Q I am a vegetarian, but planning to go vegan. Do you have any top tips? There are so many good and wholesome reasons to adopt a vegan lifestyle, with a broad spectrum of reasons ranging from health to animal welfare and the environment. My personal experience over the past seven years is that becoming […]
Q Is there a connection between coeliac disease and diabetes? When you’re diagnosed with coeliac disease it’s tempting to find out lots more about it. One of the first things you may discover is that it’s an auto immune disorder, which in turn leads you to research that as well. It’s then you may discover this […]
Q I feel left out at work when people bring cakes I can’t eat into the office. What should I do? There are so many ways to deal with this one. You could have a screaming fit every time another birthday cake appears that you can’t have. People would at least get the message. But you may […]
Q In our family of five, only one has coeliac disease. How can I please everyone? I appreciate how overwhelmed you must be feeling at the moment. I know when my son Jacob was first diagnosed with food intolerances, the thought of cooking and eating free-from food from scratch was daunting. But I was surprised how […]
Q Is going gluten-free (like for like replacements) healthier? Many people who do not suffer from coeliac disease find that a lot of their health complaints or conditions dramatically improve when they adopt a gluten-free diet. Approximately 13 per cent of British adults claim to experience symptoms when they eat gluten-containing foods, according to one recent […]
Q What are xylitol’s benefits over sugar? Xylitol has 40% fewer calories than sugar and less than half the ‘available’ carbohydrates. The most important dietary benefit of xylitol, however, is the fact it has such a low GI (glycaemic index) value. GI values measure how quickly a food causes your blood sugars to rise. So, having […]
Q I have just been diagnosed as lactose intolerant. Where do I start? Firstly – don’t panic! It’s great that you have identified lactose as the culprit, rather than a general dairy intolerance. Think of it as good news as this means you don’t have to avoid all your favourite dairy products – there are plenty […]
Q How does calcium in milk alternatives measure up to the calcium in milk? First of all, let us deal with a common misconception that drinking milk is good for our bones due to its high calcium content. There is now substantial scientific evidence suggesting that milk consumption does not improve bone density in children, and […]
Q. Is goats’ milk a suitable alternative to cows’ milk? Goats’ milk is a great tasting and highly nutritious alternative to cows’ milk which many people enjoy. It is not suitable for those diagnosed with a cows’ milk allergy or lactose intolerance (it contains slightly less lactose than cows’ milk, but isn’t suitable for those […]
Q I have eliminated wheat from my diet, so why do I still feel bloated all the time? Let’s start by clarifying the big difference between ‘wheat’ and ‘gluten’, as they are often used interchangeably. Gluten is a protein that is found within wheat (all varieties) as well as barley and rye. Therefore, wheat will always […]