The Gluten-Free Bible: The Thoroughly Indispensable Guide to Negotiating Life without Wheat [Paperback]

Jax Peters Lowell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 10, 2005

The definitive guide to the gluten-free lifestyle, completely revised and updated for the 2.2 million Americans with celiac disease

According to a landmark 2003 National Institutes of Health study, 2.2 million Americans suffer from celiac disease, an allergy to the protein gluten found in wheat. Since this book was first published in 1995 (as Against the Grain), Jax Peters Lowell has been helping celiacs follow a gluten-free diet with creativity, resourcefulness, and humor.

This edition includes chapters covering
- the latest research into celiac disease, and myths that have
been debunked
- how to eat out happily, including a short course in restaurant
assertiveness training
- how to eat in happily, including a discussion of online and
mail order suppliers and negotiating the supermarket as a celiac
- dozens of delicious new recipes
- drugs, cosmetics, and other products tested for celiac-safety
- a thoroughly updated resource section

Tens of thousands of celiacs have already enhanced their lives with Lowell's authoritative, witty, and practical guide. The Gluten-free Bible promises to bring relief to the new gluten-intolerant generation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The definitive guide to coping with wheat allergy and celiac disease....the author has left no resource untapped."
--Science News

"Lowell covers every aspect of living wheat and gluten free."
--The New York Times

"Be forewarned: This book is addictive. Jax inspires, educates, entertains. You'll laugh, you'll learn, you'll discover the abundant life that can be yours -- gluten-free."
--Peggy Wagener, Publisher, Living Without magazine

"[This book] will bring tears of joy... It is a treasure and a must for every celiac's library."
--Elaine Monarch, Executive Director of the Celiac Disease Foundation

"With her trademark cheekiness and deep-hearted wisdom, Jax Lowell serves up another celiac classic."
--Diane Eve Paley, President, Celiac Society of America

"I have never read an allergy book that I could say had a heart, but this one does."
--Jim Burns, Food Editor, Los Angeles Times syndicate

"Aren't we lucky this talented writer is one of us!"
--Alice Bast, Executive Director, National Foundation for Celiac Awareness

"Jax Lowell proves it's possible to live and eat happily ever after."
--Connie Sarros, The Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free Cookbooks

"Lowell has succeeded in creating a work that will inspire the patient, dietician, and doctor--RUN, don't walk, to pick up your copy!"
--A. Myron Falchuk, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School

"...Just what the doctor ordered."
--Alessio Fasano, M.D., Center for Celiac Research

"A lot of attitude and a terrific sense of humor."
--New York Daily News

"A book that nurtures as it advises."
--Better Homes & Gardens, Cooks' Catalog

About the Author

Jax Peters Lowell has been a diagnosed celiac-and gluten- free-since 1981. A lifestyle expert, advocate, and contributing editor to Living Without magazine, Lowell lives in Philadelphia with her husband and bread machine.

Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks (March 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805077464
• ISBN-13: 978-0805077469
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,854 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Disorders & Diseases > Allergies

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

236 of 260 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Jax Is Too Lax..., April 7, 2005

By 

Gluten Mom (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gluten-Free Bible: The Thoroughly Indispensable Guide to Negotiating Life without Wheat (Paperback)

I don't know if the years that have gone by and the experiences I have had with dealing with other celiacs and the gluten free diet have changed my perspective, but I am underwhelmed with Jax Peters Lowell's new "Gluten Free Bible", which is a new revision of "Against the Grain".

When my family of four celiacs was first diagnosed, her book "Against the Grain" offered me a refreshing perspective on how to deal with this condition. At that time I thought that if I could raise my celiac children with her perspective, they would be fine. I thought that her determination and zeal in pursuing special treatment because she wasn't "ordinary" was admirable.

In the "Gluten Free Bible", Jax falls flat. She sounds too preachy, too whiny, and she deals with some things too superficially to make this book a worthwhile addition to a celiac's library. She goes beyond addressing gluten-free issues to address her concerns with the fat and sugar content of the average American diet, her concerns with pesticides and chemicals, and her preoccupation with the macrobiotic food fad. This ends up leaving the original portions of "Against the Grain" with less sparkle, panache, and flair.

In my opinion, eating the toppings off of canapes and the innards from sandwiches and trying to avoid eating the cheesecake crust are just not reasonable activities that even a starving celiac should be engaging in. A much better strategy for a celiac to use when out on the town is the boy scout mantra of "be prepared". I encountered many factual inaccuracies in the Gluten Free Bible that may be of great concern to celiacs. Products long known to be gluten free, such as Tootsie Rolls, Butterball turkeys, Starbucks coffee, and medications like Lipitor and Zoloft are described in the book as being unsafe for a celiac to consume.

Some of the basic information in her resource pages at the back of the book is just simply wrong. I found spelling errors here and there. I have to wonder about just how much of a rush the author and publishers were in to get this on bookstore shelves. I was disappointed with her treatment of celiac disease and communion, particularly Catholic communion. While she seems to be more aware of cross contamination issues in this book than in Against the Grain, she is still writing about removing the contents of a "normal" sandwich and putting it between two slices of gluten free bread and eating it -- if you are not "too sensitive".

She writes that she expects that copies of this book will be as well-worn and dog-eared and beloved to celiacs as "Against the Grain". I think not. I think my copy will end up in the round file. Newly diagnosed celiac patients who are looking for a good book about the gluten-free diet should try Shelley Case's book "The Gluten-Free Diet" or "Wheat Free, Worry Free" by Danna Korn.

48 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Gluten-Free Bible, July 4, 2006

By 

Meredith R. Harris "person with celiac disease" (CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gluten-Free Bible: The Thoroughly Indispensable Guide to Negotiating Life without Wheat (Paperback)

There are serious inaccuracies in this book that can cause a great deal of stress for a celiac. The section on medications with gluten is especially troubling as it causes someone who thought they were safe to worry for no reason. Most troubling is her treatment of the risks of cancer. Her treatment is both superficial, incaccurate and unrealistic. First she says that the risk is the same whether you maintain a gluten free diet or not. Then she says that the only thing you can do about it is to not worry about it. Her discussion of picking food out of a sandwiches is poor advice. In one section she understands the problems of cross contamination, yet doesn't seem to understand that picking apart food is more of a risk than using a toaster. Finally, her flip advice about how to avoid answering questions is ridiculous. Why not be honest instead of avoiding the questions. It's up to the person as to how many details they want to give. But avoiding the issue is not the answer.

106 of 124 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Great attitude, if only the info was great..., May 2, 2005

By 

GFinRI "GFforEVER" (Rhode Island) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gluten-Free Bible: The Thoroughly Indispensable Guide to Negotiating Life without Wheat (Paperback)

Although Jax presents the gluten free lifestyle with a great attitude, anyone serious about the diet knows that it isn't this easy. The hard info that Jax gives in this book is outright wrong and could be very dangerous to some one new to the diet. She needs to loose the casual approach and get real about being truly gluten free.