Gluten free, lactose free, nut free and soy free Cuscus recipe from Brazil!

This is a typical recipe from Sao Paulo, Brazil: Cuscus Paulista. It’s an exotic yet very quick and easy to prepare dish that naturally doesn’t contain any gluten, milk, nuts and soy (you can also remove the eggs if needed!). Delicious!

 

Ingredients

Olive oil, Onion, Garlic
3 Tomatoes (peeled)
Parsley, Sugar (1 spoon), Salt
Peas,  Black olives, 1 boiled egg
Corn flour
Sardines (opcional)

 

Preparation

Heat olive oil in a pan on medium heat and add the chopped onion and garlic. Stir for about 2-3 minutes until they are softened, and then add the chopped tomatoes , sugar and salt to prepare the tomato sauce. Bring to a low simmer, reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for about 15 minutes (do not leave it too dry). Add the olives, parsley, peas and minced sardines (or tuna), stirring and cooking for about 5 minutes more. Then add the corn flour slowly (keep stirring) until you get the consistency shown in the picture.

Rub some olive oil into a flan-like mold, then decorate it with tomato slices / slices of the boiled egg. Pour the Cuscus onto it, pressing it against the bottom to remove air spaces. Leave it to cool for 5 minutes, invert the cuscus onto a small plate and serve.
Picture: http://pt.petitchef.com/

Cholesterol profile of celiacs and the effect of the gluten free diet

The observation of lower total cholesterol in untreated celiacs (namely, those not following the gluten free diet) than in the general population has been found in a number of recent studies, but the effects of treatment with a gluten free diet on total cholesterol levels had not been investigated.Now a group of scientists from the United Kingdom has investigated precisely that: whether the adoption of the gluten free diet would have an effect on the cholesterol profile of recently diagnosed celiacs. To this end, they studied 100 recently diagnosed adult celiacs (mean age: 51 years old), measured their cholesterol profile at diagnosis and again following 12 months treatment with a gluten-free diet.

Their results show that, at diagnosis, the untreated celiacs had indeed lower mean total cholesterol in comparison to the general population, with men having 21% lower and women 9% lower mean levels. Their investigation also showed that there was no change in mean total cholesterol following treatment with the diet. Moreover, there was a small but significant increase in the mean HDL-cholesterol (the so-called ‘good’ cholesterol).

The authors concluded by suggesting that the gluten free diet has no adverse effects on cholesterol levels. It’s always important to note, however, that evaluation by a nutritionist is essential, and that the results found for a specific country may not be generalized for other countries with different eating habits and culture.

Source: Lewis NR, Sanders DS, Logan RF, Fleming KM, Hubbard RB, West J. Cholesterol profile in people with newly diagnosed coeliac disease: a comparison with the general population and changes following treatment. Br J Nutr. 2009102(4):509-13.

Travelling by plane with dietary restrictions

Many commercial airliners offer gluten free, low lactose and allergen free meals, as well as a wide range of medical, religious and cultural in-flight meal options. Read more