Celiac Disease and Gluten, it’s Simple to avoid a ‘run of the mill’ diet with Gluten Free products like Healtheries bread mix.
Life without your morning toast or seasonal treats like hot cross buns seems dismal; but for coeliacs, this is a reality. The gluten found in wheat, barley, rye and oat products means coeliacs can’t enjoy many foods the rest of us take for granted.
Their shopping list limitations are extensive and include: bread, cereals, pasta, biscuits and cakes; some confectionary, deli meats and malt vinegars; soya sauce, beer and grain spirits.
Healtheries first developed their Simple range of wheat and gluten free products for coeliacs and wheat avoiders in 2004.
“We became increasingly aware of a growing wheat and gluten free population and recognised what a struggle it was for this group to find food they could eat without severe consequences,” says Healtheries nutritionist Vicki Hilliam.
“We realised that we needed a range that was safe and tasted great but that could also be enjoyed throughout the day – from meal time staples to ‘on-the-go’ nutritious snacks.”
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease of the small bowel that affects both adults and children. It can result in a range of problems, which include: chronic intestinal cramps, anaemia, fatigue and weight loss.
By removing gluten the cause of the disease - from the diet, symptoms disappear. Normal absorption of nutrients can commence and the risk of associated diseases is greatly reduced.
Until recently, coeliac disease was believed to be quite rare, but is it now thought that as many as one in 100 New Zealanders are affected, but four out five don’t know it. Add to this a growing number of people who choose a wheat and gluten free lifestyle and you have a burgeoning market for gluten-free products with Healtheries Simple range leading the way. Their range includes breakfast cereals, bread and baking mixes, pastas, puddings and snack bars.
All Simple products are endorsed by the Coeliac Society of both New Zealand and Australia.
“It was a natural extension for Healtheries to also be the major sponsor of Coeliac Awareness Week (23rd to 29th May 2009), which we have been for a number of years” says Healtheries brand manager Rachel McKendry.
And May is definitely a month for gluten-free. Healtheries will again feature at this year’s Gluten Free and Allergy Show 23-24th May.
“Last year we were inundated with visitors to the Healtheries Simple stand and really gained a good insight into the diets of coeliacs and wheat avoiders,” adds McKendry.
Healtheries have added new products to their Simple range and this year Healtheries nutritionist Vicki Hilliam will run a bread making class in the cooking theatre.
