This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.

How would you like someone to tell you that you may no longer eat bread, pasta or pizza? Also, you cannot touch pies, cakes or cookies. No sauces or gravy. No hamburgers, hot dogs or sandwiches of any kind. No pancakes or waffles. No Asian foods with soy or teriyaki sauce. No burritos. No soft tacos. Cereals are not allowed, either. In fact, you are forbidden to eat any food any food containing wheat, rye, barley or oats.

Wouldn't that be terrible? Well, thousands of people are faced with this very dilemma. They have what is called Celiac Sprue disease. If they eat anything with wheat, grain, barley or oats they become very ill. Celiac Sprue is a digestive disorder that damages the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food. The main cause is an abnormal reaction to the protein, gluten.

Well, I have discovered a store that can really assist people with this problem. Against the Grain, at 2292 W. 5400 South in Taylorsville, not only offers great gluten free-products, but also advises customers about how to eat well and live with this dramatic ailment.

Owner Diane Bell has a wonderful daughter named Jennie. When Jennie was seven years old, she weighed only 38 pounds. It was obvious something was wrong. Diane and her husband Steve finally found a doctor who correctly determined that little Jennie's body could not handle gluten.

The change in Jennie's diet caused a wonderful change in her health. It prompted the Bells to open a business to help others with this problem. Against the Grain has a variety of gluten-free foods. Yes, even pastas, cookies, cakes, pancake mixes and bread mixes. Products are made using tapioca, rice and other allowed grains that can be substituted for gluten. The store also works with people who are on dairy-free diets, and Diane tells me it even carries foods that can help children with autism.

I'm particularly thrilled to find this store. You see, I have Celiac Sprue.

For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.

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