September 13, National Celiac Disease Awareness Day

Celiac disease is an immune reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. The disease affects about one in 100 people in Europe and North America.

The Awareness Campaign provides current, comprehensive, science-based information about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of celiac disease, also known as celiac sprue, nontropical sprue, and gluten-sensitive enteropathy.

The key to understanding the Gluten-Free diet is to become a good ingredient label reader. The following ingredients should not be consumed. They come from prohibited grains: barley, rye, triticale, wheat (durum, graham, kamut, semolina, spelt), malt, malt flavoring, and malt vinegar (generally made from barley—verify the source).

Celiac Disease Foundation 

Public Service Announcement

Riceworks Sponsors Interview With 

Celiac Disease Expert Shelley Case

Resources

1. Celiac Disease Foundation
2. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Celiac Disease
3. Shelley Case, RD

Papaya Power: Sweet, Nutritious, and Versatile

The papaya is also known as papaw or pawpaw.  The papaya is a melon-like fruit with yellow-orange flesh. The skin varies in color from green to orange. Papayas are a good source of vitamins A and C and dietary fiber.

Papaya Power: Sweet, Nutritious, and Versatile

The ripe papaya fruit is usually eaten raw, with or without skin or seeds, while the unripe green papaya can be cooked.  

Recipe

Papaya Salad with Tomatoes, Onions,
Peppers, Brown Rice, Black Beans

In the Disney film, The Jungle Book (1967), 

Baloo sings the song "The Bare Necessities."
Can you locate the Pawpaw in the song?

Resources
Fruits and Veggies, More Matters. Papaya
Wikipedia, Carica papaya

September 10, TV Dinner Day Tracing the Roots of Modern Day Obesity

Invention and view of the original TV dinner

Health Issues

TV dinners have been associated with high amounts of salt and fat, which are linked to risk factors of heart disease and obesity. Today, a number of manufacturers and retailers are making meals that are lower in salt, fat, and artificial additives.

Read the label, be an educated consumer.

Resource

FDA. How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label