Celiac in America – How Times are Changing

I have been living in the world of Celiac disease, gluten-free, and food allergies for over eight years now, and oh, how the times are changing!  Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that involves foods containing wheat, rye, barley, spelt, kamut and other grains that contain gluten. Gluten is found in breads, crackers, cookies, and other baked goods as well as lunch meats, gravies, sauces, soups, and salad dressings.  When people with Celiac disease eat foods containing gluten, the villi in their small intestines becomes damaged or even destroyed.  Over time, the impact of damaged or destroyed villi is that a person can no longer absorb vitamins and vital nutrients because the villi are crucial for this process.  That means that people with undiagnosed Celiac disease then become at risk for other serious illnesses including cancer.

Gluten is a common food ingredient that is becoming easier to avoid as more people are diagnosed with celiac disease.  Statistically speaking, about 1 out of every 133 Americans has Celiac disease making it more common than diseases that you are very familiar with.  The recognition of Celiac disease has grown exponentially in the last eight plus years.  I can hardly believe the increase in the number and quantity of gluten-free products that you can now find in health food and grocery stores!  

Today only about 3-5% of the people with Celiac disease are diagnosed which means that we have about 95-97% of the Celiac population undiagnosed and tragically at great risk for serious health problems and potentially death.  The more people that get diagnosed and the greater the demand for gluten-free foods the easier it is for everyone!  

Celiac disease and gluten intolerance are highly recognized in Europe. So much so that for many, many years McDonalds has made gluten-free hamburger buns available.  When we get enough American’s diagnosed with either Celiac disease or gluten-intolerance, we too will be finding gluten-free hamburger buns popping up at all of our fast food restaurants.  Now, let’s see how fast we can come together to create THAT as a new reality!

Love,

Lisa

Living Life with No Regrets

How many of us can say that we actually live life with no regrets?  I have had a chance recently to take stock and evaluate how many regrets I have (so far) in life.  More than regrets, it is the mistakes that I’ve made which I wish I could have a “do-over” opportunity.  But mistakes are what you learn from.  Ask Henry Ford and Albert Einstein and a few others that had many things not turn out before they accomplished what they set out to do.  Yes, mistakes I have made plenty of, but regrets are another matter.

I regret not doing the Dance Marathon while at Penn State.  ”Thon” as it is lovingly called.  But I couldn’t go back to Penn State and do more, do it better or have more fun which makes me happy.  I think what makes me have few regrets is that I think big and go for the gusto!  I’ve already done many things in my life that I was told were not going to happen.  Doing the grunt work to get the Alpha Omicron Pi Chapter started at Penn State was just one of those things.

More than a few Penn Staters thought that I was out of my mind to even try. And then that I was even crazier to continue when the Panhellenic Council voted down allowing AOII to colonize at Penn State.  And yet, we were ultimately successful because I and others were not willing to give up.  What do you regret?  What regrets do you have that you could still impact?  Do you regret not keeping in touch with old friends?  Learning a new hobby?  Spending time with your family?

It’s never too late to interrupt the path of regrets.  It first takes a moment of contemplation to review your own life, where you have been and what you have done.  Only then, and in contrast to your own vision for your life can you look for possible regrets.  I am surrounded by loving and generous friends, three great children, one hard working husband, and I am living into a vision where I am contributing my gifts to others.  Now that makes me happy.  What makes you happy?

Love,

Lisa