Sirena

It's not that it was a bad book. I think I've just outgrown Myron, Win et al. 

This is my first review. I have never felt moved to write one before, but this book made me do it.

Firstly I downloaded it for free. (thankfully)

Secondly, I have not finished it yet. But as this is a reference book that is meant to help and guide people who have been diagnosed with Coeliac (AUS) /Celiac (USA) Disease and I am a slow reader these days, I didn't want to wait until the end of the year to voice my concerns. When, (and if) I have finished it, I will revisit this review. After reading through the food lists of what is deemed safe and unsafe, I have no confidence in this book.

A number of people have commented that they know everything in it already, but it is *good* for those who are newly diagnosed. 

In part I agree. There is nothing new here. And what there is, is scant. But as to it being useful to the newly diagnosed, I disagree. I find the first part unhelpful. And some of the latter misleading and inaccurate.



*Chapter One: Celiac Disease, Intolerances & Allergies*

There is very little information given. A small paragraph on what is coeliac disease, which I suppose is useful if you want a quick explanation to give to a friend. Not good if you truly wish to understand the disease. And then it continues with a whole lot of statistics. What percentage of the U.S. population have it, what other chronic diseases there are in the USA and finally resorting to...
>>
The number of people with celiac disease in the U.S. would fill 4,400 Boeing 747 airplanes. 

It would take 936 cruise ships to hold every American with celiac disease.

Americans with celiac disease could fill Comiskey Park (now U.S. Cellular Field, with 40,000 seats) to watch the Chicago White Sox 55 times. 

U.S. fans with celiac disease could fill Soldier Field, the home of the Chicago Bears, 37 times. <<

Sorry, but for me, that is a huge turnoff. 
I guess it is always easier to quote statistics than to explain thoroughly and clearly what coeliac disease is and what damage it causes. 

Next is a revisit of what coeliac disease is. The first was called an overview, so I thought oh, okay, this one will be in depth. I had to check I hadn't skipped a page (or 5) on my kindle. Again it was short, and this time it was meant to show the difference between Coeliac Disease, Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity, and Food Allergies. Well it did, sort of. I have read a lot of other explanations that have been clearer and again in more depth.

*Chapter 2: Symptoms, Testing & Diagnosis*

>>
"Celiac disease affects people differently. There are more than 300 signs and symptoms of celiac disease, yet a significant percentage of people with celiac disease have no symptoms at all. "
<<

It then lists 19 of them. Perhaps a list of these would be more useful (and would take up not much more room) than the above statistics. Well there is always google if you want to know the other 281. Pretty easy to find. 

Incidentally, the product description for this book states, "With this guide you will understand the differences between celiac disease, intolerances and allergies. You will learn about the 300-plus signs and symptoms associated with celiac disease, genetic and antibody blood testing, diagnosis and required follow-up testing. "

It lists 19. 

One of the biggest problems I have with this book is that to me, it reads like a high school paper --full of generalisations .

E.g.

>>
"There are three factors that come together to cause celiac disease—an over-responsive immune system, genetic predisposition and factors in an individual’s environment. 
We know that people are born with the genes for celiac disease and that gluten is what turns on the autoimmune response. However, the factors in an individual’s environment act in unpredictable ways."
<<

What these "factors in an individual's environment" are is not discussed .


I'm leaving "testing and diagnosis" alone, but based on what I have read so far, I strongly urge anyone to discuss testing and diagnosis with their doctor instead.

I will only mention the "Why do I need a biopsy?" paragraph because it is another example of the sweeping statements throughout this book.

>>
"If someone is off gluten and feels better, there are 5 possibilities for this, and to understand which one is crucial in order to implement a dietetic program that is safe, needed and effective. 
The 5 possibilities are: 
1.Celiac disease 
2.Non-celiac gluten sensitivity 
3.Wheat allergy 
4.Sensitivity to foods rich in FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols); wheat grains are rich in them and people who are sensitive to them ay [sic] just report marked improvement by eliminating wheat 
5.Placebo effect (a huge component especially for adults)"
<<

And no, we don't find out a thing about the placebo effect despite it being a huge component, especially for adults!

Chapter 3: Healing the Gut

Here it lists foods that are deemed safe and those that are deemed unsafe.

It lists BLUE CHEESE as unsafe. 

I can't tell you how horrified I was to read that just before bedtime. To my relief after lots of googling, I found that
this appears to be outdated. 

A Canadian study tested blue cheeses where the mold was grown on a gluten containing media and found " nil detected amount of gluten" in blue cheese. (according to their study it contained 1 part per million of gluten) Considering the safe standard in the USA is 20 parts per million, it is gluten free. Even by Australian and New Zealand it is safe. To be labelled gluten free in AU and NZ, the ingredients list must be less than 5 parts per million (current detection technology can detect at 3 parts per million)

Perhaps the book would be better off mentioning that while cheese is safe, one should beware of flavoured cheeses (as these MAY contain gluten), check pepper and salt (strangely enough, these MAY contain gluten)

It also skips over probably the most important part for a Coeliac: those items that cause confusion. 

OATS (is a footnote)
Oats is listed under unsafe foods. Sounds good, except for the footnote.
>>
"However, “pure, uncontaminated” oats have become available from several companies in the U.S. and Canada. These companies process oats in dedicated facilities and are tested for purity. Pure, uncontaminated oats can be consumed safely in quantities of less than 1 cup per day."
<<

Two issues here, one oats are usually grown in rotation with wheat, barley, rye and so cross contamination/contact can occur. So-called GF or "pure, uncontaminated" oats are only free from contamination of wheat, barley and rye during growing, processing and packing. They have not had Avenin (a protein similar in molecular structure to the gluten protein) removed from them or been genetically modified to exclude it. The second issue, not mentioned, is that the jury is still out regarding whether oats labelled as gluten free are safe for coeliacs to consume. Because avenin is similar to gluten, it can cause the same problems as gluten does in 1 in 5 coeliacs. So it is advised to be tested for oats before having under a cup of oats a day and doing serious damage.

GLUCOSE SYRUP FROM WHEAT is not discussed, which I find surprising since it seems to be an item that crops up a lot in support groups.

BREWER'S YEAST - listed as safe. Well maybe. Maybe not. It depends. Not if from barley.

WHISKY (from grain) and other alcoholic drinks.
No mention of these. 
This comes up again and again and again. Is whisky derived from grain safe? Are all vodkas safe? While the distillation process leaves behind the gluten, it should be pointed out that liquors with flavour may be unsafe depending on what has been added and when (if after distillation, then unsafe)

I must mention again that I have not finished reading the book, and after getting this far in what was going to be a couple of lines, I don't think I will bother. But I did do a word search for the following: whiskey/whisky/vodka/beverages/alcohol/distillation (1 instance concerning vinegar)/port/liquor/liqueur 

Nada.

Which again is disappointing, but not surprising. 

When I was first diagnosed, I listened very carefully to what my doctor was telling me up to the point when wine was mentioned. I was so glad that I could still have a glass of wine that I heard nothing more after that. So while alcohol may not be real good for you, it should have been covered.

In short, I am so glad I did not read this book when I was newly diagnosed.

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This review is based on the first 3 chapters. 
Location 574 of 1127 = 51% of 107 page book

Although Sirena has made every effort to ensure that the information was correct at press time, Sirena does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any party for any loss of face, damage to ego, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. Any resemblance to an insult, living or dead, is purely coincidental. All compliments are final and no argument will be entered into.