Buying a loaf of bread can be an overwhelming, though mouth-watering experience. There are literally hundreds of varieties to choose from, and most consumers get a kick out of tasting the bevy of creative flavor combinations available at many retailers (potato scallion and rosemary raisin come to mind). For someone with Celiac Disease, however, bread shopping is a frustrating and often daunting task.

That’s because gluten, the common name for specific proteins in cereal grains, is extremely harmful to people with the disease. Celiac Disease (CD), also known as Celiac Sprue, is an autoimmune intestinal disorder found in genetically susceptible individuals. When these individuals ingest gluten, their bodies experience an immunologically mediated toxic reaction that damages the tiny, hair-like projections in the small intestine, called villi. Damaged villi cannot take in nutrients from food.

Gluten proteins exist in all forms of wheat (faro, durum, semolina, spelt, kamut and einkorn) and all related grains (barley and rye). When people with CD experience repeated exposure to these gluten proteins, they face an increased risk of both nutritional and immune related disorders, like anemia, osteoporosis, GI cancers and nervous system disorders. The disease affects all people differently, making it difficult to diagnose. Some typical symptoms include gas, chronic diarrhea, constipation, weight loss or gain, fatigue, joint pain, bloating and muscle cramps. One of the most common symptoms in children is irritability.

While the cause of CD is unknown, there seems to be a strong genetic component associated with a set of genes called Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) class II – genes that affect an individual’s susceptibility to disease. If one member of a family has CD, about one out of ten other members of the same family is likely to have it as well. Sometimes the disease becomes active for the first time after undergoing stress from surgery, pregnancy, childbirth or infection.

Celiac Disease affects 1 in 133 Americans, but could be underdiagnosed in this country, says the National Institute of Health. Dr. Ciaran Kelly, Director of the Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, attributes this possibility to the fact that American physicians are not sufficiently aware of the many manifestations of CD.

Testing for the disease involves a blood test that measures Immunoglobulin A (IgA), anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTGA), and IgA anti-endomysium antibodies (AEA). Additionally, says Kelly, doctors can perform a secondary test in the form of a small bowel biopsy (to examine damaged villi). Preliminary screening for those without symptoms may be recommended for children with a family history of the disease.

There is no cure for Celiac Disease. The only known treatment is adherence to a gluten-free diet. A gluten-free diet means avoiding all products that contain wheat, rye, barely, and any of their derivatives. Gluten can be found in unidentified starches, binders, fillers and malts. It can even be found in cold cuts, soups, soy sauce and jelly beans.

The good news is that there are more products popping up on our supermarket shelves each day touting “gluten free”…but dining out is still an issue, and we developed a free “food allergy buddy” card that you can print out at home and give to your waiter to make sure that the restaurant is full informed about which ingredients may be a problem. It’s free! Just go to www.foodallergybuddy.com to print yours.

With over 40,000 products in the average supermarket, people don't have time (or the money) to test every product on the shelves – so we do it for you!

Each week we will post the latest reviews and I hope you will log in to see what’s hot…and what’s not!

Each product is judged and taste-tested based on the following seven criteria:

1. (30 points) Taste: The most important attribute of any food

2. (20 points) Value: Is it worth it?

3. (15 points) Health: Based off the nutritional information, is it nutritionally balanced?

4. (15 points) Ingredients: What's in it, how natural is it?

5. (10 points) Preparation: When applicable, how accurate or good are the directions?*

6. (5 points) Appearance: Is it appetizing and does it resemble its photo or description?

7. (5 points) Packaging: Is it appropriate for the product and does it have any benefits such as reseal ability, added freshness, better storage, etc?

*Products that do not require any preparation will have the full value of these points included in their total score.

DRY Rhubarb Soda

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
27	17	11	12	N/A	5	5	87

Soda is so over ... or is it? According to data from The Nielsen Company, sales of soft drinks are falling rapidly - over the past year, regular colas fell 4.1% in dollar sales. So, are we finally looking for healthier alternatives? This company is right on the mark with a beverage that is made with all natural ingredients (you got it - no high fructose corn syrup in these bottles!) And to top it off, regular cola or lemon lime soft drinks can contain 110 calories and 28-29 g of sugar; this soda only contains 60 calories and 16 g of sugar. Great taste, great health profile, and talk about global responsibility ... it comes in a glass bottle. Also available in Lavender, Kumquat, and Lemongrass flavors. Retails for $7.99/four-pack of 12-fl oz bottles and $1.99/bottle.

