Autumn News Roundup

Gluten-free bakeries, travel, mental health, and more!

I often joke about time whooshing by, but it really feels like it does these days. Fall is such a busy season for me (even more so this year, thanks to my latest course for the Center for Fiction starting up this week, plus a bundle of projects related to my day job, and impending travel to… a destination that requires a lot of pre-trip research). Still, the gluten-free news keeps coming. Here are some of the stories I’ve read lately that caught my attention. I think you’ll appreciate them, too.

“Gluten-Free Baking at Its Best: 10 Bakeries that Deliver Quality and Flavor”: This USA Today roundup was a delight to read — both because it introduced me to some gluten-free bakeries I’d never heard of and because it celebrates some that I already love (first place went to Mariposa Baking Company in San Francisco and Oakland, which I’ve written about before). This Top Ten list was selected by a panel and voted on by USA Today readers, so don’t fret if your local favorite didn’t make the cut; just look at this as a list of places to try next time you travel.

“Mental Health Issues and Celiac Disease are Linked — A Gluten-Free Diet Can Help”: Writing in Discover magazine, journalist Sean Mowbray covers an issue that I hope will get more attention in future. He interviews Debra Silberg, a gastroenterologist and chief science officer at Beyond Celiac, who notes that roughly a quarter of patients with celiac disease may suffer from mental health issues prior to diagnosis. While the reasons why need more research, the article does mention current hypotheses. It also delves into “brain fog” (AKA gluten-induced neurocognitive impairment) which Beyond Celiac writes about as well.

“Free Meals for Helene Survivors Have Been a Lifeline — but Not Everyone Can Eat Them”: This Charlotte Observer article by Sara Murphy is even more relevant with Hurricane Milton making landfall on Wednesday and spawning tornadoes in Florida. The brutal circumstances in the wake of a natural disaster can be compounded for individuals because of food allergies and intolerances. But there are also people who go above and beyond to help, as this piece points out.

“The Vegan, Celiac-Friendly Curry House Hiding in a Japanese Market in Park Slope”: One of the joys of living in New York City is discovering hidden gems, and this is a particularly intriguing one. Writing in the BK Reader, Hannah Berman notes that chefs Taisan Tanaka and Ayane Sakamoto met while working at a preschool, and bonded over overcoming illnesses, before opening their gluten-free counter inside Brooklyn Beauty/Fashion Labo.

“Where to Eat Gluten Free in Milan: Gluten Free Pizza, Sushi, Appetizers and Brunch”: This article by Valentina Pacitti, a staff writer for Secret Milano, made me want to hop on the next flight to Milan. So much gluten-free goodness!

“5 Inflammatory Foods to Avoid If You Have Arthritis or Are at Risk of Arthritis”: Margaret Darby writes in the Deseret News about the fact that gluten can be responsible for inflamed joints even if you don’t have celiac disease. It’s a short piece, but she also links to medical-journal research — “Role of Diet in Influencing Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity” — over at the National Institutes of Health.

“18 Candies That Are Actually Gluten-Free”: Halloween is just around the corner, so this Chowhound piece by Sarah Moore will come in handy for US-based readers.