Elizabeth Hasselbeck on Larry King tonight

cruelshoes · Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 3555 Location: Washington State

Any book that says glutinous rice (and oats) contains gluten shows a lack of understanding of the gluten free diet by the author. This book should not be relied upon to contain accurate information on what is or is not safe to eat. People can read it for her diagnosis story and how she feels better now that she is on a gluten free diet, but there are other, much more reliable, sources of information.
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-Colleen

Where are we going, and what am I doing in this handcart?

Reneé · Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 7 Location: The Soiuth

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10968 Location: WI, USA

Reneé · Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 7 Location: The Soiuth

Taken from The G-free Diet

Pg 85

ostrich · Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 5100 Location: Nebraska

jeant · Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 290

cruelshoes · Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 3555 Location: Washington State

OK – I went to the bookstore on my lunch break so I could reacquaint myself with the book. I do not own it, but I flipped through it on a previous occasion. I definitely won’t be buying it.

First, I was incorrect in saying that EH said that oats are unsafe. I was confusing that with something else. Sorry about that. To make up for it, I came up with a partial list of my other problems with the book:

Sticky rice (also known as glutinous rice). She states that the sticky rice in sushi can be unsafe because gluten might be added to it. But it really is more likely that the gluten in sushi is in the other things in it (fake crab for example). She gives people the false impression that the rice is the only thing to be worried about. Someone new to the GF diet could go into a sushi resturant, and ask if there is anything added to the rice that had gluten in it. If they were told no, they might still get hit by something else in the sushi what was gluten. The rice is not the only thing to be concerned with, but people would not know that by reading the book.

Page 34 – Blue Cheese: It is states that the mold used to make blue cheese “usually originates on old bread”, so it is to be avoided. The word usually falsely implies that the majority of blue cheese is to be avoided. It would be more correct to say that the mold MAY be cultured on bread, and it source should be verified before consuming. This is ignoring the fact that at the Thrive Expo, Cynthia Kupper said that all blue cheese is safe. I’m giving EH a pass on that part, because I don’t think word has gotten out yet.

Page 41 – Brown Rice Syrup – states that it is made with a combination of rice and barley malt, and is unsafe. In actuality, some types of brown rice syrup are safe (Lundberg is one example), and not all contain barley.

Page 43 – Stamp and envelope glue – listed as likely to contain gluten. Realistically, it is much more likely that stamp and envelope glue do NOT contain gluten.

46 – Glucose syrup – it is stated that this ingredient is unsafe. While this ingredient can be derived from a wheat source, it has been shown that processing renders it GF

She repeatedly mentions that she self-diagnosed herself with celiac disease. Well, you can’t diagnose yourself with celiac disease. You can diagnose yourself with gluten intolerance, but celiac disease is a medical condition that is characterized by villi damage (observed on a biopsy). I don’t think she has a portable endoscope in her house to do a self-biopsy. To her credit, she does say that the proper way to be diagnosed is through bloodwork and biopsy. But you can’t diagnose yourself with celiac.

In the chapter entitled “how not to be a party pooper,” she uses the phrase “Even if I decide to throw caution to the wind and dig in (and I definitely don't recommend this!), I end up obsessively worrying about how I am going to feel by the end of the night." Do we really think it is a good idea to be listening to advice on following the GF diet on someone who decides to throw caution to the wind and dig in?

But the kicker for me is on page 113. She has a way of dealing with social dinners if the meal is unsafe. Her husband sits next to her, and starts his meal. Halfway through, she surreptitiously switches plates with him and so it looks like she has eaten half her dinner. OK, so far so good, I actually think that’s a fine idea. Well the problem is when she was supposed to go to the White House to eat. She and her husband were unexpectedy seated at separate tables. So what did she do? She says she ate every bit of that gluten food, and then gloats that she “felt no pain afterward. My adrenaline completely eclipsed my tummy troubles on that once in a lifetime opportunity.” Wha?!?! Is she saying that people can eat gluten meals and adrenaline will help them not feel symptoms? Well happy day, I’m gonna eat a plate of spaghetti and then go bungee jumping. Even if she did not have symptoms, that means nothing. A celiac eating a plateful of gluten will incur intestinal damage, regardless of symptoms. I think this is an irresponsible thing to advocate.

Overall, this book could cause people to avoid safe foods, and does not take cheating serious enough. I think there are much better books out there that have better information for people that are just starting out.

These are only my opinions, and they probably don’t mean anything. I have a tendency to get way down in the details (not always a good thing. Very Happy

) I’m not looking to pick a fight with anyone who likes the book. But if I were asked to recommend a book to someone who was just starting out, this would not be it. Seriously, this post is long. I need to get a life!

PS - I am NOT a party pooper! Very Happy

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-Colleen

Where are we going, and what am I doing in this handcart?

The Edifying Conscience · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 2999

caseygirl · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 163 Location: Baltimore

LOL colleen!

I agree with TEC though- if you are going to write a book on celiac, then get the details correct.

EH is a public figure on television and therefore reaches millions of people. If she is going to write a book about a medical condition then, IMO, she has a moral obligation to write a medically sound book. Because of her celebrity, sick people might choose her book to read amongst lots of others at the bookstore. People need to be aware if her book isn't 100% accurate. I haven't read it yet but that's just my opinion....

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10968 Location: WI, USA

Has anyone tried to contact Hasselbeck and inquire about her statements or suggest there needs to be some corrections?
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Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

cardine45 · Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 586 Location: Kalamazoo, MI

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10968 Location: WI, USA

http://www.gfreediet.com/about-elisabeth.html

cardine45 · Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 586 Location: Kalamazoo, MI

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10968 Location: WI, USA

The Edifying Conscience · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 2999

She twitters. http://twitter.com/ehasselbeck

Can the facts be given to her in 140 characters or less?