Dry Soda Co., Seattle, Washington
1-888-DRY-SODA (379-7632)
www.drysoda.com

Orville Redenbacher's Buttery Salt & Cracked Pepper Natural Gourmet Popping Corn

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
25	15	13	14	N/A	5	5	87

Although sales of microwave popcorn have been declining over the past four years, here's a product from one of America's most popular brands that may actually attract shoppers, particularly the growing number of consumers interested in more natural foods. When comparing this to the traditional version, you won't see much difference in calories, sodium, or fat. However, the ingredients are all natural, and we think that you'll find the flavor to be much better without all those artificial ingredients. The smaller popping bag is also a great way to make sure that there is little waste (and a littler waist!). The mini bags are also available in Buttery Garlic. Retails for $2.69/box of four 1.6-oz bags.

ConAgra Foods, Inc., Omaha, Nebraska
1-800-243-0303
www.orville.com

FruitaBü Organic Smoooshed Fruit Sploooshers Grape

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
24	14	12	14	N/A	3	2	79

So what's a fruit splooosher? Imagine slurpable apple sauce in a tube ... not great for teaching your kid table manners. We think it would be much more appealing served in a cup with a spoon. But, on the other hand, this product does have some appealing qualities. It's organic, sweetened naturally, and contains one serving of fruit in every tube. But parents keep in mind, there are still 13 g of sugar in one serving. Our suggestion is to freeze these treats and enjoy like a popsicle ... or open a charge account at the dry cleaners. Also comes in Strawberry and Raspberry flavors. Retails for $3.79-$3.99/pack of five 1.5-oz fruit tubes.

Stretch Island Fruit Sales LLC, Grapeview, Washington
1-800-700-9687
www.fruitabu.com

Chocolate Chex

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
23	14	9	9	N/A	3	3	71

While this new version of Chex cereal touts its "whole grain" connection and being enhanced with sweet, chocolatey flavor, it's still chock full of ingredients many of us are trying to avoid these days: partially hydrogenated coconut oil, preservatives and more preservatives, along with a nutritional facts panel that makes it just more of the same old thing (albeit with a more "chocolatey taste" from a "touch of cocoa"). The only enjoyment we had on this cereal was deciding whether to eat the brown chocolate chex or the beige traditional flavor. Retails for approximately $3.00/14.25-oz box.

General Mills, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1-800-328-1144
www.generalmills.com

Knorr Sides Plus Veggies

Here's what Lilly P., from Bentleyville, PA, has to say about this product. "These are excellent. Available in teriyaki, alfredo, and southwestern. Easy instructions and excellent as a side dish. $2.09/pkg. I managed to purchase at Giant Eagle using .75 coupons doubled ... for .50. I stocked up on these as they are very tasty, easy to prepare, and a great deal!"

Unilever
1-800-457-7082
www.us.knorr.com

With over 40,000 products in the average supermarket, people don't have time (or the money) to test every product on the shelves – so we do it for you!

Each week we will post the latest reviews and I hope you will log in to see what’s hot…and what’s not!

Each product is judged and taste-tested based on the following seven criteria:

1. (30 points) Taste: The most important attribute of any food

2. (20 points) Value: Is it worth it?

3. (15 points) Health: Based off the nutritional information, is it nutritionally balanced?

4. (15 points) Ingredients: What's in it, how natural is it?

5. (10 points) Preparation: When applicable, how accurate or good are the directions?*

6. (5 points) Appearance: Is it appetizing and does it resemble its photo or description?

7. (5 points) Packaging: Is it appropriate for the product and does it have any benefits such as reseal ability, added freshness, better storage, etc?

*Products that do not require any preparation will have the full value of these points included in their total score.

mix1 Blueberry Vanilla

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
23	15	11	12	N/A	3		77

True. Americans are busy, so busy they have little time to eat properly. Mix1 offers a simple breakfast solution or afternoon snack with three servings of fruit/vegetables in a bottle. It’s all natural and contains 22 vitamins and minerals. It’s high on the sweet side, and we mean that by taste and by the 22g of sugar per serving. However, at least it’s organically sweetened and not artificially sweetened.

There are 200 calories in one serving, so make the mistake of having this beverage along with a meal, you’ll be in calorie overload. This product is also gluten, lactose and soy free. It’s much better tasting served cold. $2.00/11-oz bottle

mix1 Blueberry Vanilla
Boulder, Colorado
1-888-550-9555
www.mix1life.com

Nuts are Good Raspberry Peanuts

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
21	14	7	10	N/A	3	3	68

It’s an interesting new candy made for the ultra sweet tooth! There so sweet and tart they will make your mouth pucker. Here’s where folks who enjoy the taste of these will get in trouble. The bag is small (4 oz), and could easily be eaten in one sitting like you would a single serving bag of chips.

