This version of the story contains corrections to the originally filed version.

Almost five years ago, James Sharp faced a crisis of diet.

Doctors had helped pin down his constant stomach problems and adverse reactions to certain foods to celiac disease, in combination with gastroesophageal reflux disease, sometimes known as acid reflux.

They told him his body was not absorbing enough nutrients out of his food, in essence leaving him malnourished B次元官网网址� the hallmark symptom of celiac disease.

B次元官网网址淚 literally crawled up and down the stairs, I was that sick and I was that malnourished,B次元官网网址� the Langford resident recalls.

Once he knew what the problem was, he switched to a gluten-free diet overnight, avoiding any product with grains and those containing gluten proteins of other kinds.

B次元官网网址淎t first it seemed like a bit of a chore B次元官网网址� what was I going to eat? But I gained 10 pounds immediately and I was able to go up and down the stairs,B次元官网网址� he says.

In the beginning Sharp, a lifelong lover of foods of all kinds including pizza and cereal, wasnB次元官网网址檛 thrilled with the prospect of eating foods he considered to be B次元官网网址渂land,B次元官网网址� or those with a B次元官网网址渞iceyB次元官网网址� texture.

Not one to stand by idly and watch her hubby suffer further, his wife, Helen, began devouring as much information as she could on gluten-free recipes and other food options for celiacs.

Having completely cleared out the cupboards upon hearing the diagnosis B次元官网网址� even the smallest amounts of glutens can cause almost immediate pain for a person with celiac disease B次元官网网址� she went to work cooking up and baking items that James could eat.

Despite not needing to eat gluten-free herself, she has accepted her husbandB次元官网网址檚 dietary requirements almost as her own, choosing to consume no gluten at home.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a combination, because obviously when youB次元官网网址檙e baking with gluten-free ingredients, youB次元官网网址檙e not using just one type of flour, youB次元官网网址檙e using tapioca, corn starch, brown rice flour or white rice flour,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚 use quinoa flour in my carrot cake and my brownies.B次元官网网址�

During the coupleB次元官网网址檚 culinary journey, Helen has created recipes that have earned her accolades in the community. A longtime baker who learned the skill from her mother and grandmother, she took first place at the Luxton Fair for her carrot cake and chocolate chip cookies, while her gluten-free cupcakes were named best in show.

The demand for her baked desserts, from people at work and elsewhere in their social network, led James to suggest that Helen sell them to the public.

For the past several weeks theyB次元官网网址檝e had a stall at the . Through word-of-mouth and return customers, their products are selling increasingly well.

B次元官网网址淚 think there are a lot of people who come to the market who are looking for gluten-free products,B次元官网网址� Helen says. B次元官网网址淥ne woman had just been diagnosed the week before and was surprised that she could eat anything on our table.B次元官网网址�

Not surprisingly, James is her best salesperson, given his celiac experience and the fact heB次元官网网址檚 HelenB次元官网网址檚 recipe guinea pig.

His sensitivity to foods his body canB次元官网网址檛 handle has heightened since he cut out gluten. He has basically given up eating out, he says, since even restaurants that claim to have gluten-free options on their menu have a hard time avoiding cross-contamination.

B次元官网网址淭he success that weB次元官网网址檝e had has just been phenomenal,B次元官网网址� James says, adding they stress to people the products are gluten-free.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had literally three or four ladies say, B次元官网网址業 make the best carrot cake,B次元官网网址� and theyB次元官网网址檝e tried (HelenB次元官网网址檚) and said that is the best carrot cake IB次元官网网址檝e ever had.B次元官网网址�

With strict guidelines laid down by Island Health for anyone selling gluten-free products to the public, Helen has just received approval to sell her breads at the market.

James, a longtime bread lover who is thrilled with the fact he is able to eat and enjoy yet another of his wifeB次元官网网址檚 recipes, expects the new product to sell well. B次元官网网址淧eople stand there for quite some time and tell us their story,B次元官网网址� he says of people either diagnosed celiac or having various food intolerances. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why we want to expand what weB次元官网网址檙e offering, because of what people are asking for.B次元官网网址�

That demand, matching an international trend, makes the timing of their foray into the gluten-free market fortuitous.

Given the couple both work full-time on top of marketing their baked goods, James is somewhat concerned how much time they spend on this business sideline. At the end of the day, however, he credits his wife for working so hard to create foods he can eat without worry.

B次元官网网址淚 feel terrific now. I can eat well and that food can be digested,B次元官网网址� he says.

B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 know what was wrong for years and years, and I think back to my reactions to food and think I was sick back then. I count myself lucky (to be diagnosed within a few years), because the average celiac diagnosis is about 12 years.B次元官网网址�

editor@goldstreamgazette.com

Figuring out celiac-friendly diet takes time and patience

Emilia Campbell of Saanich discovered Helen SharpB次元官网网址檚 gluten-free baked products recently at the Goldstream Station Market.

Diagnosed with celiac disease about a year ago, sheB次元官网网址檚 still sorting out her new dietary lifestyle. Conversations with Helen and James Sharp, her celiac-diagnosed husband, have helped her understand what kinds of foods are safe, Campbell says.

B次元官网网址淚 still havenB次元官网网址檛 overcome my anger about my change in eating,B次元官网网址� she says. Social gatherings have been the toughest for her. B次元官网网址淚f a whole bunch of friends are over, you feel relegated. With so many social interactions around food, itB次元官网网址檚 difficult to adjust.B次元官网网址�

She recalls attending her husbandB次元官网网址檚 family Christmas dinner shortly after her diagnosis last year and feeling like an outcast. B次元官网网址淭here was nothing, nothing I could eat. Five hours of no eating and all I could have was a pop. The turkey stuffing had gluten, so I couldnB次元官网网址檛 eat any of it. You have to be very careful.B次元官网网址�

Campbell is the only one in her home who is celiac B次元官网网址� her husband and daughter eat differently. To avoid contamination, she has her own microwave, her own pots. She admits to not being a good cook before, but now has to prepare her own meals separately.

She belongs to the Victoria chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association () and has received a list of what foods to avoid, where to buy celiac friendly foods locally and what local restaurants offer full gluten-free menus.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e read a lot of books and articles and definitely educated my self on the subject, I think,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 finding when it comes to what is healthy for you, itB次元官网网址檚 the basics.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址� Don Descoteau