Joe Stortini, a restaurant owner and former Pierce County officeholder, is the coach of a softball team that recently won a world championship.A Tacoma-area softball team whose players are all at least 79 years old is a reigning world champion.
The team, sponsored by Joeseppi’s Italian Ristorante, captured the 80-and-older title in the Senior Softball World Masters tournament Oct. 6 in Las Vegas, Nev.
The coach is Joe Stortini, a former Pierce County Executive and County Council member. He owns Joeseppi’s, a restaurant in Tacoma area.
The Joeseppi’s players are 79 to 81 years old, but the team played last season in a league that included squads with players in their 50s.
Inaddition to the 70-and-up division won by Joeseppi’s, age brackets for theh world championships ranged from the 40s to the 60s.
As a wellness dietitian with the MultiCare Center for Healthy Living, I’m always meeting with patients and community groups to talk about food choices and nutrition. During these conversations, people often raise questions about gluten and whether they should remove it from their diet.
Below are some answers for those who are curious about gluten-free diets.
1. What is a gluten-free diet?
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye grain products. Gluten is also found foods containing these grains, including many processed foods. Foods containing these grains must be avoided when following a gluten-free diet.
2. How do I know if I need to remove gluten from my diet?
Most commonly gluten is associated with celiac disease, an autoimmune condition in which individuals lack the ability to effectively break down gluten. Celiac disease can be diagnosed with a blood test to check gluten antibody levels. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns or a family history of celiac disease.
There is increasing concern around gluten intolerance or sensitivity. Food sensitivities do not produce an antibody reaction as seen in celiac disease; they often result in symptoms such as gastrointestinal discomfort, skin irritation or headaches. If you think you may be sensitive to gluten, consider eliminating it from your diet for two to three weeks. At the end of the elimination diet, add gluten back into your diet for one to three days. If symptoms disappear during the trial and/or reappear with the re-addition of gluten, it is likely you may have an underlying sensitivity.
3. Is there any harm in removing gluten from my diet or my child’s diet?
There is no harm in following a gluten-free diet. Gluten is not an essential protein; therefore eliminating it does no harm. Great fiber- and nutrient-rich substitutes include gluten-free oats, brown rice or quinoa. Gluten-free options are becoming increasingly accessible, however, remember to be watchful of processed foods that might provide less nutrition. Choose unprocessed, whole grains whenever possible.
4. Are there any foods that people might not realize contain gluten?
Being gluten free requires some sharp label-reading skills. Always check the ingredients list. Hidden gluten is common in soy sauce, generic seasonings, soups, sausages, malt flavoring, sauces, and more!
5. Will a gluten-free diet help me lose weight?
Eliminating gluten alone will not result in weight loss. Living a life of wellness and achieving healthy weight, is a lifestyle. Regardless of gluten-free status, best practice is to follow a healthy, balanced diet full of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.
Chelsey Lindahl, who wrote this article, is a wellness dietitian at the MultiCare Center for Healthy Living, which helps educate children and families in Pierce County about healthy lifestyle choices through programs such as “Ready, Set, Go! 5210†(www.multicare.org/5210). If you have questions, call Chelsey at 253-301-5095 or email chelsey.lindahl@multicare.org.
PROBLEM CAN START IN YOUR 60s Read on for a recipe for apple spinach salad. (Courtesy photo)Celiac disease can develop in people of any age. In recent years, researchers have noted that gluten tolerance can be lost by people in their 60s, meaning that someone who tests negative for celiac disease at age 50 can develop symptoms at age 65 and should be tested again. A study published in 2010 in Annals of Medicine reported that during the past 30 years, there has been a fivefold increase in celiac disease patients, many of them elderly.
Federal Way Symphony will perform Handel’s “Messiah,” and the University of Puget Sound’s musical faculty will launch its recital series in concerts this month.
The symphony, joined by the Federal Way Symphony Singers and the St. Vincent’s Choir, will perform the popular holiday choral works Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. at St. Luke’s Church. The church is located at 515 S. 312th St. in Federal Way.
Tickets and other information is available at federalwaysymphony.org and 253-529-9857.
The symphony is a paid, professional orchestra and choral society under the direction of Brian Davenport, its music director for 30 years.
Maria Sampen, a Tacoma violinist known for her interpretations of standard and experimental works, will open the season for the faculty recital series at UPS Nov. 8.
“Exploration†will be presented at 7:30 p.m., in Schneebeck Concert Hall. The program includes Beethoven’s “Violin Sonata No. 9.”
Tickets are available at http://tickets.pugetsound.edu or 253-879-6013 for $8.50 for seniors 55 and up, students and military,and $12.50 for all others.
Spending quality time with grandparents isn’t as common as it used to be. More often than not, both parents are out in the workforce, with little time in their busy schedules for visiting grandparents.
A journal to record bird sightings and other outdoor observations is a nature-oriented activity for grandparents and grandchildren.
trend by sharing ways children can bond with their grandparents through nature.
The company’s store in Gig Harbor observed National Grandparents Day on Sept. 8 by inviting grandparents and grandchildren to build birdfeeders together. Materials were free for the event, which customers signed up for in advance.
Jim Ullrich, owner of the Gig Harbor franchise, also shared additional activities that grandparents can enjoy with their grandchildren while bonding through nature:
• Go on a Nature Walk – Enjoy a day of discovery by exploring a local park or forest preserve to learn what makes the natural areas unique and exciting. Along with a water bottle and some snacks, a few tools to enhance the experience could include a glass jar with holes poked into the lid to use for a bug trap, a field guide, a magnifying glass to discover new species of plants and animals and binoculars to locate small creatures.
• Participate in Bird Watching – Experience the exciting world of bird watching together. Visit a park or nature center where you can look for birds. Birding is about observing birds and their behaviors and listening to their songs. Many families participate in bird watching across generations, with grandparents and grandchildren often finding a shared interest when they bird watch together.
• Build a Bird Feeder – Creating your own bird feeder from basic everyday items you have around the home is a simple and fun activity. Attracting birds to your yard can bring hours of discovery and entertainment right to your window. The items you will need are; a clean, dry plastic milk jug, twine or a thin rope, two dowel rods 10†long, pen, scissors, ruler and bird seed. For downloadable assembly instructions go to; http://www.wbu.com/pathwaysforkids/activities.html.
• Create a Nature Journal – Make a journal with colored paper to represent the colors of nature.
The journal can be used to record outdoor observations and sightings which can include sketches of birds, insects, pressed flowers, leaf and tree rubbings and records of animal tracks. The natural curiosity of children makes them excellent candidates for nature journaling. It provides a healthy way to develop an awareness and appreciation of the natural world, while enhancing science, art, writing and research skills.
• Plant a Garden – Gardening can seem like magic to children and involving them in planting, weeding and watering offers a wonderful chance to spend time together. Planting a garden can help children develop important traits like creativity, responsibility, patience and wonder. Gardening together means companionship and a chance to talk about the day’s events, about friends, values and future plans.
