HEALTH & MEDICINE :: OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2007
Enjoy the Sweet Things in Life & Never Settle
Due to a medical diagnosis, Celiac Disease, Christine Ruggio has had to eliminate gluten from her diet. But she has not let it interfere with her craving for homemade chocolate chip cookies, which by the way, regularly contain gluten. So the baker started her own line of gluten free confections, and then approached marketing consultant, Ed Szkudlapski. Ed loved the products and was inspired by Christine’s story and efforts to create products for the larger celiac community. Together a network between the medical, culinary, and business communities-Sweet Christine’s Gluten Free Confections-was born.
A celiac patient- 1 in 133 Americans - cannot eat anything containing gluten. This includes wheat, oats, rye and barley, and most breads, bagels, pizza and pasta. Eating delicious freshly baked cookies seemed almost out of the question. But after many attempts (over 100!) to replicate the cookies she once enjoyed, Christine found the right recipe. Her delicious treats have even been praised by a certified master baker! Not only are they gluten free, but they are also wheat free, all natural, have no artificial flavorings or preservatives and contain organic ingredients. Her gluten free recipes include chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, and sugar cookies, brownies, pizzelles and biscotti.
While Christine perfected recipes, Ed researched the gluten free market. “When I tasted Christine’s cookies for the first time, I was amazed by the taste. And then I remembered they were gluten free!” The celiac community, about 2.2 million Americans, was primed for a new line of treats. Ed explains “Many gluten free items are processed, and little flavor is left by the time they hit the shelves. Christine bakes her cookies by hand, and the home baked taste makes a huge difference.’’
The products of Sweet Christine’s, of Kennett Square, are available at local retailers in Pennsylvania and Delaware, such as Newark Natural Foods in Newark, Spring Run Natural Foods in Kennett Square and Harvest Market Natural Foods in Hockessin to name a few. Newer stores have brought Christine’s cookies to the Delaware beaches! They are also online for shipping anywhere in the United States. Ed believes that once you try Sweet Christine’s products, you will never turn to another gluten free treat again. “They’re amazingly delicious. With Sweet Christine’s, tasting is believing.”
For more information about Sweet Christine’s, please visit www.sweetchristinesglutenfree.com, or contact Ed at eszkudlapski@sweetchristinesglutenfree.com.
Testimonials: “Living in New York City I’m surrounded by the most famous bakeries, but I have yet to find better tasting peanut butter cookies than Sweet Christine’s!” ~ Jordan Pagonakis, New York, Designer
“The next time you need a sweet treat, you must try Sweet Christine’s Gluten-Free Confections. They offer cookies and brownies that everyone, whether they are on the gluten-free diet or not, will love!” ~Elizabeth Barbone, Owner, GlutenFreeBaking.com Author, Easy Gluten-Free Baking
What is Celiac Disease?
By: Christine Ruggio
According to information I have read Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder. It is a lifelong digestive disorder characterized by sensitivity to proteins in specific grains. Gluten is the protein which provides elasticity in foods made with grains such as wheat, rye and barley. When an individual with Celiac Disease consumes gluten, the villi in the small intestine are damaged. These hair-like projections in the intestines absorb nutrients. When left untreated, the body is not able to absorb basic nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals and may cause other long-term medical conditions.
One in every 133 persons in the United States alone is affected. Symptoms of Celiac Disease vary and also mimic many other illnesses. I was told for years that I had IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I had abdominal cramping, distention, constipation, just to name a few. Many people do not have any symptoms until something triggers it such as severe stress or an illness…I lived with stomach pain for many years, but after having my third child and trying to juggle a lot in my life, I started experiencing neurological symptoms. This is when I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease.
The good news is that following a strict gluten free diet allows the intestines to heal and symptoms to resolve. I began feeling better almost right away. But if I accidentally ingest gluten, my symptoms return.
A gluten free diet is not easy and many times you are eating gluten without even knowing it. Gluten is not just in grains, it is in many other foods such as candy, many non-fat foods, soy sauce, alcohol even the glue on some envelopes contain gluten and some pharmaceuticals.
Before going on a gluten free diet, see your doctor and get tested.
This diagnosis led me on a journey to create Sweet Christine’s Gluten Free Confections.
*This is my story. I have no medical training. Nothing in this article is intended to be a diagnosis or offer a medical solution.
