Amanda B. (TextAddict) - reviewed on 6/9/2009 + 15 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 5

Elizabeth grew up in an Italian-American neighborhood in Providence, Rhode Island where it was typical to have a fresh loaf of Italian bread every day. She suddenly began having all kinds of pains while in college starting with abdominal pain, intestinal infections, IBS, lack of energy and constant hunger. Doctor after doctor would simply say, IBS or Irritable Bowel syndrome, but no treatment would stop the pain.

After years of pain Elisabeth was determined there was much more wrong and set out to prove it by doing her own research. During the mist of her research she got a phone call to be on the reality show Survivor: The Australian Outback. After thirty-nine days of starving, she felt better than she had felt in years. Thirty-nine days of no pain. Once home she was diagnosed with celiac disease, which is triggered by gluten and found in everything from pasta to bread to cookies. The only known treatment is a lifelong gluten-free diet.

I found the book easy to follow, very informative, and very thorough with information about the disease, symptoms, what you could eat and what you could not eat, and not over-loaded with hard to read doctor terms. Elisabeth walks you through how to recognize gluten on labels in the supermarket and how to be able to eat at restaurants and stay gluten free. This diet has also been linked to help with autism but is not limited to celiac disease and autism. There are benefits for anyone that wants increased energy, improved attention spans, quicker digestion and weight loss. Another plus for the book was the ten page appendix stuffed with over a hundred helpful websites.

While I will say it was a good book, I do not suffer from celiac disease or autism and would not be able to do away with bread, and sugar so this book is not one that I personally could fit into my lifestyle.

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