While studying abroad in England in 2001, I was introduced to Celiac Disease. I tried out the gluten-free diet, but was unsuccessful. in 2002, without knowing about my previous attempt at eliminating gluten from my diet, I was encouraged by a nutritionist to try out a gluten free diet. after keeping a food journal for a month, she noticed that my stomach problems and emergency room visits increased the more I consumed foods containing gluten. with the help of my nutritionist, I cut gluten out of my diet for 4 weeks and at the end of that 4 weeks, I was amazed. My itchy rash had gone away and I didn’t get get sick after every meal. It was at that moment that I began researching celiac disease and the gluten-free diet. after almost 6 years of research and analysis of celiac disease & the gluten-free diet, I have opened a gluten-free store, “Gluten Free Specialty Market” in Downtown Sacramento, California. the goal is to provide both gluten-free products and gluten-free resources to the local community. with both a BA and AM degree in Psychology, my goal is to provide information about both the physical and psychological effects of celiac disease and gluten sensitivities.

View all articles by Melanie Weir

For those unsure of how to deal with a loved one diagnosed with autism, Tuesday marked the day to get an extensive lecture on the disorder from an accredited professional who teaches it.

Notre Dame assistant professor Joshua Diehl gave a presentation on autism at the Dow Center on Hillsdale College’s campus. a packed room watched closely as Diehl explained the ways families and  organizations can deal with the disorder more effectively, outlining the pros and cons of several teaching methods related to autism but advised breakthroughs take time.

“Children with autism don’t learn things the way we do,” he said during the conference. “It’s a time-consuming process. there is no magic bullet.”

Diehl said if someone has a child who has been recently diagnosed with autism, they should visit autismspeaks.org, a website with several free resources to learn more about the disorder and how one can more effectively deal with autism. Some symptoms of autism are difficulty communicating, repetitive behaviors and self harm.  

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