The nutrition facts list one serving as 1 oz., which contains 130 calories, 7g of fat, and 14g of sugar. So if you eat the whole bag, that translates into 520 calories, 28g of fat, and 56g of sugar! Make sure you’ve got friends around to share these with!

$9.48/12 count tub of 4 oz. bags

Nuts are Good Raspberry Peanuts
Fresh Roasted Almond Co
Warren, MI
(877) 478-6887
www.nutsaregood.com

The Art of Chipotle Gourmet Paste with Adobo

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
28	14	13	13	N/A	4	4	86

The flavors of Mexican and Southwestern foods are popular in the United States that’s for sure. Do you ever notice that compared to twenty years ago, the Latin food section in your supermarket has grown from a small section to in some stores half of an aisle!

This paste made from dried and smoked jalapeno peppers will have many uses when you want to heat up your Mexican dishes. Add to sauces, spreads, dips, marinades for your chicken and beef, just about anything! It is a gourmet food product, so the price is rather high…we think too high.

But, it will last you a long time, because you’ll only need a small amount when adding to your foods. No preservatives, all natural ingredients, and it tastes great! $16.50/6.5 oz jar

The Art of Chipotle Gourmet Paste with Adobo
Pfleider Pfoods, Inc.
Yorba Linda, California
(714) 455-2701
www.chipotlepeople.com

jojoBAR Chocolate Cashew

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
24	11	12	12	N/A	1	1	71

At first you may find this product a little odd based on the appearance alone. It’s a nutrition bar, but flatter and wider…almost like a regular sized nutrition bar has been rolled with a rolling pin. But despite it’s odd shape, they took care in creating a nutrition bar with healthy, natural ingredients and avoiding high-heat processing.

Made with raw, mostly organic ingredients, you’ll be surprised at how much it tastes like candy with just a little amount of sugar (6g per serving). But…please do something about the appearance of this bar…you say it’s “real food” but it seems like something you’d eat in outer space. $3.49/1.8 oz bar

jojoBAR Chocolate Cashew
VitalNRG
San Diego, California
1-877-800-jojo
www.jojoBARS.com

With over 40,000 products in the average supermarket, people don't have time (or the money) to test every product on the shelves – so we do it for you!

Each week we will post the latest reviews and I hope you will log in to see what’s hot…and what’s not!

Each product is judged and taste-tested based on the following seven criteria:

1. (30 points) Taste: The most important attribute of any food

2. (20 points) Value: Is it worth it?

3. (15 points) Health: Based off the nutritional information, is it nutritionally balanced?

4. (15 points) Ingredients: What's in it, how natural is it?

5. (10 points) Preparation: When applicable, how accurate or good are the directions?*

6. (5 points) Appearance: Is it appetizing and does it resemble its photo or description?

7. (5 points) Packaging: Is it appropriate for the product and does it have any benefits such as reseal ability, added freshness, better storage, etc?

*Products that do not require any preparation will have the full value of these points included in their total score.

Smucker’s Organic Orange Marmalade

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
25	16	13	14	n/a	5	4	87

Organics are a growing trend and not just for the small, natural food companies. The bigger name brands are going organic and it's a smart move for brands like Smucker’s. And why? They are following the $$! Sales data from The Nielsen Company shows that marmalade/preserves are up 3.2% in dollar sales in the 52 weeks ended June 6, 2007, doing much better than the overall jams/jellies category which fell by 0.6% in dollar sales. You’ll love the fact that this product doesn’t contain artificial ingredients and most important – there is no high fructose corn syrup. You’ll be an orange lover – chock-full of little orange peels give it a strong (and great) flavor. Retails for $3.59-$3.69/12 oz glass jar.

The J.M. Smucker Co.
Orrville, Ohio
1-888-550-9555
www.smuckers.com

Organic essn Energy Pomegranate Limeflower

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
22	15	12	13	n/a	4	4	80

Finally, an energy drink that doesn’t contain ingredients that scare us! Since beverages like Red Bull were introduced, the beverage market has had more than enough versions of energy drinks flooding the market, claiming to provide extreme boosts of energy, and many of them containing synthetic ingredients. At least with this product being USDA certified organic, you can feel better about the ingredients knowing that it’s an all natural product. Made with organic green tea and yerba mate, this drink is rich in antioxidants and vitamins. It still has that bitter energy drink taste, but served very cold it’s not as harsh as others out there. Makes a great cocktail mixer as well. Retails for $1.99/12-oz can.

