Kindness of strangers and deliciousness of Gluten Free pastries

Last week, I had a no good, horrible, very bad day.  

In a flash, I knew what would cheer me up: a vanilla cupcake with vanilla frosting, from a great bakery in Portland called New Cascadia Traditional Bakery http://www.newcascadiatraditional.com/

I made my way across town and parked near the bakery.  I knew that some sugary solace was near at hand.

As I neared the ordering counter I saw that there were 3 more left ( I was 5th in a line of about 20 people - I thought I was safe!) but 2 people ahead of me, a woman ordered all the rest of the cupcakes.  I literally  (yes, literally!) nearly cried.  Settling ( oh how privileged I am!) on the chocolate cupcake, I was writing my check, and lo! A kind stranger swapped my chocolate cupcake for a vanilla one! Hallelujah! Then, I actually did cry a little- people can be so amazing sometimes.

Today, Kate and I are in San Francisco, doing touristy things. We went to the ferry building on our way back from Alcatraz, and found the amazing Mariposa Baking co. http://www.mariposabaking.com/.  After buying my gf baguettes, I was telling them about the bakery in Portland, and the amazing kindness that had I had recently been gifted with. On hearing my story, the wonderful woman behind the counter gave me 2 of their cupcakes 

(you can see them on their website)!!

Yes, people can be so kind and generous, and yes, gluten free pastries can sometimes save the day.

I have so much to be grateful for this holiday season.

Celiac Disease increased 4-fold since the 1950's

Today I read an article that caught my attention -it was about the increased prevalence of Celiac Disease in our population these days.  I had supposed that the 'increase' was attributable to increased detection. However, many believe that something has simply changed in our ecology ( internally or externally?).  

So often,  people I meet tell me that they have absolutely no digestive problems. "Great!" I tell them. (And yes, I do talk to people I that I have just met all about their digestion - I am such a geek!) 

What is overlooked though  are the chronic disturbances that seem unrelated to digestion - rashes, headaches, hypothyroid, stubborn weight gain ( that's right, I said 'gain', not loss), ADHD, anxiety, chronic apthous ulcers (canker sores).  

This article highlights the fact that as physicians, we need to be aware that many diseases are just a manifestation of underlying Celiac or even of gluten sensitivity.

Here is the article in it's entirety: 

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/726127?src=ptalk&uac=126723CY

Do you have experiences with Celiac that you can share here?

Bees, glorious bees! Where would we be without them?

Well, it's been a bee weekend for me, for sure!  I went to a weekend workshop put on by the Portland Anthroposophical Society  http://portlandbranch.org/  about the care of and the importance of honeybees, then I went to the film screening for "Queen of the Sun" from Taggart Siegel, director of 'The Real Dirt on Farmer John'.

I came away from my weekend feeling a few ways: Firstly, very sad and shocked about the world that we have created for the honeybees that is leading to their demise, and secondly, extremely hopeful and motivated to do all I can to help the bees where I live and to make choices that will help the world be a safe place for humans and bees.

To get a small glimpse of the scope of importance that bees and other pollinators play in our lives, think of this: every fruit and vegetable that you consume had to be pollinated...by a small winged creature!  And if the pollination does not happen, then the flowers, trees, fruits, don't get to reproduce,  the birds have less habitat, less food; it goes on and on in the cycle of interdependence. If we lived in a world without honeybees and other pollinators, we'd have to do this job by hand, flower by flower.  This is precisely what is happening in the Sichuan province of China, where workers must pollinate each flower...EACH flower, by hand. Read more in this Newsweek article:  "Stung by Bees" .

What is there for a foraging bee to find in your yard? Do you use pesticides? Round-Up or other weed-killers or herbicides? Bees are not equipped to break down these poisons and they bring the poisons, mixed with pollen, back to the hive, where it gets concentrated in the honey that you and I love to eat.

John Edwards, at Ruhl Bee Supply has this to say: "Bees love plants such as oregano, thyme, rosemary, lavender and Russian sage.  The broader range of plants, the better. Plants that bloom in succession give bees an extended source of food over time, which is good for honeybees and pollinators." 

This website has a list of plants that you can grow that are extremely beneficial for bees, as well as for us to eat and to make our yards beautiful: The Daily Green - plants for bees.

Here are more local resources to learn  about what you can do to make your home honeybee friendly:
Ruhl Bee Supply in Gladstone, Oregon
Friendly Haven Farm
Bee Thinking





Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts about Bees! I'd love to hear your stories and thoughts!
Dr. Cara