By Suzanne Laurent
LONDONDERRY — Max Renke is offering a free community education and awareness presentation about celiac disease on Thursday, March 25, from 7 to 8:15 p.m. at Londonderry High School.
Max, a Boy Scout in Troop 109, has been working for several months on this for his Eagle Scout project. He has led Scouts and others in creating a PowerPoint presentation and a short video production. Attendees will receive a brochure to take home and sample some gluten-free food.
Celiac disease is widely misdiagnosed and misunderstood. One in 133 Americans has celiac disease, but only 10 percent of those who are living with the disease know they have it. It is related to many other symptoms and autoimmune diseases, including diabetes and thyroid disease. Symptoms are widely varied so it is important to have up-to-date information.
"Gluten-free foods have come a long way and this presentation will help those overwhelmed by the diet realize that most raw foods are gluten free," Max said. "It is with cooking or baking that many recipes contain gluten."
Simple substitutions are now widely available, he said.
"After all, meat, fish, chicken, rice, potatoes, fruits and veggies, and milk products are all safe and naturally gluten free," Max said. "It isn't until someone adds flour — wheat, barley or rye — that someone with celiac disease has a serious problem."
Learning to cook gluten free has a learning curve, but people can enjoy many of the same foods they love. More and more companies are packaging and labeling foods gluten free for easier on-the-go choices, too.
Max said he hopes to share that through proper diagnosis, treatment with diet and a positive attitude, better health can be restored. He is living proof of this theory and wishes to share this with others. The presentation will be held in Room 221 at Londonderry High School. Call 537-0592 to reserve a space.
