Celiac sufferers urge church to offer gluten-free communion

The Roman Catholic Church should offer a gluten-free Body of Christ during communion to accommodate those with celiac disease, says an official with the Canadian Celiac Association.

Interesting little article from the Vancouver Sun that I ran across this morning.

To read the entire article, click the following link: http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Celiac+sufferers+urge+church+offer+gluten+free+communion/2536179/story.html.

Phat Tuesday

Yesterday was quite the day.  I took advantage of the free religious pass to gorge myself on all the foods I will be missing for the next 40 days.  I enjoyed pizza, cake, pie, cheerios and beer...not all at the same time, either.

Tonight, for the first time in many years, I plan to actually attend an Ash Wednesday mass.  I'll break it down for the non-Catholic readers.  On Ash Wednesday, Catholics go to mass and receive ashes on their foreheads in the shape of the cross.  As young parochial school children it definitely turned into a competition, who could keep their ashes on the longest.  I usually rubbed my own forehead within an hour and took myself out of the running.  I'm none the worse for it.

This morning I had a can of pears for breakfast whilst I wistfully stared at the Honey Nut Cheerios box.  I need to chuck all the gluten or I will definitely find a way to eat it.  If anyone in the greater Fairbanks area is interested in half a box of cheerios, four slices of whole wheat bread, 3/4 a package of spaghetti, a package of Dunkin Donuts coffee or a can of split pea soup give me a call.

Exposure

I have been keeping myself busy filling these last few days with all the carbs I can find.  Last night I went out for Valentine's dinner and chomped my way through some excellent sourdough bread, asparagus tempura, sliced duck breast and rich chocolate cake.  Life is good.

The countdown is on and I need to make this year's Mardi Gras count for all it's worth.  I will be stuffing my face with bread and cake until midnight.  I am currently searching for someone to pig out on risotto with me Tuesday night.

Tuesday night I will also make a brief guest appearance on John Seiler's radio show, Spoiler Alert, as his comically overbearing guest "Margaret Thatcher."  I will be broadcasting my intentions to go gluten and caffeine-free over the air waves between 8:00 and 10:00pm on KSUA 91.5 FM.  If you don't live in the greater Fairbanks area you can listen in by going to http://ksua.uaf.edu/.

And While We're At It Caffeine Can Go Too

Two weeks ago I was having a fabulous day, the late January sun was shining and I was riding around Fairbanks in a car with one of my favorite co-workers. She generously offered to buy coffee on our way back to the high school. Never one to turn down coffee or a new adventure, I decided to follow her lead and order a triple-shot skinny vanilla latte.

I wish I would have thought that course of action out a little more thoroughly. I have a bad history with caffeine. My body, just hates it. It doesn't give me a happy productive buzz that most experience. It does make me dizzy, emotional and nauseous.

Throwing caution to the wind, I chugged down the ill-fated latte. An hour later I was feeling light-headed, almost drunk in an important committee meeting and growing increasingly sick. Two hours later I was crying for no reason and ready puke. Four hours later I came to a conclusion...no more caffeine.

Deciding to Walk into the Desert

In less than a week I will go cold turkey. I, Elena, lover of carbohydrates in all of their blessed goodness will embark on a 40-day journey into the gluten-free wasteland...

A few days ago it came to my attention that next week is Ash Wednesday. While most people wouldn't really highlight the observation of Lent as one of the more magical components of being a good Catholic, I always loved it. I remember looking forward to Lent and the way life sort of slowed down and became much more thoughtful and consciously lived.

I don't consider myself very religious. I rarely, if ever, step into a church, but I do believe that true sacrifice is an important part of self-discovery. Therefore, this year I will be observing Lent in the most dynamic way I could think up. I will completely give up the thing I love most...gluten.

I don't know what I expect to find out there in the desert. Answers? Peace? Health? Spiritual Awakening? I guess we'll find out.