But What Exactly is Gluten Allergy, in Simple Language?

We have received numerous questions from visitors who were asking "What this Gluten Free Diet is meant to do." So we will mention some facts and tidbits in the upcoming posts.

The digestive disorder celiac disease (gluten allergy) scars the lining of the small intestine preventing the absorption of nutrients. Gluten allergy symptoms manifest as gastrointestinal distress of all forms.

Celiac disease effects genetically predisposed individuals and can cause severe, lifelong disruption of their dietary intake since gluten is found in wheat, rye, malt and barley. In Western countries the condition is extremely common. In the United States 1 in 133 people have gluten allergies.

Symptoms of gluten allergy include a range of digestive issues such as indigestion, heartburn, and irritable bowel syndrome. There may be unexplained weight loss, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, minor rectal bleeding, and acid reflux. Itchy dermatitis is also a symptom of this disorder as is excessive fatigue. Coeliac disease is also associated with anemia, cardiomyopathy, depression, miscarriage, and peripheral neuropathy.Gluten food allergy in young children will cause weight loss and an extended abdomen. The effected children will fail to thrive and will grow very slowly. This can continue into adolescence with puberty being delayed. Children will also be irritable and will vomit easily. Some evidence suggests a link between gluten intolerance and autism.

Many products are available today for consumers looking to purchase gluten free products. One needs to make sure that the flour used is certified gluten free.

Enjoying Challah Advice for Gluten Free Diets.

I remember when a long time close friend revealed to me that her doctor diagnosed her as being gluten intolerant, her first concern was "How will I be able to enjoy Shabbat dinner without a good and fresh traditional challah?!" She has done a vast amount of inquiries on how to obtain great tasting gluten free challah, however was not able to get something which pleases her taste buds.

Then one day I happened to bump in to Mrs. Schlesinger, the chief baker at Heaven Mills Gluten Free Bakery located in Brooklyn, NY, and she convinced me that my Friend should give their challah a try. Mrs. Schlesinger went on to explain that for her past experience all customer that tried their gluten free challah once, continued to purchase it on a weekly basis.

I immediately contacted my friend and told her about my achievement. She did give them a try and has been ranting and raving about the Heaven Mills gluten Free Challah ever since.

Mrs. Schlessinger explained to me that baking Gluten Free challah is somewhat more of a challenge than gluten free bread, since it is expected that challah should be really fluffy, something that is a real challenge when baking gluten free. She finished off saying, "it was hard to get a good tasting gluten free challah, perhaps the hardest item in all of their products, but was worth the effort when I the smile and happiness on customers faces while leaving with their challahs in their bags."

Can Chulent be Eaten When Following a Strict Gluten Free Diet?

As you probably know, there are many different recipes for chulent. It all depends on the origin of ones ancestors and many times it's only a matter of the cooks taste. For a full list of Chulent recipes and the explanation of the chulent eating custom visit http://www.jewishmag.com/43mag/cholent/cholent.htm.

I would however like to go into some concerns when consuming chulent when on a gluten free diet. First one needs to make sure that the chulent does not have barley, since barley is not gluten free. Not all chulents contain barley, but many do. Another point to watch out, is for Kishka. One of the favorite part for many chulent lovers is the kishka. Kishka is a loaf inserted in to the chulent and it's made with vegetables, carrots and wheat flour. So it goes without saying that it's not gluten free. We have however found a great tasting kishka alternative that gluten free people will love. It's baked by the famous Heaven Mills Gluten Free Bakery in Brooklyn, New York and it can be seen at this link Gluten Free Cholent Kishka

What exactly is Gluten, and Why Do some People need to stay Gluten Free?

Gluten is a type of protein commonly found in rye, wheat, and barley. It is therefor found in most cereals and in many types of bread. Not all foods from the grain family, however, contain gluten. Examples of grains that do not have gluten include wild rice, corn, buckwheat, millet, amaranth, quinoa, teff, oats, soybeans, and sunflower seeds. Baking gluten free bread with one of these grains can be some sort of challenge, since it will naturally be very heavy and unfluffy. Unless special measures are taken to produce a bread imitating the regular gluten bread.

Gluten provides many important qualities to bread. For example, gluten keeps the gases that are released during fermentation in the dough, so the bread is able to rise before it is baked. In addition, gluten firms up when it is cooked and, with the help of starch, helps ensure the bread maintains its proper shape.


Some people suffer from a disease called celiac disease. In fact, over 2 million Americans are diagnosed with this disease, one that can lead to serious complications later in life if they ingest even small doses of gluten over the long-term. Individuals with celiac disease must eat foods that do not contain gluten in order to prevent illness. If improperly treated, celiac disease can be fatal. In addition, care must be taken when eating grains that do not contain gluten, particularly oats and teff, as they are commonly grown near foods with gluten or processed in the same bins.

Finding good tasting gluten free products can be some sort of challenge for consumers on a gluten free diet. We have found a bakery that products gluten free products that will really get your mouth watering. The bakery name is Heaven Mills bakery and their products can be purchased at their online store http://www.heavenmillsbakery.com.