I just couldn't resist buying this book. Celiac Disease For Dummies by Ian Blumer, MD and Sheila Crowe, MD provides a great deal of practical advice and useful information for the newly diagnoised celiac and their family. If there was only one book I could recommend this would be it. It is jam packed with everything a new celiac needs to know. Do check out www.dummies.com there you'll find a cheat sheet for celiac disease along with other interesting and useful articles.

Celiac disease is more than not eating gluten. It is a serious autoimmune condition that can cause a mind-boogling number of other conditions from vitamin deficiencies to in a very small percentage of celiacs, cancer. The authors cover all topics regarding celiac disease in detail. I found the books layout very easy to read. Part 3 on treating celiac disease helped me understand how to go gluten-free. It is so devastating to realize you can no longer take social situations such as going to a potluck party or dropping by a new cafe for granted anymore and this book helped me find ways of coping with my new reality. I also appreciated the FAQ section and the Appendixes on different websites and organizations to check out. Chapter 19 covers ten myths, misconceptions and falsehoods about celiac disease which helped me alot. I am an over weight celiac and the first part of Chapter 19 discuses the myth that you must be skinny to be a celiac. I still find medical professionals who believe in this myth and to see it written down as a myth helped my mental well being.

I found it overwhelming for the first few months after being diagnoised. There is so much to learn and become comfortable with. This book is a must read for all new celiacs. It made me feel less scared and allowed me to gradually feel more in control of my new way of eating and interacting in social situations that involved food. And lets face it, food is a big part of our society and to have to constantly question servers about what you can and can't eat and explain to friends and strangers why you are not eating something or not attending an event is stressful. It is nice to have a book written by doctors that gives you thoughtful and up-to-date information about celiac disease.

For those of you who were interested in the contents of this book, I have added photos of the Contents Page below. I'm hoping this will help you decide if this is a book you would be interested in.

If you are interested in other books I have read here are links to my other book reviews.

• 'A Patient-Expert Walks You Through Everything You Need to Learn and Do - The First Year Celiac Disease and Living Gluten-Free' by Jules E. Dowler Shepard.
• Gluten Freedom by Alessio Fasano, MD.
• Wheat Belly by William Davis, MD

Have you read any of these books? Did you find them helpful? Do you have any suggestions on other books I should read?

These are my personal experiences and opinions. Always seek out a medical opinion for medical concerns.