SKYLARHALEY
Pleasanton, California
1-866-759-5274
www.drinkessn.com

Athenos Whole Wheat Baked Pita Chips

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
20	16	15	15	N/A*	5	5	86

Many companies now are making snack foods with zero trans fats, which is a good thing. In addition, this product can claim to be 50% less in fat than most brands of potato chips. And with no cholesterol or saturated fat, that makes this a healthier chip than most. Still contains some preservatives, and it’s a little high in sodium (270 mg per serving), but all around not bad for you as long as you don’t eat the whole bag at once. For flavor, we have to say they are for “salt lovers” only!

Kraft Foods
1-800-343-1976
www.athenos.com

Caramel Sin Cinnamon Raisin Fool

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
20	9	14	14	n/a	3	4	74

This breakfast spread is simplicity at its best. In fact, there are only six ingredients in this spread: water, golden raisins, currants, cinnamon, vanilla, and annatto. There are no added sugars or sweeteners, fats, or salt, so the taste is fruity, not sugary. You can feel great starting your morning off with this healthy spread on your toast and bagels. Each tablespoon contains only 20 calories, less than half that of your average jam. We’re just not sure that consumers will shell out $9.95 for an 11-oz jar.

Caramel Sin, Sherman Oaks, California
1-818-464-3722
www.caramelsin.com

For consumers in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee, the seven most popularly prescribed antibiotics just got easier to swallow.

Consumers with prescriptions for these drugs can now get 14 days of the drugs for free at 684 locations of Publix Super Markets, Inc. in the five southern states. There is no limit on the number of prescriptions that consumers can fill for free.

This service is of particular importance to families because the antibiotics account for almost 50 percent of the generic, pediatric prescriptions filled at Publix. The drugs offered for free are Amoxicillin, Cephalexin, Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim (SMZ-TMP), Ciprofloxacin (excluding ciprofloxacin XR), Penicillin VK, Ampicillin and Erythromycin (excluding Ery-Tab). To find a store with a pharmacy near you, access http://store.publix.com/publix/

Publix received the highest numerical score among supermarket pharmacies in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Retail Pharmacy Satisfaction StudySM. Study based on 6,543 total responses, and measures 8 supermarkets. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of customers surveyed Oct.-Nov., 2006

OTHER DRUG ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE
Drug Companies
Nearly all the major drug companies offer a patient assistance program to underwrite the cost of their prescription drugs. You can ask your pharmacist directly for information about applying for these company-direct discounts. Most have income restrictions yet offer the discounts or free drugs on a continuous basis. Some drug companies require your doctor to apply for the help for you; in other programs the discounts apply only to Medicare enrollees. In general those who do not benefit from ay private or publicly funded drug benefits qualify.

Discount Drug Programs
To find out more about drug discount programs, which offer discounts from a variety of drug companies, ask your pharmacist, physician or other health care provider or go to peoples-law.org. The programs usually work by requiring consumers to pay a flat fee, usually $10 per prescription, and a deeply discounted price for the drugs. Savings can be anywhere from $20 to $700 for name-brand drugs.

K-Mart and Wal-Mart
Some specific chains are also offering discounted drug programs, in particular K-Mart and Wal-Mart stores. All requests must include a doctor-ordered prescription and cover many of the most commonly used drugs. Wal-Mart is also offering a number of generic prescription drugs for a flat price of $4 each as a way to increase purchases in other departments. Other major chains are developing discount drug programs.

Phil tells TODAY host Meredith Vieira if these "enhanced beverages" really give the nutrients you need.

Watch the "Enhanced Beverages" segment from TODAY:


Click image to view.

Peanuts now rank as one of the top five food allergies among Americans. Last week, scientists at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University reported that they have developed a method of processing that actually "deactivates" the three proteins which are thought to be the cause of the allergens in peanuts.

Researcher Mohamed Ahmedna’s tests showed that serum from people with severe peanut allergies did not react at all to those peanuts processed with this method. Full human trials have yet to begin but the university hopes to explore the efficacy of the new process with humans soon. This change can affect between 1.5 and 3 million Americans with mild to severe allergies to peanuts with hundreds facing death if the reaction is severe.

Ahmedna was also quick to add that the “integrity” and taste of the peanuts are not affected.

Although it remains to be explained, allergic reactions to peanuts, peanut oil, and related products have more than doubled during the last five years here in the United States, and it's important to remember that peanuts are not nuts at all, but legumes.

Remember, for those who do have an allergy to peanuts: check food labels carefully. Most food manufacturers already take note on their food labels indicating whether their processing plants are used for both foods associated with peanuts or peanut oil and/or whether the food product contains peanuts or peanut oils.

The next step for the North Carolina researchers is to develop a way to commercialize the "new" peanut, and while no information was released about when we can expect to see it on our supermarket shelves, if food development history is any indication, it will probably take between 3 and 10 years to make it to market.