice
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped celery
1-2 carrots
1/4 cup roughly chopped almonds
2 cups low sodium GF chicken broth
1 cup mushrooms (sliced)
1 cup white wine
1 gala chopped apple
salt & pepper to taste
1 lb ground turkey (*optional)

Directions:

Heat the coconut oil in a large stainless steel skillet on medium-high.

Add the chopped onions and let them cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.
(*if you choose to include ground turkey, add it now until it has browned, then continue with recipe)
Add the uncooked rice and vegetables, stirring frequently until the vegetables begin to soften slightly.
Season with salt and pepper.
Stir in the broth and wine, cover and simmer for 30-40 minutes (until rice is tender).
You shouldn’t need to stir it while it cooks, but you can take a quick peek once in a while to make sure it’s not sticking to the bottom.
Once rice is ready, mix in the chopped almonds and apples and serve!

Symptoms

Unfortunately, there are no typical signs and symptoms of Celiac Disease. According to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness:

“There are more than 300 symptoms of celiac disease, and symptoms may vary amongst different people. One person might have symptoms of diarrhea and abdominal pain, while another person has irritability or depression. Some patients develop celiac symptoms early in life, while others feel healthy far into adulthood. Some people with celiac disease may not show any symptoms. These differences can make celiac diagnosis extremely difficult resulting in 95% of celiacs undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions. Left untreated, people with celiac disease can develop further complications such as other autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, thyroid disease, and cancer.”

Some of the most common symptoms, which may occur singly or in combination, include:

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of Celiac Disease is often very difficult because the broad range of symptoms that vary from mild to severe (or none at all) often mimic those of other diseases including irritable bowel syndrome, crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, lactose intolerance, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and depression.

The average time frame for diagnosis of Celiac Disease from the onset of symptoms in Canada is 10 years in comparison to Italy where it is 3 weeks. The difference? In Italy all children are screened by age 6 and Italians of any age are tested for the disease as soon as they show symptoms. This highlights the need for increased awareness of Celiac Disease in North America, both among physicians and the general public. Some studies have suggested that for every person who has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, there are likely 30 who have it but aren’t diagnosed. I’m looking forward to the day when doctors screen for Celiac Disease the way they do for cholesterol and blood pressure!

To gain a proper diagnosis of Celiac Disease the first step is to request the panel of blood tests from your physician or you can purchase the Celiac Home Test which is available online and in some pharmacies. If the blood tests and/or symptoms indicate Celiac Disease your physician may suggest a biopsy of the lining of the small intestine to confirm the diagnosis.

**It is very important to continue eating a normal, gluten-containing diet before being tested for celiac or you may not receive an accurate diagnosis.

Treatment

Celiac Disease can be effectively treated and controlled with a life-long adherence to a strict gluten-free diet. Once a person with Celiac Disease stops eating gluten, symptoms are often alleviated and the small intestine gradually heals over time. It is important to note that eating any gluten, no matter how small the amount, can damage the intestine. This is true for anyone with the disease, including people who do not have noticeable symptoms. It is essential to consult with a nutritionist with expertise in Celiac Disease and the gluten-free diet for nutritional assessment, education, meal planning and assistance with social and emotional adaptation to the new gluten-free lifestyle. Joining a local gluten-free support group such as LGFC and the Canadian Celiac Association for ongoing education and support is highly recommended.

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Join Crystal Di Domizio, registered holistic nutritionist, and featured speaker Cliff Harvey, author, mentor and natural & complementary therapist, as we explore how you can live a happier, healthier gluten-free life.

Being diagnosed with a chronic and incurable ‘condition’ can feel like a life sentence…

But it need not be…

Living gluten free is a powerful choice and an essential step in regaining your health. Removing those things that harm and applying foods that nourish us sustains our health on a physical/chemical level.

BUT we also ‘feed’ our bodies through the beliefs that we have and the thoughts we create, and this too plays an important role in our health and our ability to deal with our existing health conditions, and avoid others. We now know through the emerging realms of study in mind-body medicine that our mental, emotional and physical health is inseparably entwined. To be healthy is a choice, and we can choose to be healthier, happier, more effective and LESS AFFECTED by our conditions!

‘Choosing Health’ takes you on a journey of empowerment, self belief and personal responsibility to show how you can improve your health, live happier and achieve the life you have always wanted to live. Through research, personal reflections and anecdotes Cliff examines why we make the choices that we do and how to recognize when those choices are pushing us away from achieving our goals. He further examines dreams and goals and provides exercises for cultivating mindfulness and awareness and effective strategies for goal setting and goal achievement.

Gluten-free snacks and beverages will be provided.

About Cliff Harvey:

Cliff received his training in naturopathic medicine in New Zealand and has additional certifications in; homeobotanical therapies, natural and complementary therapies, Reiki, Psych-K®, nutrition and strength and fitness training.

Location:
Canadian School of Natural Nutrition
101-2245 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6K 2E4

Tickets:
$15 in advance or
$20 at the door

Please note that pre-registration is required as seating is limited.

Samples donated by:

Join Crystal Di Domizio, Registered Holistic Nutritionist and featured speaker Jenny Breckon, Gluten-Free Baker and owner of The Sweet Tooth Cakery as we explore the art of gluten-free baking. You’ll learn the fundamentals of gluten-free baking and discover which flours and ratios produce the tastiest results. Jenny will also guide you through the magic of taking your standard holiday recipes and adapting them quickly and easily to create delicious, gluten-free treats. You’ll walk away with the knowledge and inspiration needed to make your holiday baking experience one to remember!

The Sweet Tooth Cakery is generously providing samples to tantalize our taste buds. Come and enjoy an assortment of gluten-free treats! Door prizes include a gift pack of Christmas cookies and a gift certificate for The Sweet Tooth Cakery!

Featured Sponsor:

Location:
Canadian School of Natural Nutrition
101-2245 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6K 2E4

Tickets:
$15 in advance or
$20 at the door

Please note that pre-registration is required as seating is limited.

Join Crystal Di Domizio, Registered Holistic Nutritionist, for an educational evening exploring the sometimes strange and intimidating world of gluten-free grains. Quinoa, Millet, Buckwheat, Amaranth and Wild Rice are more accessible, versatile and easier to turn in to delicious dishes than you think! Using all five of your senses you’ll discover the health benefits and cooking techniques for the most popular and lesser known gluten-free grain alternatives. Enjoy samples of simple and delicious recipes that have been prepared in a gluten-free kitchen. Door prizes will include gluten-free products. Feel free to bring your favourite recipe to share!

Location:
Canadian School of Natural Nutrition
101-2245 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6K 2E4

Tickets: (Please note that pre-registration is required)
$15 in advance or
$20 at the door

Samples donated by:

Join Crystal Di Domizio, Registered Holistic Nutritionist, for an informative evening as we explore gluten-free food from Asia. Featuring the menus from 4 local restaurants, we’ll discover gluten-free options from Thailand, Japan, China and India. For each of these cuisines you’ll learn how to order a safe meal, identify the hidden sources of gluten and discover local gluten-free friendly restaurants. At the end of the meeting there will be multiple draws for gift certificates to the participating restaurants.

Enjoy an assortment of gluten-free snacks included with your ticket price. (Prepared in a gluten-free kitchen.)

Location:
Canadian School of Natural Nutrition
101-2245 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6K 2E4

Tickets:
$15 in advance or
$20 at the door

Please note that pre-registration is required.

Featured Restaurants:

Chinese Wild Rice Restaurant

Indian India Bistro

Thai Charm Modern Thai

Japanese Irashai Grill