Gluten-free bakery in Santa Cruz

Who says if you are gluten intolerant or suffer from Celiac’s disease that you can’t have your cake and eat it too? Pele’s Oven has moved into 504A Front St. offering Santa Cruz locals a full spectrum of gluten-free goodies. Their grand opening will be in early April (date TBA). Currently they sell commercially to Shopper’s Corner, Deluxe Foods and The Palm Deli in Aptos, and Pleasure Pizza. Once open, their storefront will offer a gluten-free food court.

What is gluten and why should everyone proceed with caution?

All grains have the protein gluten, however, the family of glutens that are toxic are found in wheat, barley and rye (or any grain processed on machines that process these three grains). Gluten is not required in the diet for good health.

The challenge to people who already know they have a gluten sensitivity or Celiac’s is that gluten finds its way into all sorts of foods and sauces that you wouldn’t expect. Unfortunately, if someone is sensitive to gluten, strict avoidance is necessary to stop the body from makingantibodies. Even one small amount of a gluten food every month can activate the antibody response sending one’s health into a tailspin. The world’s leading gluten expert Dr. Thomas O’Bryan says that it takes anywhere from 3-6 months before the body stops making antibodies after any gluten exposure.

According to author Nora Gedgaudas of Primal Body-Primal Mind, diagnosis of full-blown Celiac’s disease has increased 400% in just the last fifty years and gluten sensitivity is linked in some way to all 86 autoimmune diseases. Feeling “fine” when you eat grains does not mean that you aren’t sensitive to gluten: eight of 10 people with gluten intolerance are asymptomatic, so proper testing is advisable. Fortunately, better testing became available in January 2011.

If you catch gluten intolerance and/or Celiac’s disease early, you can spare your health from a world of hurt. These are serious health issues and why a bakery that prides itself on being delicious AND gluten-free will be welcomed with open arms to the Santa Cruz community.

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